Cannabis tourism: what visitors should know

Canada draws plenty of curious travellers since legalization. If you’re visiting, the basics are simpler than you’d think, with two important catches.

You can buy it as a visitor

There’s no residency requirement. Any adult of legal age can buy from authorized retailers, the same as a local. Bring valid photo ID showing your age.

The two catches

1. Where you can use it is limited. Most hotels prohibit smoking, public-use rules are strict and vary by city, and there are few legal social spaces. See our note on consumption lounges. Plan where you’ll consume before you buy.
2. Never cross the border with it. Taking cannabis into or out of Canada is a serious crime, even back to a place where it’s legal. Buy it here, use it here, leave it here.

Know the local rules

Legal age and where-to-buy differ by province, a tourist in Montreal faces different rules than one in Vancouver. Check your destination’s province guide, and the rules checker gives a quick summary.

Buying is easy; using it responsibly and never border-hopping with it are the parts to get right.

Sources

• Government of Canada, Cannabis and travel