How much cannabis can I keep at home in B.C.?

Up to 1,000 grams of dried cannabis or equivalent per household, according to the Government of B.C.

Can I smoke cannabis in parks in B.C.?

Provincial law bans it in municipal, regional and provincial parks except designated campsites and areas, and many cities add their own rules. Vancouver bans smoking and vaping in its parks, beaches and seawalls.

What colour is the B.C. excise stamp?

The Government of B.C. says legal products sold in B.C. carry a green B.C. excise stamp.

Can I buy cannabis online in B.C.?

Yes, from the government’s BC Cannabis Stores website or a licensed private retailer. The B.C. government says legal stores may only ship within B.C.

Buying cannabis legally in British Columbia

Last reviewed October 25, 2026 · Based on official government sources

British Columbia has both government-run BC Cannabis Stores and private retail stores licensed by the province’s Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch. The government also sells online. This guide summarizes the rules published by the Government of B.C.

Legal age and limits

You must be 19 or older to buy, have, use or grow non-medical cannabis, and to enter a cannabis store.
Adults can have up to 30 grams of dried cannabis (or equivalent) in public, and buy up to 30 grams in one transaction.
A household can have up to 1,000 grams at home.
A household can grow up to four plants.

Where to buy

The B.C. government says non-medical cannabis may only be sold by licensed private retailers and government-operated BC Cannabis Stores, including the government’s online store. Legal stores may only ship within B.C.

To recognize a legal store, look for the “Licensed Cannabis Retailer” decal displayed in the store. Legal products carry a green B.C. excise stamp. Browse licensed stores in British Columbia or see the Vancouver guide.

Signs of an illegal online seller

The province lists these warning signs:

no licensed physical store, or an online-only business;
no age verification;
shipping outside B.C.;
payment only by e-transfer or cryptocurrency;
packaging that appeals to children, or no excise stamp;
selling more than the purchase limit;
offering other drugs, or making medical claims.

The B.C. government says penalties for possessing or buying illicit cannabis include fines of up to $5,000 or up to six months in jail on summary conviction. The province’s Community Safety Unit enforces against unlicensed sellers.

Where you can consume

In general, you can smoke or vape cannabis where tobacco smoking and vaping is allowed. It is not allowed in places including:

playgrounds, sports fields, skate parks, swimming pools and spray pools, including their decks and spectator areas;
municipal, regional and provincial parks, except designated campsites and areas;
on or near school property;
inside public buildings or workplaces, or within 6 metres of their doorways, open windows or air intakes;
within 6 metres of bus stops, transit shelters, train stations and ferry docks.

Local governments can set stricter rules. Vancouver, for example, bans smoking and vaping in its parks and on its beaches and seawalls under a Park Board bylaw.

There are no provincial restrictions on using cannabis in your own home, but landlords and strata corporations can restrict smoking and growing. A strata needs a three-quarters vote to pass a bylaw. Tenants who disagree with a landlord can contact the Residential Tenancy Branch.

Vehicles and driving

It is illegal to consume cannabis in a vehicle, whether you are the driver or a passenger, and illegal to drive while someone else is consuming. Exceptions apply to a parked motor home or camper being used as a residence where camping is allowed, and to a moored boat with permanent sleeping, cooking and toilet facilities.

Cannabis in a vehicle must be in its original, unopened packaging, or out of reach of everyone in the vehicle, for example in the trunk.

Drivers in B.C.’s Graduated Licensing Program have zero tolerance for drugs, including THC, and face an immediate 12-hour suspension. Drivers whose blood sample shows over 5 ng/mL of THC, or 2.5 ng/mL combined with alcohol, within two hours of driving can be given an immediate 90-day driving prohibition, in addition to any criminal charges. See cannabis, driving and work.

A quick checklist for B.C.

Be 19 or older, and bring valid photo ID.
Buy only from a BC Cannabis Store, the government’s online store, or a licensed private retailer showing the “Licensed Cannabis Retailer” decal.
Check for the green B.C. excise stamp on products.
Carry no more than 30 grams in public; keep no more than 1,000 grams per household at home.
Do not smoke or vape in parks (except designated areas), near schools, playgrounds or transit stops, or within 6 metres of building entrances.
Never use cannabis in a vehicle, and never drive impaired.

Frequently asked questions

How much cannabis can I keep at home in B.C.?: Up to 1,000 grams of dried cannabis or equivalent per household, according to the Government of B.C.
Can I smoke cannabis in parks in B.C.?: Provincial law bans it in municipal, regional and provincial parks except designated campsites and areas, and many cities add their own rules. Vancouver bans smoking and vaping in its parks, beaches and seawalls.
What colour is the B.C. excise stamp?: The Government of B.C. says legal products sold in B.C. carry a green B.C. excise stamp.
Can I buy cannabis online in B.C.?: Yes, from the government’s BC Cannabis Stores website or a licensed private retailer. The B.C. government says legal stores may only ship within B.C.

In our directory

Sources

Facts in this guide were taken from these official sources, checked October 25, 2026.

Related guides

Buying cannabis legally in Vancouver

How legal cannabis buying works in Vancouver: who can sell, age and possession limits, where you can and cannot use cannabis, driving rules, and the list of licensed stores.

Where you can use cannabis: public places, rentals and vehicles

How the rules on where adults can use cannabis differ across Canada: public places, homes, landlords and condos, hotels, vehicles and boats.

The cannabis excise stamp and legal packaging

What the provincial cannabis excise stamp is, what legal packaging must look like, and the packaging features that point to an illegal product.

Travelling with cannabis: within Canada and at the border

What official sources say about carrying cannabis within Canada, flying domestically, and why taking cannabis across any international border is illegal.

← All guides