Cannabis Legal Issues in Ontario: What You Need to Know

Cannabis Is Legal in Ontario with Important Limits

Recreational cannabis has been legal in Canada since October 17, 2018, under the federal Cannabis Act. Ontario has its own provincial rules governing how cannabis is sold, possessed, and consumed. Understanding what is legal — and what remains illegal — is essential for Ontario residents.

Legal Possession Limits

Adults 19 years of age or older in Ontario can legally:

• Possess up to 30 grams of dried cannabis (or its equivalent in other forms) in a public place
• Purchase cannabis from an authorized Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) physical store or online retailer
• Grow up to 4 cannabis plants per household for personal use (from a licensed seed or seedling)
• Make cannabis products at home for personal use (but not using organic solvents)

Where You Can and Cannot Consume Cannabis

In Ontario, cannabis can generally be consumed in the same places where tobacco smoking is permitted. It is prohibited in: indoor common areas of condominiums and apartment buildings, motor vehicles, workplaces, schools and daycare centres, healthcare facilities, restaurants, bars, and anywhere tobacco smoking is prohibited.

Drug-Impaired Driving

Driving while impaired by cannabis is a serious criminal offence under the Criminal Code of Canada. Blood THC concentration above 2 ng/mL within two hours of driving is a criminal offence. The consequences are comparable to alcohol-impaired driving: criminal record, licence suspension, fines, and potential imprisonment.

Illegal Cannabis: What Remains Prohibited

Certain cannabis activities remain illegal: possession of more than 30 grams in public, selling or distributing cannabis without authorization, purchasing from unauthorized sellers (the "illegal market"), and providing cannabis to anyone under 19.