The Cannabis Act was passed in Canada in 2018 (provincial laws for purchase and possession vary), but what are the rules around flying with weed onboard, whether travelling within or out of Canada?
First, you can carry it on or pack it in your checked baggage when flying domestically. Either way, it must be packaged in a child-resistant container that displays the standard cannabis symbol, a yellow health warning box, and an excise stamp stating the province or territory in which the weed was purchased.
Within Canada, you are allowed to fly with up to 30 grams of legally purchased dried marijuana per person if all are of legal age, in both your departure and arrival destinations. The legal age to buy, carry and use in Canada is 19, except in Alberta (18) and Quebec (21). For example, 18-year-olds from Alberta will not be of legal age to carry or use if they land in any other province.
But that’s not all. Every flight segment must be within Canada, and Quebec has some additional regulations. Marijuana is only legally possessed if bought from the Société Québécoise du Cannabis (SQDC), versus the many licensed retailers which other provinces offer.
You can’t take cannabis with you on any international flights, including the 24 US states where it has been legalized for recreational use. It has been approved for medical use in 38 of the 50 US states. (Refer here for up-to-date information.)
If you are using marijuana for medical reasons, a 30-day supply is allowed (up to 150 grams versus the 30 grams allowed for recreational use) based on your prescription, which you must carry with you to provide to airport security, whether you are carrying on or have it packed in your checked bag. You must declare it to the Canadian Border Services Agency for any flights or face arrest and prosecution.
What are the penalties?
If you are found with more than the legal limit of 30 grams, it can result in a fine or even jail time. If you cross international borders with marijuana, you could be detained and possibly charged with trafficking.
For up-to-date information, please refer to the Government of Canada website.
