WHAT'S LEGAL

Legal Use of Cannabis in Ontario

What you need to know before your start shopping.

HIGHLIGHTS

• In Ontario, the legal age for possessing and purchasing cannabis is 19 years or older.
• OCS is the only online retailer and wholesaler of legal recreational cannabis.
• You can buy up to 30 grams of dried cannabis flower (or its equivalent) at a time. 

Legal Consumption Age

The federal Cannabis Act sets the legal age of cannabis possession in Canada at 18 years but grants the authority for provinces and territories to raise the legal age. In Ontario, the legal age of cannabis possession and consumption is 19 years or older, which aligns with the province’s legal age for alcohol use.

Legal Purchase Outlets

In Ontario, OCS is the only online cannabis retailer and wholesaler of legal recreational cannabis. Cannabis products can be purchased at a number of privately-owned authorized retail stores across the province. To find an authorized retailer near you, click here.

Legal medical cannabis purchases must be made through Health Canada licensed sellers. OCS cannot give medical advice or fill medical prescriptions. Talk to your doctor for details about the medical use of cannabis.

Legal Forms of Purchasable Cannabis

The federal Cannabis Act legalizes fresh and dried cannabis, cannabis oil, plants and seeds for cultivation. On OCS.ca, you can buy dried cannabis, seeds and cannabis oil, extracts (including vapes) and edibles. Topical cannabis products will become available for purchase in spring 2020.

Legal Allowable Quantity

Federal legislation defines a maximum public possession limit of up to 30 grams of dried legal cannabis at any time or its equivalency. As a result, OCS.ca limits any one transaction to a maximum of 30 grams of dried cannabis or its equivalent in other forms. This is easy to track as you shop online: The total number of grams you’ve accumulated is displayed as you put items in your bag.

The provincial legislation also maintains the federal legal limit of four plants per private residential dwelling (not per adult).

Legal Allowable Places for Consumption

Under the provincial legislation, recreational cannabis may only be legally consumed in:

• Private residential dwellings (including a front porch, balcony and backyard)
• Many outdoor public places, such as sidewalks and parks
• Designated guest rooms in hotels, motels and inns
• Controlled areas in residential care facilities, psychiatric facilities, veterans’ facilities and residential hospices
• Boats and vehicles when used as a temporary or permanent living space and not in use (excludes boats carrying passengers)

Cannabis cannot be consumed in:

• Enclosed public spaces and all workplaces
• Indoor common areas of condominiums, apartment buildings and university residences
• Schools and school grounds, and within 20 metres of the grounds of a school and community centre
• Restaurant and bar patios, and public areas within nine metres of a patio
• Child-care centres, home child-care centres and where an early years program or service is provided
• Children’s playgrounds
• Outdoor grounds of hospitals and certain Ontario government buildings
• Publicly owned sporting areas (except golf courses)
• Vehicles and boats that are being operated by the user (in the case of all forms of consumption) or under someone’s care or control (in the case of cannabis being smoked or vaped)

Laws Governing Driving Under the Influence of Cannabis

Both federal and provincial legislation set out key provisions related to drug-impaired driving offences and procedures. Police are now able to detect suspected drug-impaired driving and enforce strict offences related to drug-impaired driving.