Marijuana is legal in Canada as of today
A guide to how this affects you, and what to expect
On Wednesday, marijuana will be legal across Canada, signalling a massive change in the Canadian drug market, policing and culture.
Those in Peterborough who are awaiting the moment to use cannabis legally do have to adhere to the Cannabis Act, and breaking the act could still end up with convictions leading to jail time.
So here are the top things Peterborough’s marijuana users need to know before lighting up on Wednesday.
Possession
One of the first things anyone seeking to buy or own cannabis should know is how much they are legally allowed to possess.
Anyone 18 or over can possess 30 grams of dried cannabis, or equivalent of non-dried, in public and share the same amount with other adults.
According to the federal government, one gram of dried cannabis is the equivalent of five grams of it fresh, meaning up to 150 grams of it can be held if it’s fresh.
Up to four plants per residence can also be grown in one’s home.
Age restrictions
To purchase marijuana in Ontario you have to be at least 18 years of age.
According to the federal government, the Cannabis Act has several measures to prevent youth from obtaining cannabis.
As well as being unable to purchase it, it is illegal to resell cannabis to those younger than 18 or use “youth to commit a cannabis-related offence.”
Purchasing
Starting on Wednesday, the Ontario Cannabis Store will be available for Ontarians to buy marijuana online.
The website says that, as of the time of its launch, it will be the only legal way to buy cannabis in Ontario and all products sold are licensed by Health Canada.
As well, producers of marijuana sold by the Ontario Cannabis Store are also federally regulated.
Right now it’s unclear exactly what strains and varieties will be available at launch, but the website does include a list of methods of consumption, including inhalation, ingestion and topical application.
Policing
As mentioned above, possession of more than the legally permitted amount of cannabis can result in criminal charges.
But policing of potentially intoxicated drivers may prove difficult, as a large number of the country’s police forces say they aren’t prepared for legalization.
The drug testing unit, the Drager DrugTest 5000, which has been promoted as the tool for detecting cannabis use, has been criticized by some police forces as being too bulky, it takes too long to process samples and is unreliable.
Results from a roadside drug test also cannot be used as evidence leading to a conviction, as a blood test is required instead.
Places to smoke
For the most part the rules for where you can smoke cannabis are similar to the ones for smoking tobacco.
It is illegal to smoke in the workplace, in indoor public spaces, or in common areas of condos, apartment buildings or postsecondary residences.
If smoking near a school you must be 20 metres away from the property or nine metres if smoking by a restaurant with a patio.
It is also illegal to smoke it in locations where young children frequent, including playgrounds and child care centres.
Dispensaries
While the original plan for legalization, introduced by the previous Liberal government, intended to feature physical storefronts for selling marijuana. Those plans have been withdrawn.
As of Wednesday, the only way to purchase cannabis in Ontario legally is from the online store.
Any dispensaries currently open, or that open after Oct. 17, will operate illegally and could be shut down by the police.
Legislation is being introduced by the province that could have private retailers operate in a regulated market, but those laws have not yet passed.