Cannabis Consumption Laws in Canada: Where You Can and Can’t Smoke

Here’s All You Need to Know About Where You Can Smoke Weed in Canada

Since recreational weed was legalized back in 2018, you might want to know about some of the cannabis consumption laws in Canada.

If you’ve asked the question where can I smoke weed in Canada before? We’re going to give you that answer today.

Okay, for starters, while adults are all generally allowed to consume weed, there are rules and regulations regarding where you’re allowed to smoke or vape. Each territory and province in Canada has its own specific legislation.

So, if you’re a visitor or resident, it’s important to know the specific rules and regulations that’ll help you avoid getting fined or penalized.

History of Weed in Canada

In 1923, Canada’s Confidential Restricted List included cannabis, making it illegal under Canada’s Narcotics Drug Act Amendment Bill. However, weed didn’t start to attract the attention of government officials until the late 1930s.

The first time police in Canada seized weed was in 1937. Between the 1940s and 1960s, weed accounted for just around 2% of all Canadian drug arrests.

In 1972, the Le Dain Commission came up with a report recommending the removal of criminal reprimands regarding cannabis possession. However, not full-out legalization per se.

The two federal governments that followed discussed the report’s recommendations, but no actions were actually taken regarding any legislation change.

In 2001, a medical marijuana program was started in the country, which Health Canada was responsible for managing. The program initially allowed people to buy weed directly from Health Canada or home growers of weed.

This was then replaced with other sets of rules and regulations that helped create more traditional commercial protocols regarding the cultivation and distribution of weed. All this happened in 2013.

This is what all helped lead to the cannabis consumption laws in Canada we know today.  

Cannabis Consumption Laws in Canada

The cannabis consumption laws in Canada can be found in the Cannabis Act. Bill C-45 legalized weed nationwide. However, it gave territories and provinces the right to create their own laws regarding weed consumption.

While federal law allows you to consume weed in private residences, taking weed in public is a different ball game.

The main factors that help determine where you can smoke weed include;

• Municipal and provincial legislation
• Vaping and smoking regulations
• Nuisance and public safety protocols
• Proximity to sensitive locations like hospitals and schools.

Weed Smoking Restrictions in Canada

Even though it’s legal to smoke weed, you still have to understand the cannabis consumption laws in Canada to be safe. So, if ‘Where can I smoke weed in Canada?’ is a question you want answered, you’re in the right place.

The restrictions we’re going to highlight in this article are mainly enforced to help protect minors, non-users and public areas from being exposed to secondhand smoke.

Some of the general restrictions practiced nationwide include;

• No smoking weed in enclosed public areas like malls, bars, restaurants and office spaces.
• No smoking in cars when you’re carrying children under 19 years
• No smoking in schools, daycares, children’s playgrounds or hospitals.
• No smoking inside public transport systems and facilities, including airports, bus stops and train stations.
• No smoking near government offices or buildings.
• No smoking weed in shared residential spaces such as apartment balconies, condo hallways or hotels.

Territorial and Provincial Restrictions

Each province has its own specific cannabis consumption laws in Canada. Where can I smoke weed in Canada? Here’s a brief breakdown of the laws by region

1. British Columbia

This place has some of the most lenient cannabis consumption laws in Canada. For starters, in this region, you’re allowed to smoke weed anywhere smoking tobacco is permitted.

The prohibited areas include bus stops, schools, children’s playgrounds and sports fields. You can smoke in public parks, though, but only in places where kids don’t gather.

When it comes to how much weed you can possess in BC, the maximum household cannabis possession limit stands at 1,000 grams, which is around 2 pounds. In public, however, you’re not allowed to have more than 30 grams on your person.

Though in the first year of BC’s cannabis retail market, things were moving a bit slow, especially regarding rollout.

However, today, British Columbia now has more than 100 cannabis stores operating in the region. So, as you can see, getting BC Bud online isn’t hard here.

2. Alberta

In the region, you’re allowed to smoke weed in some of the public areas that also permit tobacco smoking. However, you’re not allowed to smoke it in schools, hospitals or 5 meters from a building entrance.

Understanding the cannabis consumption laws in Canada can sometimes be tricky. However, one thing is very clear. You’re not allowed to smoke weed in Alberta if you’re under the federal minimum age, which is 18 years.

Also, you can only buy weed from privately-owned cannabis stores that have Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis licensing or from the website run by the government.

3. Ontario

Just like the areas we’ve highlighted above, here you’re also allowed to smoke weed in places where smoking cigarettes is allowed. It follows the general restrictions and doesn’t permit weed smoking in workplaces, schools and playgrounds.

You can legally start smoking weed at 19, but you can’t have more than 30 grams of weed on you in public.

The region also allows for the commercial sale of cannabis edibles, as well as cannabis-infused homemade foodstuffs and beverages. As far as home growing is concerned, you’re allowed to have as many as four cannabis plants per household.

Where can I smoke weed in Canada? That’s a question a lot of weed lovers are asking themselves these days. Probably you, as well.

Well, you can smoke weed legally in Ontario if you’re above 19 years old.

4. Quebec

Here, you’re not allowed to smoke weed in public. Quebec has some of the stricter cannabis consumption laws in Canada. You can only smoke weed in private residences.

Where can I smoke weed in Canada? Well, you can legally smoke weed in Quebec, but you’ll be restricted to smoking in private residences.  

5. Nova Scotia

This place also has some of the stricter cannabis consumption laws in Canada. For one, you’re not allowed to smoke weed in any public place. You’re only allowed to smoke cannabis I’m specific designated locations.

If you’re asking yourself, ‘Where can I smoke weed in Canada?’ Nova Scotia is definitely one of those places. The thing is that you won’t be allowed to do it in public areas.

In Nova Scotia, you’re also not allowed to have more than 30 grams of weed on you. The NSLC site also allows you to buy cannabis online

6. Northwest Territories

In the Northwest Territories, the legal age for smoking weed is 19 years old. Now, if you’re 19 and over, you can smoke weed on private properties and designated public smoking areas.

Some indigenous communities might have additional regulations, so you need to know about them before you smoke your weed.

Selling of weed in this region is regulated by the Liquor and Cannabis commission. You can also order weed online via government-operated websites. Canada Post will then deliver the goods to you.

Cannabis-Friendly Locations

Despite the restrictions and all the cannabis consumption laws in Canada, in general, there are still many cannabis-friendly locations all over the country. If you want to buy weed online in Canada, you need to know where you can’t and can smoke weed.

Here are some of the places where you can legally smoke your weed.

1. Private Residences

The safest place to smoke your weed is inside your own home. The most common place is the safest.

Homeowners can consume cannabis freely unless there are condo regulations or rental agreements that restrict that. In some regions, condominium boards and landlords can ban the smoking of weed within their units.

So, when it comes to cannabis and rental properties, the landlord or condo board typically regulates weed consumption in their units.

2. Designated Cannabis Lounges

Weed cafes and lounges exist in some areas, like Alberta and Ontario. These places provide consumers with controlled environments that allow them to take weed legally.

The rules and regulations that govern weed cafes and lounges still continue to evolve year by year. So, where can I smoke weed in Canada? Weed cafes and lounges are some ideal places.

3. Hotel Rooms

You need to understand the cannabis consumption laws in Canada if you’re a traveller planning to smoke weed in your hotel. Some hotels allow their guests to smoke weed in certain designated rooms.

The hotel has to have a policy that allows you to smoke weed in your hotel. If you consume weed and want to smoke it in your hotel room, check the policies in place first before you book.

So, where can I smoke weed in Canada? Well, if the hotel policy allows it then you can smoke it right there in your hotel room.

4. Private Outdoor Areas

When it comes to private outdoor spaces, it all depends on the rules and regulations regarding consumption that the province has in place.

In some Canadian provinces, you’re allowed to smoke weed in patios, backyards and even balconies. However, some cities might have stricter laws which is why you always need to check municipal by-laws.

Restricted Area Penalties

Cannabis consumption laws in Canada are typically strictly enforced. Violating these laws can lead to you having to pay fines.

You need to know the legal places to use cannabis so you can avoid having to deal with these punishments and reprimands.

Here are some of the penalties you can expect when you smoke weed in a restricted area.

• First-Time Offenders: Fines for the first-time offender range from $150 – $1000, depending on the Canadian province they’re in.
• Repeat Offenders: The repeat offender can expect to pay much higher fines than the first-offender. In fact, they can even sometimes face criminal charges.
• Smoking Weed in Vehicles: You might have to pay a heavy fine if found smoking in a car, especially if there are children present.
• Workplace Restrictions: Employers are allowed to impose disciplinary actions in their offices regarding cannabis consumption. They can even terminate employment if they feel they have to.

When buying weed from an online dispensary in Canada, it’s good to have an idea of what might come your way if you smoke weed in a restricted area.

Buy Weed Online in Canada

A great online weed dispensary will know how to give you a great shopping experience, and MMJExpress understands this all too well.

Now, while cannabis consumption laws in Canada are highly regulated, knowing where you can and can’t smoke is very important. Private residences are not only the most common places, but they’re also the safest.

‘Where can I smoke weed in Canada?’ If you’re asking yourself that, we’d say the best place is right there inside your own home. If you want to smoke in public areas, then you need to know the specific regulations in that particular region.

When you stay informed about the cannabis consumption laws in Canada, you’ll be protecting yourself from having to deal with fines and penalties. Hopefully, this article has answered your ‘where can I smoke weed in Canada’ question.