- Recreational use of cannabis will be legal in Canada on October 17, 2018.
- Cannabis won’t be legal for everyone. You will have to be of legal age, which is 18 or 19 years of age, depending on your province or territory.
- Get informed about where you will be able to legally buy or use cannabis in your province or territory.
- Learn how to recognize legal cannabis. Look for plain packaging, the standardized cannabis symbol, health warning messages on labels, and the cannabis excise stamp.
- Make sure you store cannabis securely and away from children.
- If you plan to use cannabis once it is available for legal purchase, 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.
- Don't travel internationally with cannabis. It will remain illegal to take cannabis across the Canadian border—just like it is today—whether you’re leaving or entering Canada.
- 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.
- Under the Cannabis Act, access to cannabis for medical purposes will continue for those who have the authorization of their healthcare practitioner.
- If you have any other questions, get the facts at Canada.ca/Cannabis, the Government of Canada’s hub for cannabis information.