Traveling with Cannabis in Canada – By Province

Traveling

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.