When Canada issued a legalization statement in October 2018, it was only the second country to allow the recreational use of marijuana. It was initially met with a bit of resistance, but the trade is surprisingly doable four years later.
Laws tightly guard marijuana use in Canada, and each of the 10 provinces and 3 territories has a specific set of rules. With over 4000 recreational and medical dispensaries, it is vital to know Canada’s cannabis laws, including where it is sold and consumed.
Let’s dive in!
A marijuana dispensary is a specific premise where legal marijuana is sold for medical or recreational use. It is the kind of place you’d get plenty of weed strains and products, including edibles.
These dispensaries are crucial to controlling the sale and use of marijuana and possibly getting data from users. In Canada, the dispensary is government-licensed, and you’re only allowed to possess no more than 30 grams of weed.
Canadians can legally purchase weed from a variety of stores.
Physical cannabis stores allow people above the age of 19 (or 21 in Quebec) to buy cannabis products legally. In addition, these stores supply recreational marijuana, and you may not need a prescription to purchase one.
What is sold in physical cannabis stores varies from province to province. For instance, Quebec sells dried flowers, edibles, and extracts which must be in plain packages. Cannabis edibles were not available in Ontario until January 2020.
Apart from physical stores, you can buy weed online through licensed retailers authorized by the provincial government. Each province may have a slightly different rule on how to buy weed online. For example, provinces like New Brunswick and Ontario only allow online purchases from a single government-run website. There are also marijuana seed banks that offer cannabis seeds for sale.
Like any online vendor, marijuana is sold in a similar process. The website first verifies your age. They then set up a secure online website for payments and finally package your order for shipping. Shipment takes a few days, depending on the location.
Private online marijuana vendors have a special same-day weed delivery service to ensure efficiency and meet the rising demands. As the name suggests, same-day services deliver the package within hours once you make an order.
Same-day weed delivery providers usually have multiple service areas across a province and can handle as many orders as possible to beat the same-day timeline. As a result, same-day deliveries are ideal for people looking for a quick and convenient way to buy cannabis products.
Medical marijuana stores have been around since 2001, and patients were restricted to growing up to four plants. In addition, sellers would have to get a license from the federal government and only sell to those with valid prescriptions.
Plenty of research was ongoing on the health benefits of cannabis Indica or cannabis Sativa and how it can be used as a drug or prescribed to patients who may need it.
The medical marijuana clinic only serves patients who have doctor’s recommendations or ID from doctors. In addition, the clinics are not allowed to sell recreational marijuana or package medical marijuana in a way it entices people younger than the recommended age.
Cannabis dispensaries have plenty of marijuana products available. Here, we’ll look at these products and the common ones sold across Canada.
Cannabis flower is probably the most popular of all weed products, taking up almost half of the marijuana sales. Dried flowers are a staple because of the diverse strains available on the market. You may not be guaranteed to find all cannabis strains, but you’ll get the most popular ones in your area.
Cannabis flower products are available for use medical or recreational use, including:
Weed edibles are excellent for non-smokers who either can’t smoke due to lung capacity issues or aren’t quite ready for the stigma of smoking. Of course, these edibles are available in various infusions, which may vary from province to province.
Since the potency of these edibles varies, it is essential to check the labels and read the fine print before consuming them.
Among the most potent edibles in Canada include:
Like the apple juice concentrate in your freezer, cannabis concentrates are the results of distilling down the most valuable parts of the cannabis plant. It contains a high amount of THC, which may go as high as over 90% in some cases. Cannabis dispensaries offer concentrates in different textures and aromas.
Weed concentrates allow stealth consumption of marijuana while consuming the best parts. The pure resin extracted produces budder, shatter, edibles, etc.
Here are other common examples of marijuana concentrates:
Vapes are common in dispensaries and ideal for those who don’t prefer vaping instead of smoking. Some people prefer dry herbs, while others love vaping extracts from different cannabis plants. Marijuana dispensaries stock up on vapes because they are portable and don’t hide the weed’s flavour.
Since vapes are electric, dispensaries also provide several vape accessories, including batteries and cartridges.
Here’s what to expect from the vape section at most cannabis dispensaries:
CBD oils have been the most successful product for health benefits. Also known as cannabidiol, it is another compound of marijuana whose psychoactive effects may help reduce anxiety and chronic pain or improve sleep.
That said, dispensaries have CBD products, although they are controlled in Canada and limited to federally licensed stores.
Some of the most common CBD products offered include:
Recreational marijuana is legal in Canada, so you don’t have to go to illicit markets or the dark web to get your dose of weed. As long as you are above 19 years (18 in Alberta, 21 in Quebec), the law allows you to carry up to 30 grams of dried cannabis at a go.
It is easy to purchase weed in Canada if you follow a few steps to get the substance. First, weed is only sold in federal-licensed dispensaries and not on the streets. If you’re going to buy recreational marijuana, carry your ID for proof of age and be prepared to answer a couple of questions as you buy.
For medical marijuana users, you need to provide a doctor’s recommendation or an ID from a doctor to be given any medical marijuana product. Some sellers have websites that allow online purchases. It is easy to purchase weed online in Canada, and delivery takes a few days.
Though weed is legal in Canada, you cannot smoke anywhere you feel like it. It has designated places for smokers and does not allow weed smoking in enclosed public areas, workplaces, schools, restaurants, etc. In addition, each province has its own smoking zones designated for cigarette and marijuana smokers.
Canada has zero tolerance for driving under the influence, this time marijuana.
If you’re found driving while “high” on weed, you may face one or more of the following penalties:
Lastly, Canada still has rules for transporting marijuana in and out of its borders. It is illegal to transport marijuana across its borders, so if you’re a tourist, don’t think of bringing your own supply.
There are plenty of places to buy weed in Canada, and each province has its own spots. However, we recommend buying weed from reliable sources with excellent reputations and happy customers. Weed dispensaries are your best bet as it contains almost all cannabis products and budtenders to help you choose which strains are ideal.
Online shops are also preferred, but you should verify your age when buying and after the item is delivered. Like brick-and-mortar stores, online shops are categorized into cannabis strain, flavour, and how much THC is contained.
Here are some recommendations for reliable dispensaries that offer premium-grade products at affordable prices:
Highest Farmacy. (2022, October 7). Get Timely and Reliable Same-Day Weed Delivery in Toronto and Surrounding Cities. Available at: https://www.highestfarmacy.com/
Department of Justice. Cannabis Act (2018). Available at: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-24.5/
Leafly. (2020, September 4). Leafly’s guide to marijuana legalization. Available at: https://www.leafly.ca/learn/legalization
Higgins, M. (2018, October 22). If You’re Going to Canada to Buy Weed, Here’s What You Need to Know. The New York Times. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/22/travel/travel-canada-buy-weed-explained.html
Lift & Co. (2022). Where To Buy Cannabis In Canada. Legal Buying Options For Medical. Available at: https://lift.co/cannabis-101/where-to-buy-cannabis/where-to-buy-cannabis-in-canada
