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Cannabis Tourism in Canada – Frequently Asked Questions

  1. My Grandmother always told me to avoid liquor and “doobies.” Was she wrong?

We aren’t here to argue with your Grandmother. She may very well be right. In fact, if she asks, we said: “of course she is right!”

However, many experts believe that within the next decade, Cannabis tourism will bring nearly eighteen (18) million tourists to Canada annually. It is for these travellers we have written these frequently asked questions and responses.

  1. Is cannabis legal in Canada?

Medicinal cannabis use has been legal in Canada since July 2001, and adult-use (not medicinal) of cannabis became legal in Canada on October 17, 2018.

  1. Where can I purchase cannabis legally in Canada?

Although adult-use cannabis consumption is legal throughout Canada’s provinces and territories, travellers should be aware of provincial and local regulations and policies on medicinal and adult-use of cannabis, including how cannabis can be sold.

All Canadian provinces and territories, except for Nunavut, have both online sales and brick-and-mortar stores. In Nunavut, you can only purchase cannabis through the government-operated online retail space.

  1. Where can I consume cannabis legally in Canada?

The locations where you may legally consume cannabis in Canada varies, with differing provincial and local regulations on smoking cannabis in public, in close vicinity to schools and parks, and near government-owned facilities.

  1. If I purchase cannabis legally in my home country, can I bring it with me when travelling to Canada?

No, you may never cross the Canadian border with cannabis products, regardless of whether THC or CBD cannabis products are legal in your home country.

  1. If I purchase cannabis legally in one Province or Territory of Canada, can I fly with this cannabis to other Provinces or Territories of Canada?

Yes, according to Transport Canada, adult and medicinal users of cannabis can now travel between Canadian airports with up to 30 grams of cannabis in either their carry-on or checked luggage. It is important to note that the traveller’s final destination is controlling on whether travel with Cannabis is permitted.

  1. Can I bring small amounts of cannabis home from my trip to Canada? What if it is legal where I live also?

No, you may never cross the Canadian border with cannabis products, regardless of whether THC or CBD cannabis products are legal in your home country.

  1. Do I need a Visa or Temporary Resident Permit to travel to Canada?

Whether a Visa, Electronic Travel Authorization (“eTA”), or Temporary Resident Permit (“TRP”) is required depends on your citizenship and other personal biographic information, including any grounds for inadmissibility.

US citizens travelling to Canada are Visa-exempt and do not require a Visa, eTA, or TRP unless they have been deemed inadmissible to Canada.

An eTA is an entry requirement for Visa-exempt foreign nationals travelling to Canada by air, including citizens of Visa-exempt countries other than the US (see List of Visa-Exempt Countries) and other than those holding a valid Canadian Visa.

Individuals who do not meet the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (“IRPA”), or who are inadmissible under IRPA, may be issued a TRP to enter Canada temporarily.

  1. What activities are permitted as a visitor to Canada?

As a visitor to Canada, you are permitted to perform the following activities: vacation; tourism; visiting friends/relatives; to receive medical treatment; participation in social events; business meetings; sales demonstrations; receiving training that will assist foreign position; contract negotiations; providing after-sales service; investigating investment opportunities; and certain other activities as permitted by law.

As a visitor to Canada, you may not under any circumstances be employed in Canada or attend secondary or post-secondary educational institutions

  1. If I work in the Cannabis industry or a related industry in my home country, can I travel to Canada for the purpose of Cannabis business?

Yes, you may enter Canada for the purpose of Cannabis business. However, you may never cross the Canadian border with cannabis products, regardless of whether THC or CBD cannabis products are legal in your home country.

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