Traveling with Cannabis in Canada – By Province
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Traveling with Cannabis in Canada– By Province
Canada has joined countries that have legalized the use of recreational marijuana. This allows adults to travel with certain amounts across the country, including on airplanes.
Through the Cannabis Act, the federal government regulates who can produce, distribute and sell cannabis, as well as where one can smoke it. However, specific rules within provinces are slightly different- so you should know what applies to the province you live in. This article highlights the most important things you need to know about cannabis and traveling.
Canadian Laws
There are differences related to age and shopping and consumption locations for the different provinces. Key differences are outlined in the table below when it comes to cannabis and traveling:
Province
Legal age
Sales location
Smoking location
Possession limit
Alberta
18
Online, government and private retailers
Prohibited around children, in cars and where tobacco is controlled
Public: 30 grams
Home: No limit
British Columbia
19
Online, private and government retailers
Prohibited around children, in cars and where tobacco is controlled
Public: 30 grams
Home: 1,000 grams
Manitoba
19
Online, private retailers
Prohibited in public
Public: 30 grams
Home: No limit
New Brunswick
19
Online, government retailers
Private residences only
Public: 30 grams
Home: No limit
Newfoundland and Labrador
19
Online, government and private retailers
Private residences only
Public: 30 grams
Home: No limit
Northwest Territories
19
Online, government and private retailers
Private residences; selected public places. Prohibited in non-smoking areas, large crowds, areas with children and in cars.
Public: 30 grams
Home: No limit
Nova Scotia
19
Online, government and private retailers
Prohibited in areas with tobacco restrictions. Fines up to $2,000
Public: 30 grams
Home: No limit
Nunavut
19
Government telephone and online sales
Private residences; selected Public spaces – prohibited where tobacco is not permitted and areas with children
Public: 30 grams
Home: 150 grams
Ontario
19
Online, government and private retailers
Private residences only; a bill to allow where tobacco is permitted underway
Public: 30 grams
Home: No limit
Prince Edward Island
19
Government retail and online sales
Private residences only
Public: 30 grams
Home: No limit
Quebec
18
Government retail and online sales
Private residences; selected public spaces – prohibited where tobacco is not permitted, health/educational institutions and areas with children
Public: 30 grams
Home: 150 grams
Saskatchewan
19
Private online and retail sales
Private residences only
30 grams
Yukon
19
Government retail and online sales
Private residences and adjoining properties
30 grams
The single constant is that you can buy cannabis online through private retailers or government websites depending on your province. Shopify is also set to handle cannabis orders in four provinces.
Laws Outside Of Canada
In the US, 46 states allow some form of cannabis use, but it is still illegal under federal law. Ten states allow recreational use, namely, California, Maine, Oregon, Washington State, Washington DC, Nevada, Massachusetts, Alaska, Vermont, and Colorado.
Globally, Uruguay was the first nation to legalize cannabis, though only citizens may purchase. Peru allows private, immediate use of marijuana, including medicinal marijuana. In Spain, citizens may grow and use it, but sale is still technically illegal.
Marijuana is also technically illegal in the Netherlands, but authorities tolerate it provided sellers do not advertise or cause a nuisance. South Africa also legalized private growing and use of marijuana in September 2018.
Flying Within Canada with Marijuana
Ensure you pack your cannabis in a sealed container and throw into another sealed bag to avoid nasty surprises. For flying, individuals are allowed to carry no more than 30 grams, regardless of where you’re traveling.
Take note that you can’t smoke it everywhere, so be sure to check out restricted places in the province you’re travelling to (See table above). If you’re 18 years old in Alberta and Quebec, don’t travel with cannabis, as all other provinces have 19 as the legal age.
Flying Overseas With Marijuana
While cannabis is legal in Canada, you cannot travel with any amount on cross-border flights. Bear in mind that flights can be diverted to US airports (especially those in Southern Canada) in emergencies or during extreme weather. You could risk criminal charges or a lifetime ban depending on where you land.
You cannot carry any cannabis-containing products if going on an international flight. It is also illegal to come with cannabis or its products into Canada from elsewhere in the world.
Allowable Amounts
You are allowed to carry 30 grams of cannabis in public. Most provinces have no limit to the amount of cannabis you can have at home, but some have a limit. The table above has more details.
Conclusion
While Canada’s federal laws allow the use of cannabis recreationally, you should be careful when moving from one province to another. Legal use in one province can be illegal in another province.
Be sure about all the rules associated with the province you’re going to before you decide to pack it for your trip. To be safe, you can choose traveling without it and purchase where you land.
