Canada

Legal Cannabis in Newfoundland and Labrador: What You Should Know

Published on October 14, 2018 · Last updated July 28, 2020
(Elysse Feigenblatt/Leafly)

Cannabis will be legal for adults throughout Canada starting on Oct. 17, 2018. But you have a lot of questions. We have answers: Where to buy it, which stores are open, age limits, purchase limits, what’s actually on the shelves, where it’s legal to consume, and more.

Retail Sales in Newfoundland and Labrador

Cannabis will be sold in the province’s 24 privately-owned licensed stores starting October 17, 2018. Normal store openings are 9am, but on Oct. 17 there will be a special 12:01 opening at many stores.

Online ordering will be available in later 2018 or 2019.

Legal Age in Newfound and Labrador: 19

Each province sets its own legal age, as with alcohol. In Newfoundland and Labrador, the minimum age for purchase and possession is 19.Looking for Cannabis NL Stores?

I’m New to Cannabis. Help!

We’ve got you covered. Leafly maintains the world’s most accurate database of cannabis information, and it’s here at your fingertips. Think of us as your cannabis library. To get started, check out our Cannabis 101 page, which contains articles and how-to guides prepared by cannabis experts writing in plain English, not confusing jargon.

What Can I Buy in Newfoundland and Labrador?

Private stores will be allowed to sell a range of dried cannabis (aka flower or buds), pre-rolls, cannabis oils, capsules, and seeds for home growing, from seven licensed producers. Edibles are not yet allowed, but are expected to enter the market nationwide in October 2019.

Will Newfoundland and Labrador Stores Be Open on Oct. 17?

Yes. Twenty-four private-run cannabis retail store applicants have been approved by the provincial government, including four Tweed stores, although it is unclear how many will open on legalization day.

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Bonus opening: The province’s cannabis regulator is allowing a one-time-only opening time of 12:01am on Wed., Oct. 17, in order to celebrate the very first legal cannabis sales in Canada. Many of the province’s stores will open at that time, but must close at 2am. They’ll then re-open at their normal 9am start time.

Where Can I Buy It?

All over! 24 stores, including one in Labrador and 8 in St. John’s. We’ve got an entire page listing the location of stores open in the province on Oct. 17: Recreational Stores in Newfoundland and Labrador.

All About Newfoundland and Labrador Online Sales

Online sales of cannabis products will be available at a later date, probably not on Oct. 17.

Possession Limits in Newfoundland and Labrador

Those 19 and up can possess up to one ounce (30 grams) of dried cannabis in public.

Transporting Rules

Cannabis transported in a motor vehicle have an unbroken seal or be stored such that it is inaccessible to the driver or a passenger. Rule of thumb: Keep it sealed and in the trunk.

Purchase Limits

Each customer is limited to the federal possession limit, which is 30 grams of dried cannabis, 30 cannabis seeds, or an equivalent amount of cannabis oil.

Can My Kids Enter the Store with Me?

No. In Newfoundland and Labrador, retailers will not be permitted to allow those who are under 18 from entering cannabis stores.

Consumption Restrictions in Newfoundland and Labrador

Cannabis use will not be allowed in public places, motor vehicles or boats. You may be able to consume cannabis in hotels rooms or apartment units if the building owner or operator allows you to do so. That rule also applies to those that seek to consume cannabis on a rented campsite.

Home-grow Is Allowed

The federal Cannabis Act allows adults to cultivate up to four plants per residence, and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador is no different.

Crossing Provincial Borders

Can you transport cannabis from one province to another? Yes. But you must abide by the federal public possession limit, which is 30 grams of dried cannabis per person. Important: Do not attempt to transport cannabis across any international border. Cannabis is legal in Washington state, Vermont, Alaska, and Maine, but the border crossing is a federal zone. And cannabis remains federally illegal in the United States.

Can I Fly With Cannabis?

Yes, as long as you remain within Canada and abide by the possession limits of the departure province and the arrival province. But please be mindful. The fragrance of cannabis flower can be powerful, and not everybody enjoys it in the close confines of an airplane cabin.

The Cannabis Supply Chain in Newfoundland and Labrador

The provincially-run Cannabis NL will act as the middleman in all cannabis commerce within the province. Private licensed producers (LPs) will deliver their packaged and branded products.

Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Laws

The government passed the Act to Amend the Liquor Corporation Act as well as the Control & Sale of Cannabis Act, which sets out the parameters of lawful sale, purchase and consumption of cannabis in the province.

No Caps on Cannabis Stores in Newfoundland and Labrador

There are no caps on the number of stores one entity or company can open in Newfoundland and Labrador.

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Harrison Jordan
Harrison Jordan
Harrison Jordan is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto and enjoys reading and writing about the regulatory affairs of cannabis in Canada and around the world.
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