October 17th, 2018 - Canada became the first industrialized nation in the world to legalize pot nationwide.
image edited from this
That's right. Say good bye to loon calls and the crashing roar of Niagara Falls. Upon entering Canada you will now be greeted with the deafening sound of people giggling.
Heeheeheheeheeheeheeheeheeheehee.
I know you're thinking, but what about The Netherlands? All those Amsterdam cafes filled with pot smoking hippies and pot and pot paraphernalia? Pot isn't legal in The Netherlands. It's decriminalized. As of today, in Canada, smoking pot is perfectly legal.
Here is your introductory guide to legal weed in Canada.
Table of Contents
Pot is Legal in Canada
Medicinal marijuana has been legal (if you have a prescription) since 2001 in Canada, but your doctor had to be a proponent of it. If he or she wasn't, you weren't getting a prescription. But there were always other ways. Judging by the number of "medicinal" marijuana users wearing knitted caps, tie dye shorts, and cannabis leaf shaped sunglasses, it was pretty easy to get a prescription if you wanted one.
Those stereotypical "it's prescription" users, with their sloth like reflexes and lopsided grins gave actual medicinal marijuana a bit of a bad name. The pot smoking image of a big loser inhaling a rocket sized joint outside a medical marijuana dispensary did nothing to further the cause of responsible medicinal marijuana users. Which is a shame because medical marijuana has helped all kinds of people I know including kids and the elderly.
WAIT! YOU THINK KIDS SMOKING POT IS O.K.??? WHAT THE ACTUAL F&*K ???
Now this is where you get confused again isn't it? Yes. Kids can benefit from pot. My friend Leslie's kids for example. Her kids suffer from a rare autoimmune disorder called PANDAS. I implore you to click on the link and read her story.
Kids and pot. All pot isn't created equal. The thing in pot that gets you high is THC. Take that away and you don't get high but still get the medicinal benefits of the other oil in the plant, CBD oil. So if you have a sick child or elderly parent or anyone else who wouldn't benefit from both feeling better and sinking into the couch with a grin and red eyes for a few hours - you can just give them CBD oil. All of the health benefits, none of the psychoactive effects (getting high). However anyone under age still needs a prescription for any cannabis product including CBD oil.
BUT POT IS A GATEWAY DRUG!!!
Actually that's a bit of a misconception. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse (in America) pot is no more a gateway drug than alcohol is. People who go on to use hard drugs choose pot as their first drug just because it's the easiest one to get access to.
It has been argued however that pot can trigger schizophrenia in teens and young adults. The research is still being done.
THERE'S GOING TO BE STONED MAYHEM AND A DORITOS SHORTAGE!
Worried the entire of Canada is going to pot? As it turns out, according to a study by Stats Canada, only 6% of people who haven't smoked pot in the past 3 months are planning on trying it for the first time, or increasing their use once it's legal. I mean it's pot. It's not like it was all that difficult to get beforehand. If you smoked pot before it was legal you'll just continue to do so without threat of arrest. And if you never smoked pot before it was legal, chances are you aren't going to start smoking it now.
F*&%IN' EH! MAYBE GOLF WILL FINALLY BE FUN NOW!
Not so fast Sparky. Just because it's legal doesn't make it legal to do so everywhere. Like smoking and drinking, pot is still restricted so chances are you won't be lighting up on the golf course. You can only buy it certain places and you can only smoke it certain places. What those places are depends on which province you live in.
DOES KAREN SMOKE POT? IT SOUNDS LIKE KAREN IS A TOTAL SNOOP DOG.
Nope. I don't. It's not my thing. Like I've said before, I don't find relaxing to be especially relaxing. Having said that, I currently have a freezer full of pot brownies that I've made for family and friends, but I've never had any of them myself. Kind of the same way I have a liquor cabinet full of booze and a fridge with beer even though I don't really drink. I like to be a well supplied host for others. I made the brownies last summer out of cannabutter which I had to illegally procure from my 83 year old mother's friend in a suburban enclave under cover of darkness. Betty doesn't smoke pot either, but if she's one of the 6% who decides to take it up, I promise to video it for you.
To reiterate, as of today, possessing, smoking, growing, baking and sharing pot is now 100% legal in Canada.
Let the giggling commence.
→Follow me on Instagram where I often make a fool of myself←
Melissa
The biggest take away I took from this post: There is a province in Canada called Nunavut? I had to look it up. They don't teach us stupid Americans anything about your country. As you have such a large US readership, part of the stuff that you could do is teach us more about Canadian things.
Heather Sykora
My acupuncturist sells muscle cream with just the CBD oil in it.
For back pain I imagine it could be quite helpful. (Texas) I had chronic back pain until I found a quality massage therapist and started gentle core exercises. Now I hold a plank for 2 minutes twice a week and do some other basic strength exercises. Just the memory of that back pain motivates to never skip my 20 minutes of strength training!!!
Patricia
Here in L.A. there are billboards advertising home delivery of marijuana.
Elaine
Thank you for this great post, Karen! I live with a host of back problems and have managed to live a moderately active life due to continual pain meds. I would love to get off them someday if I think medical marijuana would manage the pain.
I am a bit confused about the topic of prescriptions. I live in your town and am wondering ... do we need a prescription from the regular family (medical) doctor before we can purchase medical cannabis or do we just go to the outlet and fill out the form like the old LCBO days?
Karen
Hi Elaine! I'm not a marijuana expert but I can tell you that chances are the local workers at your regular marijuana store are likely to know more about what you need than your doctor will. I'll see if I can get my friend Leslie's opinion and let you know. :) You won't need a prescription anymore. You can just buy what you need yourself. OR you can go to your doctor and have the prescription filled at a dispensary. ~ karen!
dee
If your family doctor/specialist won't prescribe, there are clinics all over where you can get a prescription and education. But don't pay for it!
Kim from Milwaukee
Thank you Karen!!
(liberal tree hugger vegan)
Lynn
Pot is like anything else some can use it some can’t, some should never ever touch it. It depends on your DNA. In our family we have seen what it can do if you have the wrong DNA. By that I mean those that have indulged have become so paranoid and schizophrenic they have ended up in long term care at young ages.
The only thing we have all agreed on is it was brought on by marijuana . As none were into anything stronger.
I only wish that people use caution. The original plant was no where as strong as what is available out there today.
Renee Ryz
Is the CBD oil tasteless? I have been interested in ordering for my cat who has bad arthritis and degenerative orthopedic issues and anxiety. But as you know cats can tell if you try to sneak something past them. Hate to put out money to not be able to use it.
PMMK
Renee, the kind I tried tasted very faintly of weed. Or maybe smelled. I haven't actually tasted weed except in cannabutter cookies and I was warned to not consume a piece larger than my fingernail at a time so I don't really know what it tastes like straight. Cats are so tiny compared to us so I imagine managing the dose might be a little tricky. I used a drop or two in a cup of weak green tea. I weight 120 on a heavy day. How would you split up a drop for a little cat? Or are veterinary preparations available?
Jen
Canada is so sensible.
Penny
Well done, Canada! I'm glad to see that most provinces allow home-grown, too. Here in the UK we can be so damn silly with our legislation. For instance, all our cigarettes and tobacco products are only available in cow-pat-khaki coloured packets (pantone 448C, to be precise) with disturbing images of tarred-up lungs, surgical scarring, rotten teeth and amputation stumps.... except cigars, for some strange reason. Does that make any sense to TAODS readers?
All these items must be sold from within a gantry with doors that must be kept shut until the customer asks for a particular brand. The idea is to reduce the risk of non-smokers (particularly young people) being 'seduced' by attractive packaging. The words light, fresh, lower tar and menthol cannot be used in the brand name.
On the other hand, vaping equipment and the liquids to use in them are on full display, albeit in a locked case, in attractive packaging with the only warning being 'this product contains nicotine which is an addictive substance'. The flavours recently introduced to my local shop's display are Ibiza nights, Fairground fizz and Mixology. I would suggest that these are flavours made SPECIFICALLY to target younger people!
Can we borrow Trudeau, please?
Lynn
In Canada cigarettes have the same pictures on packages as on yours, they are also behind doors now also. Just so you know it’s the same here.
attygreen13
Man y’all get Trudeau AND weed?! Not fair.
Melissa
LOL right?
Nancy Ann
I'm with you, Reid. I just hope they don't vote before they go.
Jan in Waterdown
I find it interesting that some Americans think that they (or folks they would like to rid their country of) can just move to Canada willy nilly. Wouldn't it be better to stay home and work at fixing your own problems?
Bonnie G.
Cannot wait for the premier of the video!!🤣
Meg
To all you Americans as a reminder: pot is still illegal at a Federal level in the US. Don't be cocky, it's not 100% legal even in states where it is.
To all you Canadians: Enjoy out-freedoming America. This combined with not having to take your jacket, belt, and shoes off at your airports leave me wondering, "wtf America?"
To Karen: thanks for a well-thought-out, well-written, and tidily-edited pot. I mean post. Please give us your special brownie recipe! I don't smoke/use either, being much more of a caffeine-a-holic, but would be awesome to know a good (read: trusted) recipe for my friends who do! *raises late morning cup of coffee to you*
Reid Zeigler
Maybe now some of those liberals who have been threatening to move to Canada will finally go.
Karen
Maybe because I'm Canadian I've never really understood how some Americans use the word "liberal" as an insult. ~ karen!
Jeanne Hallgren
Thanks Karen 😊!
Liberal in the USA
attygreen13
THANK YOU! 😘
Kim from Milwaukee
Thank you Karen!!
(liberal tree hugger vegan)
Joy
❤️ to you!
Linda Tankersley
Thanks Karen!
Teresa
In American Sign Language one sign for “Liberal” is “open mind”
Open minds are very scary to some people- Oooo! this is leading me to rethink my entire Halloween decorating.
Karen
Ha! ~ karen
Martha R Doss
I live in the US and am looking for a good CBD company to order from. Do you have any recommendations? I can use the CBD with small traces of THS but my husband is military and would greatly benefit from CBD oil. Only problem is he has a CDL for his job and cant risk having a false positive drug screen so i would need CBD isolate where there is no THS in it. Any suggestions would be appreciated! THank you so much
Martina
I am not sure if they are allowed to ship outside of the country, but I use Tilray for my medical mj. Even if all you do is call them, they may be able to point you in the right direction and they have a wealth of knowledge that you may be able to partake of.
http://www.tilray.ca
dee
Tilray's parent company is in the US, but here in Canada the isolates aren't legal-and shipping to the US isn't allowed. If you go to a dispensary though, you might be able to find it. Make sure you buy from a reliable source though. Perhaps a veterans' org. could help you source some-I understand it's great for PTSD.
Dave
I'm glad I read this! We've been giving our dog CBD for a couple of months. Of course, with the aftermath of a belated Thanksgiving dinner and my partner (the usual morning dog feeder) being away for the week, I've been distracted and have forgotten to put it in her food.
I did hear on the news the other day that pot will be allowed to be smoked at camp sites, because they are considered a temporary residence. Not sure if you have to keep it in the tent or what the story is.
Karen
There's a lot of misinformation about where you can or can't smoke pot. I think this is because the government hasn't really decided where you can or can't smoke pot. Because they're the government. ~ karen!
Agnes
Hey, they decided! - for Ontario anyway - only several hours after using pot became legal. Too busy working overtime for months to disrupt Toronto municipal elections I guess.
whitequeen96
I'm all for it, especially as CBD oil has been a god-send to my son, who has seizures. Nothing else was working, so I'm sooo grateful to the people at my local dispensary who helped me find the right stuff for him.
However, one thing puzzles me. I used to smoke pot eons ago, but I never drove my car while under the influence. I'm very surprised that pot isn't forbidden in cars everywhere.
Karen
Oh it is. Driving under the influence is illegal the same way driving drunk is. ~ karen!
Sherrill
Hi, great level headed thinking once again. I had a prescription to purchase medical marijuana in Canada for over a year now. I buy the CBD/THC in equal amounts, and find it great for pain and anxiety without a high. I did try a variety pack at first,before I tried the oil, and vaped it. I found the high very unpleasant and immediate. It’s not like drinking where three glasses of wine your feeling good but can still function, it was debilitating for me. I didn’t enjoy it or understand what the hype was about how great you feel. I felt terrible. The oil let me control the amount to affective me but not go past that line, more like a real medication. I think the media here is really going over the top, and has a “the sky is falling, the sky is falling!” Message as usual. If you didn’t smoke pot before, there is no reason you would want to now.
Debbie Downer
Marijuana research is vast: a solid example can be found at
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/add.12758
Also, thc is stored in our fatty tissue, so as it is disperses, it affects cell development and protein synthesis, which includes developing brain cells. thc stays in mothers breast milk for 2 weeks after use. thc neurophysiological risk factors regarding cognitive functioning, educational achievement hits adolescents especially hard. Guessing that your Canadian gov't monetary gains from legalization will be used to cope with negative societal and health consequences like our U.S.A states CO. and WA. are now involved in. In the front end, out the back end, I guess on way or another. By the way, how are your dear chickens doing Karen?
Karen
At the moment one of them is screaming at the top of her lungs for some reason. It sounds like the call of "I just laid an egg" so I'll be checking on that soon. :) ~ karen!
Lauren from Winnipeg
Actually, most medical and scientific communities will say that pot research is anything but “vast”. Also, please don’t base your opinions on one article or study. Doctors were refusing to give women HRT for years based on a study that turned out to be inherently flawed. Likewise on the study that was showing immunizations were the cause of autism.
I’m in my 50’s and have seen people continue to smoke pot for decades with no more ill effect than the casual drinker. As far as health and society goes, I place my vote with pot. With regards to educational achievement, I have the feeling you would be surprised to find out how many lawyers, doctors, accountants, professors, clergy, etc., consume pot and have done so for years without harming their career. Contrary to some public belief, pot doesn’t make you a lazy layabout. That doesn’t mean you should get high at work, just like you shouldn’t be drinking at work. It should be kept away from children (with the exception of medical pot) just like alcohol should be kept away from children.
I swear it’s as if people think this substance hasn’t been consumed regularly since the 60’s just because it was illegal and now all of a sudden civilization and healthcare as we know it will collapse now that it’s legal.
As with everything, all things in moderation.
Teri
Amen. I end up 'talking' to the evening news when they start their scare tactics.
I can’t see this being any more of a problem (and possibly less) than alcohol. I don’t drink and drive and i know no one who does. I never went to work drunk and neither did my colleagues.
Why would anyone think that all reason, caution, common sense, moral responsibility and good judgement would be checked at the door judge because canabis isn’t going to get you thrown in jail anymore.
Teri on the left coast
june
I applaud Canada for this common sense measure. I certainly agree that all things in moderation is the way to go. Wish it was legal here in PA.
Please note, cannabis was used long before the 1960s. According to Wikipedia the first written evidence was by Herodotus in 440 BCE. I doubt that there ever was a society that did not use some form of psychoactive plant for either religious, ceremonial or social reasons.
Lauren from Winnipeg
Hi, June.
I realize that, but it’s probably the era where most people in western society became aware of it thanks to the hippie revolution. What with their love beads, flared jeans, and loud rock music. Not to mention the VW buses, those dens of iniquity. (: Of course I was 9 at the time of Woodstock, so what would I know?
Cheers!
TdL
Enjoy responsibly! Although not backed by rigourous science, a 4 hour interval between getting a buzz on and engaging in decision-making activities like driving or operating power tools chainsaws and the like is common practice. Leave it longer if you have any doubts. Stacking wood you can do right away.