Cannabis Act

The Cannabis Act is a federal law that came into force Oct. 17, 2018, legalizing access to recreational cannabis in Canada. The law governs the production, distribution, sale and possession of cannabis across Canada and protects public health and safety.  

Each province and territory is responsible for setting its own rules around how cannabis can be sold and where stores may be located, among other regulations. In Ontario, recreational cannabis is available for purchase only by adults 19 years of age or older and only through Authorized Cannabis Stores and OCS.ca. It is illegal to purchase cannabis from non-licensed sources.  

Learn more about who does what in the sale of legal cannabis.