Recreational Regulations
Regulations concerning the consumption of cannabis for recreational purposes in Ontario have been designed in accordance with Federal regulations. However, they also feature restrictions / allowances that are specific to the Province. Here they are in point form to allow you to have a strong understanding of Ontario marijuana regulations and how you can enjoy cannabis in accordance with Ontario marijuana laws.
Ontario Regulations:
- The minimum age for recreational use of cannabis is 19 in Ontario.
- Areas of allowed use – private residences, most outdoor public places, designated guest rooms like hotels and motels, and residential vehicles and boats.
- Areas of controlled use – none specified.
- Areas where use is prohibited – indoor common areas in condos, apartment buildings, and university / college residences, schools, school grounds, on and within 20 metres of children’s playgrounds, childcare or early years program centres, home child care locations, hospitals, hospices and other care facilities, and publicly owned spaces, vehicles and boats that are in operation or about to be operated, restaurants, on bar patios and within 9 metres of them, outdoor grounds of specified Ontario government office buildings, reserved seating areas at outdoors sports and entertainment locations, grounds of community recreational facilities and within 20 metres of them, and sheltered outdoors areas with a roof and more than two walls.(bus shelter for example)
- Driving restrictions are a fundamental part of Ontario marijuana regulations – driving while under the influence of cannabis is strictly prohibited by law in Ontario. Failure to abide by this legislation can result in any or all of the following repercussions:
- Immediate license suspension
- Financial penalties
- Possible vehicle impoundment
- Possibility of criminal record
- Possibility of jail time
- Place of purchase restrictions – Ontario marijuana laws are working with a tightly regulated private model for the retails sale of cannabis to be implemented by April 1 of 2019. Until then, people aged 19 and over will be able to purchase cannabis online in Ontario through the Ontario Cannabis Stores (OCS.ca). Consumers will be required to verify their age to accept delivery and packages will not be left unattended at the doors of private residences.
- Possession restrictions – individuals aged 19 and up are legally allowed to have a maximum of 30 grams of dried cannabis in their possession in public at any time.
- Transportation restrictions – product transported in a motor vehicle must be ‘packed in baggage that is fastened’.
- Growing restrictions – individuals aged 19 and up are able to grow up to four plants per residence, not per person.
- Workplace regulations – consuming recreational cannabis in the workplace is illegal in Ontario, unless otherwise explicitly specified by the ownership or management.
Ontario Marijuana Regulations: Medical
In compliance with the Cannabis Act of October, 2018 individuals who have received authorization from the regulatory body of the Canadian Province where they reside may purchase, possess, and consume medical cannabis without personal storage limits in the home, and public possession limits as follows; the lesser of 150 grams or a 30-day supply of dried cannabis (or the equivalent in cannabis product) in addition to the 30 grams allowed for non-medical purposes. Individuals must be able to provide documentation of their medical marijuana authorization if in public possession of cannabis.
However, as it relates to Medical cannabis in Ontario, Provincial legislation states that it can only be purchased from:
- A federally licensed online producer
- By written order
- Over the phone and delivered by secure mail
Municipal Variances: Recreational & Medicinal
There are no variances between the Province and its Ontario marijuana laws pertaining to cannabis and regulations for individual municipalities in the Province. Provincial regulations will apply to all cities, towns, and elsewhere in Ontario.
