Top 10 Things You Need to Know About Cannabis in Canada

October 17, 2018

1. On October 17, 2018, the Cannabis Act came into force, legalizing and strictly regulating access to cannabis in Canada.
2. Cannabis won’t be legal for everyone. You must be of legal age, which is 18 or 19 years of age, depending on your province or territory.
3. Get informed about where you can legally buy or use cannabis in your province or territory.
4. Learn how to recognize legal cannabis. Look for plain packaging, the standardized cannabis symbol, health warning messages on labels, and the cannabis excise stamp; otherwise, the cannabis you possess may be from an illegal source.
5. Make sure you store cannabis securely and away from children. Remember that it is illegal to sell or provide cannabis to youth under the legal age.
6. If you plan to use cannabis, learn how to use it safely and know the health effects. Like alcohol and tobacco, cannabis is not without risks, especially for those under the age of 25.
7. Don't travel internationally with cannabis. It is illegal to take cannabis across the Canadian border whether you’re leaving or entering Canada.
8. Don’t drive or work high. As with alcohol, driving while impaired by cannabis is illegal. It can harm your ability to drive. It can also affect your ability to operate equipment safely.
9. Under the Cannabis Act, access to cannabis for medical purposes continues for those who have the authorization of their healthcare practitioner.
10. If you have any other questions, get the facts at Canada.ca/Cannabis, the Government of Canada’s hub for cannabis information.