Cannabis

• Private residences – this does not include residences that are also workplaces (e.g. long-term care and/or retirement homes)
• Many outdoor public places (e.g. sidewalks)
• Designated guest rooms in hotels, motels and inns
• Residential vehicles and boats that meet certain criteria (e.g. have permanent sleeping accommodations and cooking facilities, and are parked or anchored)
• Scientific research and testing facilities (if the cannabis use is for scientific research and testing purposes)
• Controlled areas in:
• Long-term care homes
• Certain retirement homes
• Residential hospices
• Provincially-funded supportive housing
• Designated psychiatric facilities or veterans’ facilities

*Additional restrictions on smoking and vaping may exist in, lease agreements and the policies of employers and property owners.

For additional information on proposed legislation and places of use for recreational cannabis, please visit the Government of Ontario cannabis website 

Following strict rules set by the federal government and the provincial government, people 19 and over are able to purchase cannabis online through the Ontario Cannabis Store and from licenced retail shops.

Residents will be able to purchase up to 30 grams (about one ounce) of dried recreational cannabis at one time for personal use.

Visit the Government of Ontario cannabis website for more information.

The legislation would establish the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) as the provincial regulator authorized to grant store licenses. The Ontario Cannabis Store would be the exclusive wholesaler to these stores. Private stores are being introduced with strict controls to safeguard children and youth and combat the illegal market.

For more information on private retail licensing and regulation, please visit the AGCO website.

Enforcement falls within the jurisdiction of York Region Public Health (for medical) and the Police (for recreational).

The Cannabis Act proposes a strict legal framework for controlling the production, distribution, sale and possession of cannabis across Canada. In conjunction with the framework set out in the Act, and working alongside our regional, provincial and federal partners, the Region and local municipalities are actively reviewing its current bylaws to anticipate the ramifications of legalized cannabis. 

York Region, Public Health, Tobacco and Electronic Cigarettes Control Officers will enforce the current Smoke Free Ontario Act, 2006 (SFOA) and the Electronic Cigarettes Act 2015 (ECA).  Officers will enforce the proposed Smoke Free Ontario Act, 2017 and if it moves forward it will combine the existing SFOA, 2006 & ECA, 2015 and in addition intends to regulate the sale, supply, use, display and promotion of tobacco and vapour products including smoking and vaping of medical cannabis. All other matters relating to cannabis are under the jurisdiction of police services.

For information on tenant and homeowner rights and responsibilities regarding the smoking and growing of cannabis, please contact the Landlord and Tenant Board.

How far from a school/bus shelter/library/hospital/community centre/etc does a person need to be to be able to smoke cannabis?

Indoors

You are not able to smoke or vape cannabis in:

• Indoor common areas in condominiums, apartment buildings and university/college residences

• Enclosed public places and enclosed work places

• Non-designated guest rooms in hotels, motels and inns

Schools and places where children gather

You are not able smoke or vape cannabis:

• At school, on school grounds and all public areas within 20 metres of these grounds

• On children’s playgrounds and public areas within 20 metres of playgrounds

• In child care centres, or where an early years program is provided

• In places where home child care is provided – even if children aren’t present

Hospitals, hospices, care homes and other facilities

You are not able to smoke or vape cannabis:

• Within 9 metres from the entrance or exit of hospitals (public/private), psychiatric facilities, long-term care homes, independent health facilities

• On outdoor grounds of hospitals (public/private) and psychiatric facilities

• In non-controlled areas in long-term care homes, certain retirement homes, provincially-funded supportive housing, designated psychiatric or veterans’ facilities, and residential hospices

Publicly owned spaces

You are not able to smoke or vape cannabis in publicly-owned sport fields (not including golf courses), nearby spectator areas and public areas within 20 metres of these areas.

Vehicles and boats

You are not able to consume cannabis (smoking, vaping, eating) in a vehicle or boat that is being driven or is at risk of being put into motion.

Other outdoor areas

You are not be able to smoke or vape cannabis:

• In restaurants and on bar patios and public areas within 9 metres of a patio

• On outdoor grounds of specified Ontario government office buildings

• In reserved seating areas at outdoor sports and entertainment locations

• Grounds of community recreational facilities, and public areas within 20 metres of those grounds

• In sheltered outdoor areas with a roof and more than two walls which the public or employees frequent, or are invited to (e.g. a bus shelter)

For additional information on proposed legislation and places of use for recreational cannabis, please visit the Government of Ontario cannabis website

The legal age to buy, use, possess and grow recreational cannabis will be 19 years old. This is the same minimum age for the sale of tobacco and alcohol in Ontario.

For more information visit the Government of Ontario cannabis website.

You will be able to grow up to four plants per residence (not per person). You will be able to purchase legal seeds and seedlings from the Ontario Cannabis Store.

The legal age to buy, use, possess and grow recreational cannabis will be 19 years old. 

This is the same minimum age for the sale of tobacco and alcohol in Ontario.

The Ontario Cannabis Store and since April 2019, licensed private retail shops, are the only ways to legally purchase recreational cannabis.

For more information, visit Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario or contact at 1-800-522-2876

Cannabis will be sold in the forms allowed under federal law. These forms would initially include dried and fresh cannabis, cannabis oil, as well as cannabis accessories. 

Edibles are not legal and will not be sold until such times as the federal government may choose to make these legal.

For more information visit the Ontario Cannabis Store 

Recreational home cultivation of cannabis permits four plants per residence indoor or outdoor (not per person). Health Canada permits individuals with medical authorization to grow cannabis; the allowance varies from person to person dependent on their prescription and the number of plants permitted is calculated by Health Canada. 

Call your local police department’s non-emergency line to report suspected criminal activity.

In York Region that number is 1-866-876-5423

Can the city or town refuse service to a resident who is clearly intoxicated (ie. at a library or community centre)?

This is a crime, particularly if causing a disturbance. Call the non-emergency police line or 911. 

Consult provincial and federal governments for existing education and information programs already in progress across the country.