{"id":3294,"date":"2017-12-17T10:01:02","date_gmt":"2017-12-17T10:01:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/weedmaps.com\/learn\/laws-and-regulations\/quebec"},"modified":"2024-08-20T13:51:28","modified_gmt":"2024-08-20T13:51:28","slug":"quebec","status":"publish","type":"law","link":"https:\/\/weedmaps.com\/learn\/laws-and-regulations\/quebec","title":{"rendered":"Quebec"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\tIs weed legal in Quebec?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Quebec weed laws were modified in October of 2018<\/span>. When the time came for Quebec to pass its version of cannabis legalization, the opposition Parti Quebecois wanted tighter controls and voted against the legislation.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the divisions, Quebec Liberal Party Premier Phillipe Couillard's government in June 2018 passed <\/span>Bill 157<\/span><\/a> enacting the Cannabis Regulation Act, establishing the Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 qu\u00e9b\u00e9coise du cannabis (SQDC) to oversee sale and distribution, and amending highway safety standards.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although cannabis supporters decried some of the more restrictive measures, such as the prohibition of home growing and the few stores, all owned by the government,  where cannabis will be available initially, Quebec announced it would be ready for legalization on October 17, 2018.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even with the constraints, Quebec was more permissive in some respects than other provinces or territories, allowing more consumption in public areas and adopting a minimum age of 18 to purchase or use cannabis. All other provinces except Alberta enacted the federal government's  19-year-old limit.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The opposition parties had argued, among other things, for more limits on public consumption and the Coalition Avenir Quebec had lobbied for a 21-year-old age limit.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite a reputation as a party province, Quebecers have a more moderate streak when it comes to cannabis. Consumption in the province is in the middle of the pack among the provinces, but a CROP, Inc. poll by Radio Canada found only 46 percent of the population favored cannabis legalization, compared with 58 percent nationally.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of its bill legalizing recreational marijuana, the province imposed a number of <\/span>highway safety amendments<\/span><\/a> that include a \u201czero-tolerance\u201d policy for driving with any detectable amounts of cannabis or alcohol in the body once effective equipment for detecting cannabis in saliva is available and approved. Limited exceptions may be made for medical marijuana users.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Police can immediately suspend licenses for 90 days if their evaluation shows drug and\/or alcohol impairment, or if a driver refuses testing. Vehicles can be seized if operators have past convictions for drugs or alcohol. Drivers can also face fines of $1,500 to $5,000, installation of an interlock device, and other penalties, including jail time, for operating a vehicle under the influence.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under federal guidelines, drivers face graduated penalties depending on levels of drug and\/or alcohol concentrations, as well as previous offenses.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Federally, the legal limit for THC in the bloodstream is two nanograms per milliliter. A nanogram is one-billionth of a gram. Concentrations between two (2) and five (5) nanograms result in a fine up to $1,000. Concentrations of five (5) or more nanograms will result in a $1,000 minimum fine for a first offense, imprisonment of 30 days or more for a second offense, and imprisonment of 120 days or more for a third offense. Penalties for drug-impaired driving accidents can range from 18 months to as much as life imprisonment for a fatal crash.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\tIs weed legal in Montreal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Montreal weed laws fall in line with those of Quebec. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\tWhere is it safe to purchase weed in Quebec?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When legalization takes effect, consumers in Quebec will only be able to purchase recreational cannabis through stores and online through the public <\/span>SQDC<\/span><\/a> website.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Quebec government will have control, operate, and distribute all legal cannabis in the province. The SQDC plans to have 20 stores open by Oct. 17, 2018 with expansion to possibly 100 or more within three (3) years. The SDQC also announced that it would have an online purchasing platform up and running by the time the new laws go into effect.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to media reports the first four store locations in Montreal <\/span>will be located near the busy Berri-UQ\u00c0M, Radisson, Jean-Talon and Lionel-Groulx M\u00e9tro stations.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minors will not be allowed inside, and stores will be stand-alone, cannabis-only operations with about 150 products. Displays will not be visible to passers-by and <\/span>stores must be at least 250 meters, or about 820 feet, from schools. In Montreal, the distance is 150 meters, or about 492 feet.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Customers are permitted to buy <\/span>a maximum of 30 grams,  or 1.6 ounces of dried cannabis at one time, or equivalents in fresh cannabis and cannabis oils.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Premade edibles and extract will not be available until the federal government authorizes such through legislation that they anticipate having in place on or before October 17, 2019, although consumers can create their own edibles as they wish.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Employees will be required to pass government-sponsored cannabis training programs.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\tWhere is it safe to consume cannabis?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Smoking will generally be allowed in places where tobacco smoking and vaping are allowed. It will be allowed in private residences and rentals unless prohibited by lease or property agreements. Landlords will have until January 17, 2019 to put cannabis restrictions into leases.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consuming cannabis in public is not allowed in most restaurants, bars, hospitals, schools, bus shelters, bike paths or sports facilities. Smoking is also banned on and within nine (9) meters, or 29\u200a1\/2 feet, of areas frequented by children, such as playgrounds or pools. It is worth noting that public parks that don't serve as playgrounds will permit consumption of cannabis as they allow consumption of tobacco products.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is illegal to consume cannabis while operating a vehicle for either drivers or passengers. The law applies regardless of whether the vehicle is in motion. <\/span>In a vehicle, cannabis must be stored in a sealed container that is not accessible to the driver or passengers during transport.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\tPossessing cannabis <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Adult-use<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The minimum age to buy or possess cannabis in Quebec is 18, which is the same age for alcohol and tobacco within the province. Quebec allows possession by adults of up to 30 grams, or 1.06 ounces, of cannabis in most public places.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Possession is banned at day-care centers, in most buildings, and school and college campuses. Possession is also banned in detention facilities.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The national government has set equivalencies for one (1) gram of dried cannabis to equal:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n