Buying cannabis legally in Yukon, the NWT and Nunavut
Last reviewed · Based on official government sources
Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut all set the legal age for cannabis at 19, and each has a small number of retail outlets serving large distances. Online and remote ordering matter more here than in the south. This guide summarizes each territory’s official information.
Yukon
- You must be at least 19 to buy, have or use cannabis, the same as alcohol.
- Yukon’s licensed cannabis retailers can sell in stores, online and by delivery.
- You can buy up to 30 grams of dried cannabis per purchase, which is also the most you can have in public.
- Cannabis must be consumed in a private residence and its adjoining property, or another place allowed by regulation. You cannot smoke or vape it in an enclosed daycare, preschool or licensed child care home, or in group-living facilities.
- Adults can grow up to four plants per household, at their private residence, from legally obtained seeds or plant material.
- Landlords can use tenancy agreements to restrict cannabis use and growing, and a “no smoking” rule in a tenancy agreement includes cannabis unless agreed otherwise in writing.
- If you are impaired at work because of cannabis or any other substance, it is illegal for you to be at work.
Browse Yukon stores, including Whitehorse.
Northwest Territories
- The legal age is 19.
- Health Canada lists the NWT as having government sales in person and online, through the Northwest Territories Liquor and Cannabis Commission (NTLCC).
- Smoking cannabis is permitted on private property and, unless a municipality adds restrictions, on trails, roadways (when not operating or riding in a motor vehicle), and in parks when they are not being used for a public event. It may also be used at designated campsites.
- Smoking cannabis in defined public places is prohibited, including within 30 metres of playgrounds and sports fields in territorial parks. Municipalities can make the rules stricter but cannot relax them.
- Smoking cannabis at worksites is regulated by the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission.
Browse Northwest Territories stores, including Yellowknife.
Nunavut
- The legal age is 19. Health Canada lists Nunavut as having private sales, in person and online.
- Nunavut has two kinds of licensed physical store: Enclosed Cannabis Stores, which only adults 19 and over may enter, and Integrated Cannabis Stores inside other businesses, where products are kept locked and out of sight and are ordered from a price list after showing proof of age.
- A Remote Sales licence lets a retailer sell online or by phone and ship to any Nunavut community by Canada Post or another common carrier, or offer pickup at a licensed store.
- Store hours are limited by regulation to 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on non-holidays, and communities can set stricter hours.
For rules about where cannabis may be used in Nunavut, check the Government of Nunavut’s official information directly. Browse Nunavut stores.
Travelling in the North
Many trips in the territories involve flights. Domestic air travel has its own rules, and some communities may have local restrictions. Never take cannabis across an international border, including into Alaska. See travelling with cannabis.
Ordering from a distance
Because communities are far apart, remote ordering is an important part of the legal system in the North. In Yukon, licensed retailers can sell online and deliver. In the NWT, the NTLCC sells in person and online. In Nunavut, retailers with a Remote Sales licence can sell online or by phone and ship to any community. In every case, the seller should verify your age, and you should only order from a seller authorized in the territory you are in. See legal delivery and online ordering.
A quick checklist for the territories
- Be 19 or older, and bring valid photo ID.
- Buy only from a retailer authorized in that territory.
- Carry no more than 30 grams in public.
- In Yukon, use cannabis only in a private residence and its adjoining property, or another place allowed by regulation.
- In the NWT, check municipal rules, which can be stricter than the territory’s.
- In Nunavut, check the Government of Nunavut’s official information on where cannabis may be used.
- Never drive impaired, and never take cannabis into Alaska or across any international border.
Frequently asked questions
- Can cannabis be shipped to remote communities in Nunavut?
- Yes, by a retailer with a Nunavut Remote Sales licence, which can sell online or by phone and ship to any Nunavut community.
- Where can you use cannabis in Yukon?
- In a private residence and its adjoining property, or another location allowed by regulation. Public consumption is not allowed.
- What is the legal age for cannabis in Yukon, the NWT and Nunavut?
- 19 in all three territories.
In our directory
Sources
Facts in this guide were taken from these official sources, checked October 25, 2026.
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