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The legal age to purchase and consume cannabis in each province and territory is different. You must be 19 and older to buy, use, possess and grow recreational cannabis. This is the same as the minimum age for the sale of tobacco and alcohol in Ontario.

Cannabis is legalized according to new Federal Health Canada regulations. Each province and territory regulate whether or not cannabis is legal to consume in public. Some provinces allow public consumption wherever smoking is allowed. Others ban the use of recreational cannabis in all outdoor public spaces.  In Ontario, 19 years old or above are legally allowed to possess up to 30 grams of dried cannabis or equivalent of extract, edible or topical cannabis in legislated legal public areas.

The new Act allows smoke and vape cannabis in the following places:

• Private residences
• Outdoor public areas, such as parks, sidewalks.
• Guest rooms in motels, hotels and inns designated as smoking rooms
• Boats and residential vehicles that have permanent cooking facilities,  sleeping accommodations and parked or anchored
• Scientific research and testing facilities for research purposes

Cannabis is also allowed in controlled areas in long-term care homes, residential hospices, certain retirement homes,  provincially-funded supportive housing, veterans’ facilities or designated psychiatric facilities. 

Indoors

You cannot smoke or vape cannabis in:

• indoor common areas in condos, apartment buildings and university/college residences
• enclosed public places and enclosed work places
• non-designated guest rooms in hotels, motels and inns

Schools and places where children gather

You cannot smoke or vape cannabis:

• at school, on school grounds, and all public areas within 20 metres of these grounds
• on children’s playgrounds and public areas within 20 metres of playgrounds
• in child care centres or where an early years program is provided
• in places where home child care is provided — even if children aren’t present

Hospitals, hospices, care homes and other facilities

You cannot smoke or vape cannabis:

• within 9 metres from the entrance or exit of hospitals (public and private), psychiatric facilities, long-term care homes, independent health facilities
• on outdoor grounds of hospitals (public and private) and psychiatric facilities
• in non-controlled areas in long-term care homes, certain retirement homes, provincially-funded supportive housing, designated psychiatric or veterans’ facilities, and residential hospices

Publicly owned spaces

You cannot smoke or vape cannabis in publicly-owned sport fields (not including golf courses), nearby spectator areas and public areas within 20 metres of these areas.

Vehicles and boats

You cannot consume cannabis (smoking, vaping and eating) in a vehicle or boat that is being driven or will be driven.

Other outdoor areas

You cannot smoke or vape cannabis:

• in restaurants and on bar patios and public areas within 9 metres of a patio
• on outdoor grounds of specified Ontario government office buildings
• in reserved seating areas at outdoor sports and entertainment locations
• on grounds of community recreational facilities and public areas within 20 metres of those grounds
• in sheltered outdoor areas with a roof and more than two walls which the public or employees frequent, or are invited to (for example, a bus shelter)

The limit for home possession of cannabis in each province and territory varies.

In Ontario, you are able to have a maximum of 30 grams (about one ounce) of dried cannabis (or equivalent) in public at any time.

One gram of dried cannabis is equal (equivalent) to:

• 5 grams of fresh cannabis
• 15 grams of edible product
• 70 grams of liquid product
• 0.25 grams of concentrates (solid or liquid)
• 1 cannabis plant seed

Yes, you can buy cannabis online. It is important to note that the ability to purchase cannabis online became available when the new regulations came into place in Canada. It is quite easy to browse cannabis products and order from the comfort and privacy of your home. 

Consumers need to be aware of regulations around online purchase and only 19 years or older are allowed to purchase. After successful payment, we will process your order followed by carefully packaging and you will receive a notification when the order is ready to be picked up.

You sure can! You may grow up to four cannabis plants per residence (not per person) if:

• you are 19 years of age and older
• it is only for your personal use
• the starting material was purchased from the Ontario Cannabis Store or an authorized retail store
• it is not forbidden by your lease agreement or condo rules

Probably not, Ontario has strict rules in place to make sure workplaces are safe.

Consuming recreational cannabis in an enclosed workplace remains illegal after legalization on October 17, 2018.

Employers (and supervisors):

• need to know the rules for medical cannabis
• are required to address workplace hazards, under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA)

Employees and workers:

• who are unable or unfit to work safely could be a hazard to themselves or to others in the workplace
• have a duty to perform work safely and to report any hazards to their supervisor or employer under the OHSA

No. Medical cannabis is subject to different rules than recreational cannabis. The production and sale of medical cannabis is regulated exclusively by the federal government.

The only way to purchase medical cannabis is:

• from a federally licensed producer online
• by written order
• over the phone and delivered by secure mail

You can also receive a licence from Health Canada to grow medical cannabis on your own, or designate someone else to grow it on your behalf.

Learn more about accessing cannabis for medical purposes.