What’s legal?

There are strict laws and regulations around the legalization of non-medical cannabis. Before you buy, use, or grow your own non-medical cannabis, learn more about what’s legal and what’s not.

Cannabis edibles, extracts and topicals are not currently legal for sale in Canada. The Federal government plans to legalize these cannabis products by October 17, 2019 and has launched a public consultation on proposed regulations. The deadline to participate is February 20, 2019.

Medical cannabis is within the responsibility of Health Canada. To find out more, go to Health Canada.

Legal age

You must be 19 years or older to buy, use, possess, or grow non-medical cannabis in B.C.

Buying

To protect your health, keep young people safe and help prevent crime in your community, non-medical cannabis will be sold exclusively at government-run stores, licensed private retailers, and the B.C. government’s online store.

The BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) operates public retail stores and the online store. The list of public retail stores, will be available on the BC Cannabis Stores website. Online sales will be available only through the BC government online store. Private retail stores cannot offer online sales and delivery services for non-medical cannabis are not permitted.

The Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch is responsible for licensing and monitoring private retail stores. Licensed private retailers may sell cannabis and cannabis accessories. They may not sell liquor or tobacco or any items other than cannabis and cannabis accessories. The list of licensed retailers will be available on the BC Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch’s page. Licensed retailers will be required to display a valid licence where it is visible to the public.

All legal non-medical cannabis has an excise stamp attached to its packaging. Federally-licensed producers and processors apply the appropriate excise tax stamp for British Columbia. If the product does not have a British Columbia stamp it is not legal for sale in B.C. Each province and territory has a different coloured cannabis excise stamp for products sold in their jurisdiction.

 B.C. cannabis excise stamp

Possession

Adults 19+ can carry up to 30 grams of dried non-medical cannabis, or its equivalent, in a public place.

In addition, adults cannot possess any more than 1,000 grams of dried non-medical cannabis, or its equivalent, in a non-public place, such as at your home. This limit is per household and is based on the expected yield from four cannabis plants.

Public use

Adults 19+ can generally smoke or vape cannabis in public spaces where tobacco smoking and vaping are allowed. But remember, second-hand smoke can be harmful and irritating to people, especially children, so be mindful when smoking in public spaces.

Smoking and vaping cannabis are not allowed in the following public places:

• Playgrounds, sports fields, skate parks, swimming pools and spray pools, or any decks or seating areas associated these places
• Public buildings, workplaces, or common areas of apartments, condos, or dormitories, and within six metres of air intakes, windows, and doorways attached to these places
• Within six metres of bus stops, transit shelters, train stations, ferry docks and similar places
• Regional and municipal parks, except for designated campsites
• Provincial parks, except for areas identified or designated
• Public patios
• Health board properties, except in designated smoking areas

Registered hotel guests may smoke or vape cannabis in their hotel room if the hotel allows it.

Community care facilities, assisted living residences, and hospitals may designate specific rooms in which residents or patients can smoke or vape cannabis.

Non-medical cannabis consumption (in all forms) is banned on K-12 school properties, as well as any adjacent sidewalks or boulevards. It’s also illegal for both driver and passenger(s) to consume non-medical cannabis in a car.

Local and Indigenous governments can set additional restrictions on public use of non-medical cannabis under existing powers to establish bylaws.

This printable factsheet provides additional details about public consumption in B.C. 

Vehicles and boats

Non-medical cannabis consumption is generally not allowed in vehicles whether they are parked or moving, but there are some exceptions to this rule.

It can be used in motorhomes or other motor vehicles, or campers, or trailers when being used as a private residence and parked off a public road or forest service road where camping is allowed.

Cannabis can be transported in a vehicle as long as it’s in its original, unopened packaging, or is inaccessible to the driver and occupants (for example, in the trunk). In addition, a maximum of four non-medical cannabis plants can be transported in a vehicle, but they cannot be budding or flowering.

Non-medical cannabis use is generally not allowed on boats. However, you are allowed to use non-medical cannabis on a boat that is moored or anchored if it has sleeping accommodations, a kitchen and a toilet.

Non-medical cannabis use is allowed in a private cabin on a commercially operated boat if the operator allows it.

Medical cannabis exemptions

There are exemptions for use of Health Canada authorized medical cannabis on school property and on inter-city buses, trains and boats as long as specific requirements are met. Details are available in the Cannabis Control Regulation under Part 4 – Medical Cannabis.

Advertising and promotion

There are strict federal rules around promotion of cannabis.

In addition, under provincial regulations, it is illegal for anyone without a retail license issued by the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch to advertise themselves as a licensed retailer. Also, no one can market, advertise or promote a place as a location to consume cannabis, or spend time after consuming cannabis.

To find out more about the provincial rules regarding advertising and promotion see sections 36 and 37 of the Cannabis Control Regulation and section 9 of the Cannabis Control and Licensing Transitional Regulation.

Health Info

Cannabis can be used for medical or non-medical purposes. People may choose to use cannabis for its therapeutic effects. But it can also harm your health. Cannabis affects everyone differently.

Safe and Responsible Use

In a Statistics Canada survey, 17% of people in British Columbia reported consuming cannabis within the past year. But cannabis use does carry some health risks. These risks vary by age of user, consumption method and context of use.

Learn more about the health risks and guidelines for safer use:

• Health effects of cannabis (Government of Canada)
• Canada’s lower-risk cannabis use guidelines
• Here to Help BC
• Health Link BC
• Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research BC
• Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
• Canadian Public Health Association, Cannabasics
• Ottawa Public Health, Cannabis (Marijuana)

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Cannabis use is not recommended for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Using cannabis (in any form) during pregnancy carries health risks to the fetus. Chemicals from cannabis are also passed through breast milk, which could lead to health or behavioural problems for the child consuming the breast milk.

Cannabis use during pregnancy can harm your baby:

• It can lead to a lower birth weight
• It has been associated with longer-term developmental effects in children and youth, such as decreases in memory function, attention span, reasoning and problem-solving skills, and hyperactive behavior
• It has been associated with increased risk for future problematic substance use

Learn more about the health risks of cannabis use, including during pregnancy and while breastfeeding:

• Health effects of cannabis (Government of Canada)
• Women and Cannabis (British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health)
• Sex, Gender, and Cannabis (British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health)
• HealthlinkBC
• Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
• Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada (SOGC)
• Health Canada

Safe Kids

You must be 19 years or older to buy, consume (through smoking, vaping and all other forms of consumption), possess or grow non-medical cannabis. Early and regular cannabis use is associated with higher risks of dependency and health problems later in life.

Cannabis can affect your health:

• Frequent heavy cannabis use in your teens and early 20s may lead to physical changes in your brain, since your brain is going through rapid development
• Like cigarettes, smoking cannabis is harmful to your lungs
• Frequent heavy cannabis use is associated with problems with memory, thinking, and attention span
• Frequent heavy cannabis use may increase the risk of mental health issues, like psychosis, anxiety and depression

Information for parents and caregivers/allies:

• Talking Pot with Youth: A Cannabis Communication Guide for Youth Allies (Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction)
• Parachute
• Here to Help BC 
• Cannabis and Youth – Canadian Centre for Substance Use and Addiction
• Foundry BC
• Health Link BC
• Canadian Centre on Substance Use Addiction
• Talking with Teenagers About Drugs
• Cannabis IQ, Information for Families
• Thinking about Using Cannabis While Parenting? 
• Sensible Cannabis Education: A Toolkit for Educating Youth

Information for youth and young adults:

• Foundry BC
• National Kids Help Line
• Pursue Your Passion (Government of Canada)

Growing at home

Growing cannabis plants at home is legal. Adults 19+ can grow up to four non-medical cannabis plants per household. These plants cannot be grown in a space that is visible from a public place, like parks, streets, sidewalks, sports fields, and K-12 school properties. For example, you can grow plants on your balcony, or in your yard, as long as they’re not visible from a public place.

Growing cannabis at home is banned in homes used as licensed child care.

Landlords and strata corporations can further restrict or prohibit growing non-medical cannabis on their properties.

Local and Indigenous government can also further restrict growing non-medical cannabis at home under existing powers to establish bylaws.

Travel

There are strict rules and regulations around travelling with cannabis. Before you leave the province or country, get informed.

Travelling Internationally

It’s illegal to transport cannabis across the Canadian border. It doesn’t matter whether you’re leaving or entering Canada, or what the laws of your destination are. Bottom line: don’t cross the border with cannabis.

The Government of Canada has important information you’ll need to know before travelling with cannabis. Check out this video to learn more.

Travelling Between Provinces

Cannabis laws are different between provinces and territories. This includes legal age, where you can smoke or vape, consume, and buy cannabis. Make sure to learn the laws before you travel. Check out the provincial and territorial websites for more details:

• Yukon
• Alberta
• Northwest Territories
• Nunavut
• Saskatchewan
• Manitoba
• Ontario
• Quebec
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• New Brunswick
• Prince Edward Island

Legislation

With public health and safety top of mind, the Province has passed legislation to provide legal, controlled access to non-medical cannabis in British Columbia:

1. The Cannabis Control and Licensing Act aims to protect children and youth, promote health and safety, keep the criminal element out of cannabis, keep B.C.’s roads safe, and support socially responsible economic development.
2. The Cannabis Distribution Act establishes a public wholesale distribution monopoly, and public (government-run) retail sales, both in stores and online.
3. Recent changes to the Motor Vehicle Act will give police more tools to remove drug-impaired drivers from the road and deter drug-affected driving.

In addition, the Province has put the following new and amended regulations in place:

• Cannabis Licensing Regulation
• Cannabis Control Regulation
• Cannabis Control and Licensing Transitional Regulation
• Amendment of Violation Ticket Administration and Fines Regulation
• Amendment of Provincial Sales Tax Exemption and Refund Regulation
• Amendments to the Park, Conservancy and Recreation Area Regulation and the Conservation Officer Service Authority Regulation
• Amendment of Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Regulation
• Amendment of Business Number Regulation
• Amendment of Classification of Land as a Farm Regulation

What is Cannabis?

Cannabis is also known as marijuana, pot, or weed. There are two main types of cannabis plant: sativa and indica. The cannabis plant contains a number of chemical compounds called cannabinoids that may affect the brain and other parts of the body’s nervous system. Parts of the cannabis plant that may be consumed include the leaves, flowers, and buds. Cannabis can be consumed in a number of ways, including can be smoked, vaporized, applied to the skin, cooked in food, or brewed into tea. Cannabis can be used for medical and non-medical purposes.

The most researched cannabinoid is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is responsible for the high and intoxication effects. THC has some therapeutic effects, but it can also have harmful effects. Harmful effects may be greater when the strength of THC is higher.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is another type of cannabinoid. Unlike THC, CBD does not produce a high or intoxication. It may be used for its therapeutic effects.