Visiting Canada: What Travellers Need to Know About Cannabis

Cannabis is legal for adults in Canada, but it is a local-law question: the minimum age is 18 in Alberta, 21 in Quebec and 19 in every other province and territory, and public use is limited almost everywhere. The one rule that never changes for a visitor is the border: it is illegal to take cannabis into or out of Canada without Health Canada authorization. This page reflects official guidance as of 27 October 2026 and is informational only.

What age do I need to be?

The age depends on where you are, not where you are from. Health Canada’s provincial table lists 18 in Alberta, 21 in Quebec and 19 in the other provinces and territories. The federal Act bars supplying anyone under 18. See the age and possession table for all thirteen jurisdictions.

Where can I buy it, and how much can I carry?

Legal cannabis comes only from a licensed seller in the province or territory, whether a government store or a licensed private store, depending on where you are. Adults may carry up to 30 grams of dried cannabis or equivalent in public in every province and territory on Health Canada’s table. The page on finding a licensed store explains how each province runs retail and where the official lists are. The official pages we reviewed set an age requirement and do not mention a separate rule for visitors, but none addresses visitor purchases directly, so confirm with the store.

Where can I use it?

Mostly in private places. Examples from official pages: Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador and PEI prohibit consumption in public places, B.C. allows it generally where tobacco smoking is allowed but not in parks, near schools or within 6 metres of building doorways, and Ontario’s rules ban it in enclosed public places and the indoor common areas of apartments and condos. Landlords, hotels and condo boards may add their own rules. Do not use cannabis in a vehicle: that is prohibited in B.C., Ontario, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador and PEI.

Can I drive after using cannabis?

No. Driving with between 2 ng and under 5 ng of THC per ml of blood within two hours is a summary offence with a maximum $1,000 fine, and 5 ng or more is a more serious offence with a minimum $1,000 fine on a first conviction and up to 10 years’ imprisonment. Health Canada says impairment can last for more than 24 hours. More detail is on the travel, driving and growing page.

What happens at the border?

• Entering Canada. Any cannabis, including medical cannabis, must be declared to the Canada Border Services Agency, and bringing it in without Health Canada authorization is illegal. Failing to declare it can lead to arrest and prosecution, and since 29 March 2021 the CBSA may issue a monetary penalty of up to $2,000.
• Leaving Canada. You may not take cannabis, edibles, extracts, topicals or CBD products out of the country, even to places where cannabis is legal. B.C. warns that a flight re-routed to another country could expose you to severe penalties.
• Medical cannabis. A prescription is not Health Canada authorization. Exemptions are issued only in rare and exceptional circumstances.

Because the departure rule applies to any amount, do not pack cannabis products in luggage or carry-on bags when leaving the country.