What you need to know to enjoy legal weed, legally
Dudes and dudettes, the time has arrived. Canada has legalized cannabis and people are either very happy, very mad, or don’t seem to care (great journalism, we know). One thing that is for certain, is that there still seem to be some major grey areas with regards to where/when/how to buy, consume, transport etc. to make sure you’re staying within your legal greenery boundaries. Well, as per usual, we’ve put together a little something to help you out. Here are the basic things you need to know about the cannabis legalization laws!
Cannabis Consumption – What You Need to Know
Cannabis will be regulated in Canada by federal, provincial and municipal governments. What does that mean? Well, here you go:
- Federal: Possession limits, criminal offenses, public health, impaired driving, medical cannabis, education taxation, home cultivation, production
- Provincial: Minimum age, distribution and wholesale, retail model, locations and rules, impaired driving, public health, education, taxation, workplace safety, public consumption
- Municipal: Public consumption, retail locations, and rules, land use and zoning, education, enforcing municipal, provincial and federal regulation
The Bylaws vary depending on the city, so if you’re planning on going for a little road trip you might want to be wary of your cannabis practices.
Where to get it?
- Private retail stores and government online sales
- You can find the government of Alberta sales right here
- Don’t forget, you have to be 18 to purchase cannabis, and you even have to be 18 to enter any licensed stores.
Consumption locations
Allowed:
- Public consumption sites may be proposed and approved in the future
- Festivals can apply for permits for consumption areas
- Private properties
Prohibited:
- Anywhere that smoking is banned
- Calgary’s public places
- Vehicles and boats
- Indoor common areas in condos, apartment buildings, university residences
- Where children gather (school grounds, playgrounds, etc.)
How is cannabis use being enforced?
- Bylaw Services only look at public consumption
- Their first step is educating the public on where consumption is legally allowed and then ticketing
- Treating public cannabis use the same as open alcohol in public
Also, and this should be obvious, absolutely no consumption in your car!! This is one area where the police will certainly be cracking down (and for good reason). Don’t be a dummy, and don’t drive impaired.
For any more information, you can check out the Alberta legalization page right here. In the meantime, be safe out there and enjoy responsibly, people.
It’s 2018, what a time to be alive.
