Federal public possession limit
30 g dried cannabis or equivalent
Government of Canada
Minimum legal age
18, 19 or 21 depending on province
Government of Canada, Government of Quebec
Home growing
Up to 4 plants per household where allowed
Government of Canada, exceptions in Quebec
How to read the province rules table
The province-by-province table below summarizes legal age, public possession, home growing, where to buy legally, and rules for public use. Each row shows the specific rules for that province or territory. Use it to compare key aspects and spot exceptions.
Table: Cannabis laws by province and territory
| Province or territory | Legal age | Home growing | Where to buy legally |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | 18 | Up to 4 plants | the AGLC government online store and licensed private stores |
| British Columbia | 19 | Up to 4 plants | BC Cannabis Stores (government) and licensed private stores |
| Manitoba | 19 | Up to 4 plants | licensed private retailers |
| New Brunswick | 19 | Up to 4 plants | Cannabis NB stores and its online shop |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 19 | Up to 4 plants | the NLC government online store and licensed stores |
| Nova Scotia | 19 | Up to 4 plants | NSLC stores and the NSLC website |
| Northwest Territories | 19 | Up to 4 plants | the territorial government's online store, delivered by Canada Post |
| Nunavut | 19 | Up to 4 plants | the Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis Commission (online, by phone and through agents) |
| Ontario | 19 | Up to 4 plants | the Ontario Cannabis Store (ocs.ca) and licensed private stores |
| Prince Edward Island | 19 | Up to 4 plants | PEI Cannabis stores and peicannabiscorp.com |
| Quebec | 21 | Not allowed | the SQDC (stores and sqdc.ca) |
| Saskatchewan | 19 | Up to 4 plants | licensed retailers |
| Yukon | 19 | Up to 4 plants | Cannabis Yukon, run by the Yukon Liquor Corporation, and licensed stores |
Federal baseline rules across Canada
The federal government sets a public possession limit of 30 grams of dried cannabis or its equivalent for adults. Home growing is allowed up to four plants per household, unless a province prohibits it. These are minimum standards, provinces can make their rules stricter.
Key provincial exceptions to federal law
Quebec
- Legal age is 21 (Government of Quebec)
- Home growing is prohibited (Government of Quebec)
- Only the SQDC sells legal cannabis
Alberta
- Legal age is 18 (Government of Canada)
- Home growing allowed (federal baseline applies)
- Legal sales through AGLC and private stores
Manitoba
- Home growing allowed since May 2025, indoors, 19+ (Government of Manitoba)
- Legal age is 19
- Private retailers only
What to check before buying or using cannabis
- Confirm the legal age in your province or territory
- Check if home growing is allowed where you live
- Buy only from the legal provincial channel
- Know the public possession and use rules
- Never take cannabis across the Canadian border
Public consumption rules and local restrictions
Where you can use cannabis in public depends on provincial and municipal rules. Some provinces allow it where tobacco can be smoked, while others ban it in all public places. Always check local restrictions.
Travelling with cannabis within Canada
- 1
Check the laws for your destination
Each province and territory sets its own rules for age, possession, and home growing.
- 2
Follow the stricter rule
If local laws are stricter than the federal baseline, you must follow the local law.
- 3
Never transport cannabis across international borders
Bringing cannabis into or out of Canada is illegal, regardless of the destination (Government of Canada).
Legal retail channels by province
Each province and territory designates its own legal retail channels for cannabis. These include government-run online stores, licensed private retailers, or a mix of both. The table shows the official retailer for each region.
Sources