Canadian Cannabis Laws by Province: What Are Your Rules for Weed?

As Canadians with a mind for pot anxiously await October 17, when recreational sales and possession are officially legal across the nation, some may find themselves wondering where their province lands on the spectrum of varying legal details. No fear, friends! We have the breakdown of how all provinces will enforce the new status quo.

Take a look at how your province stacks up against the others. 

ALBERTA
Age of legal consumption: 18+
Where to buy: Privately-run retail stores and government-operated online sales
Grow your own?: Up to four plants, subject to restrictions from landlords
Where to smoke?: Prohibited in cars, in areas frequented by children, and wherever tobacco is restricted.
Other notes: No possession limits in private residences

BRITISH COLUMBIA
Age of legal consumption: 19+
Where to buy: Both government and privately-run storefronts and online sales
Grow your own?: Up to four plants, out of public sight
Where to smoke?: Prohibited in cars, in areas frequented by children, and wherever tobacco is restricted
Other notes: Landlords can restrict cultivation and smoking on their properties

MANITOBA
Age of legal consumption: 19+
Where to buy: Privately-run storefronts and online sales
Grow your own?: Not permitted
Where to smoke?: To be determined
Other notes: Legal age is one year above drinking age. It’s prohibited to sell cannabis to someone who is impaired by alcohol or other substances. Municipalities can hold a referendum to ban cannabis stores in their community.

NEW BRUNSWICK
Age of legal consumption: 19+
Where to buy: Government-operated storefronts and online sales
Grow your own?: Up to four plants
Where to smoke?: Only on private property and in private residences
Other notes: 11 cannabis stores will open in July 2018. No possession limits in private residences. All cannabis must be securely locked up in user’s home.

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
Age of legal consumption: 19+
Where to buy: Privately-run licensed storefronts and government-operated online sales
Grow your own?: To be determined
Where to smoke?: Only on private property and in private residences
Other notes: Successful bids for private cannabis retailers will be announced by May 7, 2018

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Age of legal consumption: 19+
Where to buy: Privately-run liquor stores and government-operated online sales
Grow your own?: Up to four plants
Where to smoke?: On private property and in private residences. Smoking will also be allowed on trails, highways, streets, roads and in parks when they are not in use for public events.
Other notes: Cannabis will initially be sold in existing liquor stores, with possibility of cannabis-only stores in the future. Individual communities will be able to enact cannabis restrictions and/or prohibitions. Landlords will also be able to declare their properties smoke-free.

NOVA SCOTIA
Age of legal consumption: 19+
Where to buy: Government-operated storefronts and online sales
Grow your own?: Up to four plants
Where to smoke?: Only where tobacco may be smoked, subject to landlord restrictions
Other notes: 9 cannabis stores currently confirmed in: Amherst, Dartmouth, Halifax, Lower Sackville, New Glasgow, Sydney River, Truro and Yarmouth

NUNAVUT
Age of legal consumption: 19+
Where to buy: Established online vendors will be invited to sell in Nunavut, and private businesses can apply for a licence to sell cannabis, but consultation requirements mean no stores will open in 2018.
Grow your own?: Not permitted
Where to smoke?: Not permitted in public places, other than a designated cannabis lounge or permitted event
Other notes: Allows for temporary permits for events where cannabis can be consumed in public locations including schools, but only when school programs are not being offered.

ONTARIO
Age of legal consumption: 19+
Where to buy: Government-operated storefronts and online sales
Grow your own?: Up to four plants
Where to smoke?: Only on private property, subject to landlord restrictions
Other notes: 40 cannabis stores will be open by July 2018, 80 by 2019 and 150 by 2020

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Age of legal consumption: 19+
Where to buy: Government-operated retail locations and online sales
Grow your own?: Up to four plants, so long as they’re not accessible to minors
Where to smoke?: Only on private residences, with some exceptions for certain public spaces
Other notes: PEI will have four government-owned retail locations for cannabis in 2018 in Charlottetown, Summerside, Montague, and West Prince

QUEBEC
Age of legal consumption: 18+
Where to buy: Government-operated storefronts and online sales
Grow your own?: Not permitted
Where to smoke?: Only where tobacco may be smoked, with the exception of university and CEGEP campuses
Other notes: Six companies signed on to provide the Quebec government with at least 62,000 kg of cannabis during first year of operation

SASKATCHEWAN
Age of legal consumption:19+
Where to buy: Privately-run storefronts and online sales
Grow your own?: Up to four plants, subject to landlord restrictions
Where to smoke?: Only on private property and in private residences, restricted use around minors
Other notes: Number of retail licenses issued will be restricted for first three years of legalization

YUKON
Age of legal consumption: 19+
Where to buy: Government-operated storefronts and online sales.
Grow your own?: Up to four plants, out of public sight
Where to smoke?: Only on private property and in private residences, subject to landlord restrictions
Other notes: Whitehorse recently amended zoning bylaws to allow government-operated cannabis sales in only one area: Marwell. Licensing of private retailers will follow in the future
Yukon marijuana legalization laws