What You Need To Know Before You Buy Weed Today
The day is finally here. You can now legally purchase and possess recreational marijuana in Canada.
It’s hard to tell how the next few days and months are going to play out. Like anything, there will probably be hiccups when it comes to such widespread implementation. Yet as an individual, it’s important to know how to play by the new rules if you’re planning to light up.
Each province has introduced their own regulations and rules around recreational marijuana. Here’s what you need to know if you’re going to roll one up in New Brunswick:
Where can I buy it?
The only place where you can lawfully purchase recreational cannabis in New Brunswick is through Cannabis NB, the subsidiary of NB Liquor that’s in charge of pot sales in the province. All the stores (except the one in Perth-Andover, due to construction delays) are open as of today.
You can also order online through Cannabis NB. Deliveries are only made within New Brunswick.
Also, you need to be 19-years-old or older to purchase marijuana.
Can I grow it now too?
Yes. New Brunswickers can grow up to four plants on their own property for personal use. If growing indoors, the province says plants need to be kept in a separate, locked space. If growing outdoors, plants need to be they must be located behind a locked enclosure that is at least 1.52 meters high.
Plants and seedlings need to come from Cannabis NB.
What will the purchasing experience be like at Cannabis NB?
It’ll be a little bit different than purchasing beer from the liquor store.
First, you will enter a reception area where your ID will be checked. From there, you’ll enter the main retail space, where a staff member will work one-on-one with you to find the cannabis you want. You will be able to view and smell the products before purchase.
If you did your research on the Cannabis NB website beforehand or are a more experienced user, you can probably get in and out of there relatively quickly. But if you’re a new user, you’ll be able to chat with your “guide” about what products are right for you based on your lifestyle as well as possible side-effects, et cetera.
“The best way to determine the right product for you is to determine how you want cannabis to be a part of your life, and be open and honest with your guide so they can help,” says the Cannabis NB website.
“We want to ensure that we know how the product will be used so that we can recommend not only the right product/tools for the customer, but give curated advice on the experience as a whole. By doing it this way we can help define the amount of product needed, give great service as we point out potential side effects, and create ambassadors for responsible use.”
Where can I use it?
In New Brunswick, the consumption of cannabis is prohibited everywhere except inside a private dwelling or the land adjacent to a private dwelling, like a backyard. Obviously, if it’s not YOUR house, ask the owners first if it’s okay to light up. Don’t be rude.
What if I live in an apartment?
Landlords are able to restrict tenants from growing cannabis plants and can choose to restrict smoking in their units. But if a landlord has units where smoking is permitted, they cannot restrict the smoking of cannabis.
Landlords can also amend existing signed leases with consent between the tenant and the landlord. Landlords who have already established “no smoking” units, will not have to re-write their leases as “no smoking” is all-encompassing.
Yet, it’s important to note that cannabis comes in many forms, and landlords will not be able to ban other forms of consumption, such as edibles and extracts.
What’s the deal with edibles anyways?
Cannabis companies cannot produce and sell edibles under the current legalization legislation, but the government says that will happen sometime next year. However, this doesn’t stop you from getting crafty and making them yourself for personal use.
What about traveling with it?
It’s illegal to take cannabis across Canada’s national borders. Cannabis is illegal by federal law in the United States. Don’t try to bring pot across the border, even if the state you’re going allows recreational cannabis use.
When it comes to traveling across provincial and territorial borders, territory, you must respect their laws, since they all vary. You can find out what they are by going here.
What about hotels and campsites?
Hotels, inns, and campgrounds can restrict visitors from smoking or vaping, as they can with tobacco. However, they can’t stop you from consuming cannabis in other forms.
When it comes to campsites, if there are ones where smoking is permitted, then smoking cannabis is also allowed. However, if a site is smoke-free, smoking cannabis is not allowed. But again, tourism operators will not be able to ban other forms of cannabis consumption on a campsite. If a park falls under the Smoke-free Places Act, no smoking or vaping will be permitted.
Can I drive while high?
No.
There’s been a lot of talk and concern around how law enforcement is going to be able to reliably test a driver who is suspected to be high. How enforcement is going to work out has yet to be determined. Cannabis is different from alcohol in a lot of ways, including when it comes to effects and how long it stays in your system.
That being said, what’s not different about the two is they have the ability to impair you to the point of not being able to drive safely. They also face stiff penalties if caught.