Buying cannabis legally in Alberta
Last reviewed · Based on official government sources
Alberta is the only province where the legal age for cannabis is 18. All retail stores are privately run and licensed by Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC), which is also the wholesaler that supplies them. This guide covers what the AGLC and the province say about buying and using cannabis.
Legal age and limits
- You must be 18 or older. No one under 18 may enter a cannabis store.
- You can have up to 30 grams of dried cannabis (or equivalent) in public.
- Each purchase is limited to 30 grams. You can make more than one purchase in a day, but you still cannot have more than 30 grams in public.
- Adults may grow up to four plants per household.
Where to buy
Only AGLC-licensed retail stores can sell non-medical cannabis in Alberta. The AGLC has a public cannabis licensee search. Every Alberta store on this site comes from AGLC data; see Alberta stores, or the guides for Calgary and Edmonton.
Some store rules worth knowing:
- store hours can be between 9 a.m. and 2 a.m., but municipalities can shorten them;
- cannabis cannot be sold where tobacco is sold;
- sampling and using cannabis inside a store are not allowed.
Online sales and delivery
Since March 8, 2022, licensed stores with an operating physical location can sell online and deliver if they have an AGLC endorsement. The government’s former online store, AlbertaCannabis.org, is no longer in business. A retailer cannot be online-only.
Endorsed retailers must show their licence numbers, store names, addresses and a link to the AGLC licensee search on their website’s homepage. Orders must be placed and paid for directly with the licensee, not through a third-party app.
Delivery rules include: the delivery person must be 18 or older; no delivery to minors or intoxicated people; government-issued photo ID must be checked if the person appears under 25; delivery only within Alberta; and each order is limited to 30 grams. Food delivery and ride-hailing services cannot deliver cannabis. Curbside pickup is allowed after the sale is completed, with an age check, and must take place outside the vehicle. See legal delivery and online ordering.
Where you can use cannabis
The AGLC’s CannabisSense site says adults may use cannabis in single-family homes and in locations their municipality allows. Use is banned in any motor vehicle, except one used as a temporary residence such as a parked RV. Public smoking or vaping is prohibited anywhere tobacco is restricted, where children might be present, and on hospital or school property. Cannabis cannot be used at a cannabis store.
Municipal rules can be much stricter than the province’s:
- Calgary does not allow recreational cannabis to be consumed in any form, including edibles, in public places. A violation can mean a $100 ticket.
- Edmonton regulates cannabis smoking and vaping under its Public Places Bylaw, with no smoking within 10 metres of bus stops, doorways, windows and air intakes, or in parks with playgrounds, sports fields and other listed amenities.
Landlords and condo boards can also restrict smoking and growing. See where you can use cannabis.
Driving
Driving while impaired by cannabis is a criminal offence across Canada, with federal limits on THC in the blood. If you are transporting cannabis in Alberta, the City of Edmonton advises it must be in closed packaging and out of reach of the driver and passengers. See cannabis, driving and work.
A quick checklist for Alberta
- Be 18 or older, and bring government-issued photo ID.
- Buy only from an AGLC-licensed store, in person or through its own endorsed website. You can check any store with the AGLC licensee search.
- Do not order through food delivery or ride-hailing apps; they cannot legally deliver cannabis.
- Carry no more than 30 grams in public.
- Check your city’s bylaws before using cannabis anywhere outside a private home. Calgary does not allow public consumption at all.
- Never use cannabis in a vehicle, and never drive impaired.
- If you travel to another province, its legal age applies; it is 19 or 21 everywhere else.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the legal age for cannabis in Alberta?
- 18. Alberta is the only province with a minimum age of 18. You must be 18 to enter a cannabis store.
- Can I order cannabis online in Alberta?
- Yes, from licensed stores that have an operating physical location and an AGLC endorsement for online sales. The government’s former online store closed in 2022.
- Can I smoke cannabis in public in Calgary?
- No. Calgary’s Cannabis Consumption Bylaw does not allow recreational cannabis to be consumed in public places, in any form. A violation can mean a $100 ticket.
In our directory
Sources
Facts in this guide were taken from these official sources, checked October 25, 2026.
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