Cannabis rules in Alberta
Alberta's legal age for cannabis is 18, the lowest of any province, and adults can carry up to 30 grams of dried cannabis (or the equivalent) in public. You can smoke or vape where tobacco smoking is allowed, except near places for children and in vehicles, and each household can grow up to four plants. All stores are private and licensed by AGLC, and there is no government online store: licensed stores sell online and deliver themselves.
How old do you have to be, and how much can you carry?
You must be 18 to buy or have cannabis in Alberta, a year younger than in every other province. Nobody under 18 can go into a cannabis store, even with a parent. Anyone who looks under 25 has to show proof of age.
Adults can carry up to 30 grams of dried cannabis or the equivalent in public, and no single purchase, in a store or online, can go over 30 grams. You can make more than one purchase in a day, but you still can't have more than 30 grams on you in public. Under federal rules, 1 gram of dried flower equals 5 g of fresh cannabis, 15 g of solid edible product, 70 g of liquid product such as a tincture, 570 g of cannabis beverage or 0.25 g of concentrate. Our weed measurements guide has the full table.
Youth under 18 caught with 5 grams or less face provincial sanctions similar to underage drinking. More than that remains a federal criminal matter.
Where can you smoke or vape cannabis in Alberta?
Alberta lets adults smoke or vape cannabis at home and in some public places. The basic rule: if tobacco smoking is banned somewhere, so is cannabis. On top of that, the province bans it on hospital, school and child care property, and in or near places where children gather, such as within 5 metres of playgrounds, skate parks and spray parks. Municipalities can add stricter bylaws, so check the local rules in the city you're in.
| Place | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| Private home (if your lease or condo bylaws allow) | Allowed |
| Public places where tobacco smoking is allowed | Allowed, unless a city bylaw says otherwise |
| Anywhere tobacco smoking is banned | Not allowed |
| Hospital, school and child care property | Not allowed |
| Playgrounds, skate parks and spray parks, and within 5 m of them | Not allowed |
| Sports fields, bike parks, zoos, outdoor theatres and outdoor pools, and the area around them | Not allowed |
| Inside a cannabis store | Not allowed |
| In a vehicle (unless it's parked and being used as a temporary residence, like a camper) | Not allowed |
Landlords and condo boards can ban smoking cannabis, and growing it, in their buildings and on their property.
Can you grow cannabis at home in Alberta?
Yes. Adults can grow up to four plants per household, not per person, for personal use. Federal law requires starting from legal seeds or seedlings. If you rent or live in a condo, a lease or bylaw can forbid growing, so check before you plant.
How do cannabis stores work in Alberta?
Every cannabis store in Alberta is privately owned. Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) licenses and inspects stores, buys cannabis from federally licensed producers and is the wholesaler to every retailer. There's no cap on the number of licences, and AGLC reported 713 licensed cannabis stores as of March 31, 2025. Stores can't sell tobacco and can't offer samples. You can find licensed shops on our Alberta dispensaries page.
Can you buy cannabis online in Alberta?
Yes, but not from the government. Alberta used to run an online store, but on March 8, 2022, the law changed so that licensed retailers could sell online and deliver, and AGLC shut down its site, AlbertaCannabis.org. Today, only a retailer with an open, licensed physical store can sell online, and AGLC has to review and approve its website first. AGLC publishes a list of retailers approved for online sales.
Orders can be delivered by the store's own staff or by a common carrier like Canada Post, but not by food delivery apps. Each order is capped at 30 grams, delivery is only within Alberta, and the driver must check government photo ID if you look under 25. Orders leave during store hours, and deliveries can run up to 30 minutes past closing. Curbside pickup is allowed, as long as the handoff happens outside the car.
What are the rules for driving and carrying cannabis in a car?
Cannabis in a vehicle has to be in closed packaging and out of reach of the driver and every passenger. Nobody can use cannabis in a vehicle, unless it's parked somewhere camping is allowed and being used as a temporary home.
Alberta handles most impaired driving with roadside sanctions. A first fail for drugs means 90 days with no driving followed by a further 12-month suspension (with an interlock option), a 30-day vehicle seizure, a $1,000 fine and a required course. New drivers with a learner's or GDL licence have zero tolerance: any drugs mean a 30-day suspension, a 7-day vehicle seizure and a fine. Federal Criminal Code charges can apply as well.
What should visitors to Alberta know?
If you're 18, Alberta is the one province where you can buy legally, but the age is 19 in neighbouring B.C. and Saskatchewan, so cannabis bought here is not legal for an 18-year-old to have once they cross either border. Bring government photo ID. Never take cannabis across the U.S. border or any international border, whatever the law where you're headed. This is general information; the law is what counts.