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Recreational marijuana is legal in Canada as of today, but there is still a lot of confusion around legal cannabis — including where marijuana will be sold and where it can be consumed.
Legalizing marijuana has been in the works since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was elected in 2015, but marijuana enthusiasts need to remember that local, provincial and federal laws are still being worked out and the regulations that are in effect as of October 17 can restrict or ban the use of cannabis in certain areas.
The federal cannabis act sets a broad skeleton, but each of the 13 province and territories have set their own rules. Not all of those rules have been announced yet, but here's a quick primer to get you up to speed.
What's the legal smoking age?
To buy, posses or use cannabis in Canada the minimum legal age is 19. However, Alberta has set the minimum age at 18. Quebec’s incoming government has vowed to set the age at 21, but the minimum age will remain 18 until a new law is passed.
Adults must show valid photo I.D. regardless of where and how they buy cannabis.
What about kids?
It's important to note that the federal government prohibits giving or selling marijuana to minors, on penalty of up to 14 years in prison.
Several provinces have also passed additional laws designed to protect kids from marijuana. In fact, in some provinces (like Saskatchewan) have even made it illegal for underage people to enter a marijuana store, so avoid taking minors along when buying pot.
Where can you buy marijuana in Canada?
Each province or territory is in charge of overseeing its own marijuana sales, so the rules differ from one region to another. In some provinces, weed will be legally sold only in government stores; in others, only in private stores; and in others there will be a mix. No bar or restaurant will be able to sell marijuana, at least not at first.
British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Ontario will allow private retailers to sell marijuana. However, Ontario's privately run stores won't open until April 2019.
If you are in Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, the Yukon or the Northwest Territories you can buy marijuana through retailers either licensed or run by the local liquor board.
Remember, it is illegal in Canada to sell marijuana without a license, so anyone who offers to “share” their weed with you for a price is breaking the law.
Finally, online ordering is legal everywhere across the country.
How much can you own?
Canadians will be allowed to possess, carry and share with other adults up to 30 grams of marijuana. That’s enough to roll roughly 60 normal-size joints.
Where can I use it?
It’s legal to consume marijuana at private residences across the country, both indoors and outdoors, unless a local bylaw, hotel or condo board prohibits it. However, some provinces have stricter rules than others when it comes to public consumption.
Those found using cannabis in an illegal space can be fined hundreds or thousands of dollars under local bylaws.
Can you grow marijuana at home?
In most provinces and all territories, adults are allowed to possess four marijuana plants per household for recreational use. That's the limit the federal government imposed when it passed the Cannabis Act in June.
Quebec and Manitoba have banned home growing all together.
Is it okay to smoke and drive?
We all know that it's not okay to drink and drive, but what about smoking pot and driving?
Cannabis can impair your ability to operate vehicles or equipment safely. Driving while impaired by cannabis or any other drug is a serious criminal offence in any province.
What about crossing the U.S. border or leaving the country?
Marijuana isn't legal federally in the United States — though some states have some form of legal marijuana. So definitely don't try to enter the U.S. with any marijuana products.
Travelling abroad? You should not leave Canadian borders with marijuana products. The punishment for drug possession in many countries can be severe.