Care for a toke or two while out seeing your favourite band? While the recreational use of cannabis is legal in Canada, bringing marijuana or smoking weed at a public concert or event is still a touchy topic. So what’s the big deal if you want to enjoy a little bud while out and about? Currently, The Cannabis Act (also known as Bill C-45) creates strict federal laws for controlling the consumption, growing, distribution, and possession of cannabis throughout Canada. Its main goal is to keep cannabis out of the hands of youth and prevent profits from happening within organized crime. And while each province and municipality is free to create, implement, and enforce its specific laws regarding marijuana at concerts and its derivatives, most provinces have a law that states that a person is not allowed to smoke or vape cannabis in publicly-owned spaces. So that begs the question, where can you have a toke and stroll in Canada without breaking the law? Here’s an overview of the most burning questions when it comes to smoking weed at concerts and consuming cannabis in public spaces.
Where Can I Smoke Weed in Canada?
If you want to know where you can smoke weed in Canada, and are not yet familiar with provincial laws you may want to ask yourself, “Would I be allowed to smoke tobacco here?” If the answer is no, then your safest bet is to not risk lighting up and getting caught. But there is an expectation to this rule. For instance, in the populous province of Ontario, the consumption of cannabis is legal in places where tobacco smoking is permitted. However, municipalities are granted the power to set and maintain their unique laws and cannabis standards. As mentioned earlier, what is allowed in one city may be prohibited in another. This means that policies regarding cannabis and festivals may also differ slightly, depending on varying provincial laws. This was demonstrated when the city of Vaughan, Ontario, implemented a bylaw prohibiting the use of recreational cannabis in all public places that would include cannabis use at concerts. At the same time, event planners of The Journey Cannabis and Music Festivals were busy organizing their events. When the municipal by-law was passed, it inevitably forced the three day-event to cancel immediately, leaving behind a loss of potential revenue and disappointed cannabis consumers. So what are some ways cannabis consumers and event planners can better prepare when it comes to cannabis use at concerts and festivals? Reading up on the current laws of each province regarding public use of cannabis.
General Tips For Using Cannabis At Concerts And Events In Canada
The most important thing for all marijuana concert-goers and event organizers to do in order to act responsibly in regard to current cannabis laws is to familiarize themselves with the local cannabis laws. Moreover, concert and event organizers should outline their cannabis consumption policies on their websites. They may even want to plan how to accommodate cannabis users. In this scenario, they may watch how other events are responding to the relatively new pot laws in their region and from there, provide consumption guidelines. Furthermore, event organizers may designate cannabis consumption such as smoking designated areas for their attendees. In the case that an event doesn’t clearly outline its consumption guidelines, a person is better off abiding by the laid-out provincial/municipal laws for tobacco consumption. If you are planning to attend a public concert or event in the near future you can check out the following breakdown of cannabis use at marijuana concerts and events in some provinces:
Ontario
The use of marijuana is allowed in many outdoor public spaces (for example, sidewalks and parks). Cannabis use at concerts is strictly regulated, and most cannabis users are only allowed to smoke pot in the reserved seating section. In the event that the event has a special permit showing that it’s a consumption venue and/or open to marijuana use, smoking in places where tobacco smoking is permitted, marijuana may also be permitted. While stakeholders, according to an article published in Daily Hive, are pushing for more permits that are designed to, “provide consumers with more choice while giving businesses an “enhanced ability” to compete against the unlicensed market,” currently Ontario’s bylines prohibit marijuana use that could bother other event attendees, especially if there are underage children present.
British Columbia
British Columbia is Canada’s center for recreational cannabis use at concerts, and its laws regarding cannabis consumption are relatively lenient. Adults of legal age are allowed to use cannabis in all public areas where tobacco smoking is permitted. Users wishing to use marijuana at concerts or events can legally do so. Still, they must only toke in designated areas to ensure their smoking does not bother other attendees. Furthermore, British Columbia, like every other province, prohibits smoking around children, especially those who have respiratory issues. Lastly, cannabis use in provincial parks in British Columbia is not permitted, and you must adhere to the laid out provincial cannabis laws.
Manitoba
Manitoba tends to be more strict when it comes to marijuana laws and marijuana use at concerts compared to other provinces. Currently, the provincial laws surrounding cannabis consumption in Manitoba, state that marijuana use is banned in all public places. Even more, is that medicinal marijuana use in provincial parks is also strictly prohibited. Ultimately, if you want to be high at an event in Manitoba, you only have one option – to smoke or consume cannabis at home before attending your event.
Quebec
Cannabis consumption and smoking weed in some public spaces are allowed in Quebec. But laws are changing regularly since the legalization of recreational use of cannabis. Public consumption includes the use of cannabis in public spaces such as parks, sidewalks, etc. Smoking indoors at places such as restaurants and bars, or even some outdoor patio spaces are currently not allowed. Some public spaces have “smoking shelters” where you are allowed to smoke cannabis in designated areas. The best thing to do in order to stay on the right side of the law in Quebec is to stay up to date with the current municipality public consumption laws.
Alberta
In general, cannabis use in Alberta is generously lenient in various public places where tobacco smoking is also permitted. Municipalities in Alberta are currently also allowed to create their specific cannabis consumption bylaws. In this case, some events are allowed to set up smoking shelters, or designated areas where event-goers can smoke weed at a concert as long as it doesn’t interfere with other attendees.
Saskatchewan
Public consumption of marijuana is strictly prohibited in this province due to public health considerations. While there are some exceptions such as the ability to smoke marijuana in Saskatchewan at individual camping sites, as they are considered “private”, bringing marijuana to a concert in any public space is banned.
New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island
Currently, cannabis consumption in public places in these three provinces is prohibited. However, medical marijuana patients are allowed to use marijuana in the designated public areas. Event and concert-goers can only use weed at home and get high, prior to attending a public event. Additionally, cannabis consumers are not allowed to possess any amount or form of marijuana when attending an outdoor public event. It is important to note that cannabis and festivals are restricted in these provinces and any involvement is punishable by law.
The Bottom Line
There is no legal blanket statement when it comes to the public use of cannabis in Canada. Therefore, the most important thing for all marijuana concert-goers and event organizers to do in order to act responsibly is to familiarize themselves with the local cannabis laws. In the end, it’s better to be safe than sorry, so you may just want to take a good toke at home before heading out for the night.
