Cannabis
What is Cannabis?
A mild psychedelic (if it can be considered one at all), cannabis has been a mainstay of Western popular culture since at least the 1960s. It is typically smoked or eaten in some form of food (e.g., brownies, gummies). Its effects may include feelings of calmness, drowsiness or lethargy, hunger (“the munchies”), and altered or enhanced sensory perception. You can find Canada’s informational resources on cannabis here.
Is Cannabis Legal in Canada?
Yes, cannabis is legal in Canada for adult recreational use. The legal age for purchase and use varies per applicable provincial and territorial law (see below).
Cannabis has been legal in Canada for adult recreational use since 2018 pursuant to the Cannabis Act. It has been legal for medical use in Canada since 2001, following the Ontario Court of Appeal’s ruling in R. v. Parker (2000).
At What Age Can I Buy Cannabis in Canada?
Each province and territory establishes its own legislation and regulations governing cannabis use and sale, including the age at which adults can legally purchase cannabis products. For most provinces and territories, one must be 19+ to use and/or purchase cannabis. However, in Alberta the age limit is 18 and in Quebec it is 21.
Below, we have provided a concise list of the applicable age limits for cannabis use and purchase as of April 2024, with hyperlinks to official government webpages:
Alberta: 18
British Columbia: 19
Manitoba: 19
New Brunswick: 19
Nova Scotia: 19
Nunavut: 19
Ontario: 19
Quebec: 21
Saskatchewan: 19
Yukon: 19
Legal History of Cannabis in Canada
In 1923, cannabis was banned in Canada when included in the Act to Prohibit the Improper Use of Opium and other Drugs.
The Liberal governments of Jean Chretien and Paul Martin tried to pass legislation decriminalizing cannabis in the 1990s and early 2000s, but failed. However, in 2000 the Ontario Court of Appeal found the near-absolute prohibition of cannabis unconstitutional in the case of R. v Parker. This ruling led to the legalization of medical cannabis in 2001.
Following the election of Justin Trudeau as Prime Minister of Canada in 2015, Canada passed Bill C-45, the Cannabis Act, in June 2018. The Act, which formally legalized the recreational use of cannabis, went into effect on October 17, 2018. Canada became the second country worldwide (after Uruguay) to legalize recreational cannabis, and the first among the G7 and G20.
One can find a more detailed history of Canadian cannabis law here.
Medical or Therapeutic Use?
The medical uses of cannabis include treatment for nausea, lack of appetite, pain, seizures, glaucoma, and other ailments. The active ingredient cannabidiol (CBD) is also used in isolated form to treat many of the aforementioned ailments, particularly pain and seizures.