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Canada's cannabis rules: Here are the guidelines for every single province

After 95 years of prohibition, Canada is now the second country in the world where marijuana is legal nationwide. Uruguay set the precedent in 2013.

According to the federal Cannabis Act, adults who are 18 years of age are older can carry up to 30 grams of marijuana in public, grow up to four plants at home and make their own edibles cannabis products.

Legal user shouldn’t set much store by those guidelines though, because the Act gives the provinces and territories the ability to further restrict its legal framework by lowering the possession limit, increasing the minimum age of legal consumption, limiting where cannabis can be used in public and setting added requirements on personal cultivation.

It’s also up to the provinces and territories who set rules around how it can be sold, where stores are located and how they’re operated.

So in order to help Canadians keep their provincial and territorial pot laws straight, here is Yahoo Canada’s guide to the rules around legal cannabis in Canada, from coast, to coast to coast.

Since clocks struck midnight in Newfoundland and Labrador first on legalization day, let’s start on the east coast and work our way west to British Columbia.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Age of legal consumption: 19+
Where to buy: Private retail stores and government-operated online sales
Where to smoke: Only in private residences
Possession limit: 30 grams
Home-growing: Up to four plants
Guide to provincial laws: http://cannabis.nlliquorcorp.com/legislation

Prince Edward Island

Age of legal consumption: 19+
Where to buy: Government-operated online and retail stores
Where to smoke: Only on private residences, with some exceptions for certain public spaces
Possession limit: 30 grams
Home-growing: Up to four plants, as long as they’re not accessible to minors
Guide to provincial laws: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/topic/cannabis

Nova Scotia

Age of legal consumption: 19+
Where to buy: Government retail stores and online sales
Where to smoke: Only where tobacco may be smoked, subject to landlord restrictions. Anyone who smokes in a prohibited area could be fined up to $2,000.
Possession limit: 30 grams
Home-growing: Up to four plants
Guide to provincial laws: https://novascotia.ca/cannabis/


New Brunswick

Age of legal consumption: 19+
Where to buy: Government-operated retail stores and online sales
Where to smoke: Only in private residences
Possession limit: 30 grams is the most that can be carried in public at a time. Unlimited amount in a private residence
Home-growing: Up to four plants
Guide to provincial laws: http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/news/news_release.2017.11.1433.html

Quebec

Age of legal consumption: 18+
Where to buy: Government-operated online and retail stores
Where to smoke: In private residences and where tobacco may already be smoked. Not permitted in health and educational institutions and around children.
Possession limit: 30 grams in public and 150 grams in a private residence
Home-growing: Not permitted
Guide to provincial laws: https://encadrementcannabis.gouv.qc.ca/en/loi/cadre-legal-en-bref/

Ontario

Age of legal consumption: 19+
Where to buy: Government online sales initially and then private retail shops by April 2019
Where to smoke: Private residences, and places where tobacco can already be smoked, like sidewalks and parks, designated rooms in hotels, motels and inns, controlled areas in residential care facilities and boats and vehicles when used as a living space.
Possession limit: 30 grams
Home-growing: Up to four plants
Guide to provincial laws: https://ocslearn.ca/article/legal-use-of-cannabis-in-ontario/

Nunavut

Age of legal consumption: 19+
Where to buy: For now, government online sales. In the future, established online vendors will be invited to sell in Nunavut
Where to smoke: In private residences and in public spaces where tobacco is permitted. Prohibited in areas frequented by children
Possession limit: 30 grams
Home-growing: Not banned, but the provincial government will regulate whether or not plants can be grown at home in the future
Guide to provincial laws: http://assembly.nu.ca/sites/default/files/Bill-7-Cannabis-Act-ENG-FRE.pdf


Manitoba

Age of legal consumption: 19+
Where to buy: Private retail stores and online sales
Where to smoke: Only in private residences
Possession limit: 30 grams
Home-growing: Not permitted
Guide to provincial laws: https://www.gov.mb.ca/cannabis/cannabisuseinmb.html

Northwest Territories

Age of legal consumption: 19+
Where to buy: Liquor stores and government-operated online sales
Where to smoke: In private residences and some public spaces. Prohibited in cars, areas frequented by children, large crowds and nonsmoking areas
Possession limit: 30 grams
Home-growing: Up to four plants
Guide to territorial laws: https://www.eia.gov.nt.ca/en/cannabis

Saskatchewan

Age of legal consumption: 19+
Where to buy: Privately-run online and retail stores
Where to smoke: Only on private property and in private residences
Possession limit: 30 grams
Home-growing: Up to four plants, subject to landlord restrictions
Guide to provincial laws: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/cannabis-in-saskatchewan

Alberta

Age of legal consumption: 18+
Where to buy: Privately-run licensed retail stores and government-operated online sales
Where to smoke: Prohibited in cars, in areas frequented by children, and wherever tobacco is restricted
Possession limit: 30 grams
Guide to provincial laws: https://www.alberta.ca/cannabis-legalization.aspx

British Columbia

Age of legal consumption: 19+
Where to buy: Private and government retail stores and online sales
Where to smoke: Prohibited in cars, in areas frequented by children, and wherever tobacco is restricted
Possession limit: 30 grams
Home-growing: Up to four plants, out of public sight
Guide to provincial laws: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/public-safety/cannabis

Yukon

Age of legal consumption: 19+
Where to buy: Government-run online and retail stores. Private stores will be licensed after legalization
Where to smoke: Only on private property and in private residences and adjoining properties
Possession limit: 30 grams
Home-growing: Up to four plants, out of public sight
Guide to territorial laws: http://www.gov.yk.ca/pdf/Cannabis_Draft_Legislative_Summary_01-11.pdf