Cannabis rules in Quebec
Quebec has the strictest cannabis rules in Canada. You have to be 21 to buy or possess cannabis, you can't smoke or vape it in any public place (streets included), growing even one plant at home is banned, and the government-owned SQDC is the only legal seller, in stores or online.
What is the legal age for cannabis in Quebec?
The legal age is 21, the highest in Canada. Quebec raised it from 18 on January 1, 2020. Anyone under 21 is barred from possessing, buying or being given cannabis, and can't even enter an SQDC store. A person under 21 caught with cannabis or buying it faces a $100 fine. The one exception is that SQDC employees aged 18 to 20 can work in its stores.
This is general information; the law is what counts. Quebec's rules come from its Cannabis Regulation Act, layered on top of the federal Cannabis Act.
How much cannabis can you have in Quebec?
In public, adults 21 and over can carry up to 30 grams of dried cannabis or the equivalent, the federal limit. Quebec adds a household cap: no more than 150 grams in a private residence, no matter how many adults live there, and no more than 150 grams in total across all the places you keep it, including a cottage or second home.
The SQDC also limits each purchase to 30 grams of dried cannabis or the equivalent. Possession is banned outright on the grounds of schools, colleges and universities (student residences excepted), daycares and detention facilities, and cannabis at home has to be stored safely out of reach of minors.
Where can you smoke weed in Quebec?
Since January 1, 2020, smoking or vaping cannabis is prohibited in every indoor and outdoor public place, including streets and sidewalks. That's stricter than the tobacco rules: in most of Canada you can use cannabis outside wherever tobacco is allowed, but not in Quebec.
Municipalities can pass a bylaw allowing cannabis smoking in a specific park, except where tobacco is already banned, so a handful of designated spots may exist where your city has chosen to create one. Using cannabis is also prohibited inside any road vehicle, off-road vehicle or on a bicycle, for passengers too.
| Place | Smoking or vaping allowed? |
|---|---|
| Your own home | Allowed |
| Streets, sidewalks, public squares | Not allowed |
| Parks | Not allowed, unless a municipal bylaw designates the park |
| Grounds of schools, colleges, universities, daycares | Not allowed (even possession is banned) |
| Inside a car, off-road vehicle or on a bike | Not allowed, passengers included |
| Bars, restaurants, patios, workplaces | Not allowed |
| SÉPAQ provincial parks | Only on a space for your exclusive use, such as your campsite |
| Rented chalets and private campgrounds | Up to the owner |
Can you grow cannabis at home in Quebec?
No. Growing cannabis for personal use is prohibited, and so is simply possessing a cannabis plant. Fines start at $250 and run to $750 for a first offence, and double for a repeat.
The federal Cannabis Act allows four plants per home, which is why many people assume Quebec's ban can't stand. It was challenged, and in April 2023 the Supreme Court of Canada unanimously upheld it, ruling that the federal law only removes criminal penalties and doesn't create a right to grow.
How do you buy cannabis legally in Quebec?
Only the Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC), a government corporation, can sell recreational cannabis in Quebec. There are no private stores. The SQDC ended its 2025-2026 fiscal year (March 28, 2026) with 110 stores, up from 104 a year earlier. Buying from any other website, or from a so-called medical dispensary, isn't legal for recreational use. You can find SQDC stores on WeedDB.
Online orders go through sqdc.ca. The SQDC offers standard Canada Post delivery across Quebec, 90-minute delivery in eight regions, same-day delivery in greater Montreal, and in-store pickup. Whoever picks up an order in store must be 21 or older, show valid ID and have the order number.
What cannabis products are different in Quebec?
Quebec limits products more than federal rules do. Edibles can't be sweets, candy, desserts, chocolate or anything else appealing to people under 21, which is why gummies and chocolate bars sold elsewhere in Canada don't show up at the SQDC. Solid edibles are capped at 10 mg of THC per package and 5 mg per portion, and drinks at 5 mg of THC per container.
No cannabis product can exceed 30% THC, weight for weight, which keeps many high-potency concentrates off the shelves. Dried cannabis and hash can't have additives that change their smell, taste or colour, and extracts can't have a flavour other than cannabis. Our label guide explains how to read the THC numbers.
Driving, travel and tips for visitors
Federal law makes it a crime to drive with 2 ng or more of THC per ml of blood within two hours of driving, with tougher penalties at 5 ng or more. In Quebec, police can also suspend your licence on the spot for 90 days if an evaluating officer finds you impaired by drugs, or if you refuse a coordination or saliva test. A provincial zero-tolerance rule for any detectable drug in saliva is on the books, but the government says it takes effect only once detection equipment is approved.
Visitors should bring photo ID, since you'll need to prove you're 21 even if you're old enough to buy at home. You can bring legally bought cannabis from another province within the 30 gram limit, but Quebec's rules apply once you're here, including the public smoking ban. Never take cannabis across the US border or any international border: it's illegal in both directions, even to a state where it's legal, and that includes CBD.