Marijuana Laws
As recorded December 15, 2025 · not verified as current law. Canada law
Cannabis laws in Ottawa follow Canada’s national law. The rules here are set by the broader jurisdiction, and city-level differences are uncommon.
Recreational cannabis is fully legal for adults (typically 19+, varying slightly by province). Medical cannabis is integrated into the regulated system. Possession up to 30 grams in public is permitted, with licensed retail sales available.
Quick facts
- Recreational: Legal (adults 19+)
- Medical: Legal
- Possession: Up to 30g public permitted
- Buying/Selling: Legal from licensed stores
- Tourists: Can purchase if meeting age requirements
Practical guidance
Avoid cross-border transport of cannabis products. Do not assume informal tolerance equals legality.
Law Enforcement
Police often seemed lenient about a small bag and might leave you alone or make you dump it. Some were stricter. Waving smoke in an officer’s face was asking for a reaction. Rideau and the shorelines felt easygoing where there weren’t many people about.
Where to Buy Marijuana
West End parks had a reputation for better weed and fewer sketchy deals. Near the Rideau Centre, the bus stops and the bridges came up, along with complaints about light bags, mediocre weed and police nearby. Three out of roughly twenty purchases ended in a rip-off in one run. Show the weed before the money changes hands.
Carleton residences and the canal by campus were afternoon hangouts. Craig Henry Park was more of an evening spot. Legacy Skatepark near Baseline Station and Algonquin College came up for better leads. In summer at Major’s Hill Park, people sat in circles under the trees, day or night.
Marijuana Prices
About C$10 for a gram or C$30 for 3.5 g. Other figures varied by grade.
- 7 g: C$40 outdoor or C$50 indoor “boom”
- 14 g: C$80 outdoor or C$90 indoor
- 28 g: C$150 outdoor or C$170 indoor
- Quarter-pound: C$550 outdoor or C$600 indoor
- Half-pound: C$1,000 outdoor or C$1,100 indoor, with another quote around C$1,200
- Pound: C$1,800 outdoor or C$2,000 indoor, with another quote around C$2,200–2,400
Larger quotes were guesses. For two pounds the estimates were C$3,600 less C$200 outdoors and C$4,000 less C$400 indoors. For four pounds the respective discounts mentioned were C$400 and C$800.
Types of Marijuana
AK-47, Skunk #1 and other Skunks, Mighty Mite, B.C. God, B.C. Sweet Tooth, B.C. Hydro, B.C. Grape or Bubblegum, Bubblegum, Purple Haze, purple indica, White Widow, Pure Indica, Montréal Boom, Blueberry Skunk, Yellow Mammoth, Northern Lights, Manitoba Hash Plant and Kush all showed up by name. “Cocaine Bud” was also listed as a name, with nothing to establish what was in it.
More Information
For the boom stuff, a conversation with skaters at a skatepark was a better lead than the first person who offered decent bud.