Just because cannabis is legal to consume recreationally in Canada doesn’t mean you can legally enjoy a toke while walking down the street. Regulations vary from province to province, but at least in Saskatchewan, the only smoking you’ll be able to do will be behind closed doors.
That’s because in this province any consumption of cannabis in public comes with a $200 fine. That amount jumps to $1,000 if you consume on school grounds or at a child care facility.
The only place you’ll be allowed to smoke pot in Saskatchewan will be in private, either in your home or your backyard, unless you want to risk a fine.
Other provinces are much more permissive.
In Ontario, you can smoke cannabis anywhere you can also smoke tobacco, including private residences, outdoor public places, designated guest rooms in hotels, anchored boats, and controlled areas in housing complexes. B.C. has similar rules, except smoking and vaping of non-medical cannabis will be banned in areas frequented by children, including parks and playgrounds, as well as in all vehicles.
Here’s a breakdown of how the rest of the country is setting out its rules for consumption:
Alberta – adults will be allowed to consume cannabis in their homes and in some public spaces where smoking tobacco is allowed. Municipalities have the power to create additional restrictions on public use. Cannabis use will also be banned on any hospital, school or child care facility property, within a prescribed distance from playgrounds, sports fields, skateboard parks, zoos, outdoor theatres and pools, in any vehicle except those used as a temporary residence, or at any cannabis retail outlet.
Manitoba – Smoking or vaping cannabis will be banned in outdoor public places such as streets and sidewalks, parks and beaches, school grounds, restaurant patios, the grounds of health care facilities and more. It is also banned in enclosed public places, indoor workplaces and other areas, with the exception of designated rooms in a hospital’s palliative care unit or an end-f-life hospice.
Quebec – Cannabis will be banned anywhere smoking tobacco is banned, in addition to bars, schools, daycares, sports centres, hospitals, bus shelters and within nine metres of doors and windows of those places. It is also forbidden in outdoor play areas intended for children, as well as within nine metres. Municipalities may pass stricter laws. Quebec has set the minimum age to 18, but the newly elected provincial government has said it will become the only province to set the age limit for recreational cannabis at 21. Other provinces aligned the minimum age for cannabis consumption with the minimum age for drinking alcohol.
Newfoundland and Labrador – smoking will be limited to private property and in private residences
Nova Scotia – Smoking cannabis will be banned anywhere smoking tobacco is, including casinos, health care facilities, jails, theatres and other indoor public facilities, ferries, bus stations, taxi shelters, common areas of apartment buildings, schools and daycares.
New Brunswick – Smoking recreational cannabis will not be permitted in public places.
P.E.I – Smoking will be restricted to private residences, with some exceptions for certain designated spaces.
Northwest Territories – Smoking cannabis will be restricted to private property and private residences. It will also be allowed on trails, highways, streets, roads and in parks when they’re not in use for public events.
Yukon – Cannabis consumption will only be permitted on private property and in private residences
Nunavut – Smoking will not be permitted in public places, except in designated cannabis lounges or permitted events.
