LEGAL POT IN ONTARIO: A CONSUMERS’ GUIDE

Where you can you buy it: Online only, at the Ontario Cannabis Store. The OCS is run by an agency of the provincial government. You have to have an Ontario address to make a purchase. The website: ocs.ca

What will be available?: Dried flower, pre-rolled joints, cannabis oil and gel capsules filled with oil. The cannabis oil is usually mixed with a carrier liquid such as grapeseed oil. It can be eaten on its own — a drop under the tongue is one common method — or put into homemade food or drinks. Cannabis accessories are on sale, too, including bongs, pipes, vaporizers and grinders. There will be no seeds or seedlings on sale to start.

Can you order online from other provinces?: No.

What about vape pens and pot brownies?: Not for sale yet. Edible cannabis products and cannabis concentrates, including the substance used in vape pens, are not legal now. Health Canada is coming up with guidelines for what will be allowed, and those products must be regulated within one year of legalization. The possibilities are endless, from cannabis drinks to mints and topical creams. However, you can make your own pot brownies, infused salad dressing or anything else using the oil for sale at the Ontario Cannabis Store.

What personal information do I have to reveal to buy online?: Some people are worried about a paper trail that connects them to cannabis consumption, especially since U.S. border guards can bar Canadians from entering that country for life if they admit to using pot. You’ll have to provide a name, address, email and credit card number. Customers won’t have to create an online account; each purchase will be as a “guest.” And unlike other online stores, the OCS promises to have “the lightest possible touch on consumer data.” Your purchase information won’t be sold, shared with third parties or used for any other purpose. “It will be kept for the minimum length of time required by law, then deleted as soon as possible.” Data will be stored in Canada.

How will it be delivered?: Canada Post will deliver your pot. It will take one to five days, depending on where you live, and there will be a flat $5 fee for shipping. The experience will be similar to buying alcohol online from the LCBO. No packages will be left at your door. Someone who is 19 will have to show ID and sign to collect the package, although the delivery agent won’t take a copy of the identification. If you aren’t home, a notice will direct you to the nearest postal outlet to pick up the parcel.

Will the package indicate it contains cannabis?: No.

How old do I have to be to buy?: 19 When will stores open?

April 2019.

Can I grow my own cannabis?: Yes. As many as four plants per residence. They must be grown in the residence. And you must buy the seeds or clones from a legal source such as the Ontario Cannabis Store. However, the seeds won’t be on sale on Day 1.

How much can I possess in public?: 30 grams of dried flower, or the equivalent in oil. A typical joint contains about 0.5 to one gram of cannabis.