Cannabis in St. John's
St. John's is where legal recreational cannabis was first sold in Canada: at 12:01 a.m. Newfoundland time on October 17, 2018, in a store on Water Street, ahead of every other time zone. Today the city adds no rules of its own, so provincial law applies: cannabis is for private homes and yards, never public places.
Where can you use cannabis in St. John's?
In a private dwelling or the yard attached to one. Newfoundland and Labrador bans consuming cannabis in public places, in motor vehicles and on boats, and we found no St. John's bylaw that adds designated areas or exceptions. George Street, Signal Hill, the harbourfront and city parks are all off limits.
Hotel rooms and apartment units can be allowed, but only if the owner or operator permits it, and common areas such as hallways and lobbies are never allowed. The same goes for rented campsites. Adults with a medical authorization have one exception: they may use medical cannabis outdoors where the Smoke-Free Environment Act allows smoking or vaping. The province's rules are on our Newfoundland and Labrador page.
| Place | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| Your home or attached yard | Allowed |
| Hotel room or apartment unit | Only if the owner or operator allows it |
| Rented campsite | Only if the park operator allows it |
| Building common areas | Not allowed |
| Streets, parks, bars, patios | Not allowed |
| Any motor vehicle or boat | Not allowed |
How are cannabis stores regulated in St. John's?
Mostly by the province. St. John's Development Regulations don't single out cannabis: a store is treated as an ordinary retail use, with no separate buffer from schools or minimum spacing between stores. Licensing belongs to the Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation, which approves private retailers and sets product prices.
Newfoundland's model also lets cannabis be sold from inside larger stores, not just standalone shops. At legalization, about half of the province's first outlets were standalone stores with products on display, while the rest operated within bigger retailers, keeping cannabis in locked, plain cabinets out of reach of minors.
What has happened with cannabis in St. John's since 2018?
The city's legal market began with a deal that later fell apart. In December 2017 the province offered a large licensed producer $40 million in tax remittances in exchange for a production plant in the city and a guaranteed local supply. The company's retail licences, including the legalization-night store on Water Street, were tied to the same agreement.
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| November 2016 | An unlicensed dispensary opens on Water Street, selling without prescriptions |
| December 2017 | Province signs a supply and production deal with a large licensed producer |
| October 17, 2018 | Canada's first legal recreational sale at 12:01 a.m. on Water Street, with an estimated 400 people in line |
| December 2020 | The producer cancels its 150,000 sq ft White Hills plant before growing anything; $1.9 million in remittances is to be repaid |
| September 30, 2021 | The Water Street store closes after the liquor corporation gives its licence to a competing bidder |
What should visitors to St. John's know?
Plan to consume where you're staying, and check your hotel's policy first. If you're leaving on a cruise or an international flight, leave cannabis behind: taking it out of Canada is illegal, even to places where it's legal. Domestic flights are fine within the legal possession limit. Our label guide and strain database help when choosing products.
