How will Canadians buy pot? It depends where they live

A single federal law legalized recreational cannabis in Canada. But a patchwork of rules and regulations govern how you will be able to buy and consume pot. Some provinces will allow private retailers to sell pot, others are government controlled monopolies.

B.C. will have just one government-run pot store up and running in time for legalization, while Nunavut will offer sales by telephone. Ontario is still trying to get legislation through that will allow for private retailing (likely to begin next spring).

This interactive tool allows you to select a province or territory and see everything from the possession limits, to the retail model and consumption rules. Below, find more information and links for each province and territory in Canada.

Provinces and territories differ as well on how much you can possess and where you can legally consume cannabis. In most provinces, you can possess up to 30 grams of dried cannabis. But in Quebec you can have up to 150 grams at home. In New Brunswick, you can smoke in your own private residence. If you're in someone else's house, you need the owner's permission so renters take note.

It's a whole new industry with new rules forconsumers, police, lawyers and judges. This guide is intended to help you find the information you need, but remember some of these laws are in flux and municipalities can put in place additional regulations.When in doubt, check the actual regulations for each province and territory.

British Columbia

B.C.'s sole government-run pot store will be located in Kamloops. Private retailers will increaseconsumer options. Online sales will be run by the province.

Yukon

The Yukon Liquor Corporation will open one store in Whitehorse. Though theterritory's website (with a countdown clock to legalization) says "Yukon's plan is to enable private retail stores to operate under a licensing regime after legalization."

Alberta

Alberta offers a mix of private and government-run retail. Storefront licenseshave been awarded to applicants but online sales will be run by the provincial government. Like most provinces, questions abound onhow many stores will be ready in time. Edmonton has the most stores. Calgary will have just two shops open when legalizationkicks in.

Saskatchewan

Whether you're buying online or in person, people in Saskatchewan will rely solely on the private market for cannabis distribution. Dozens of licenses were initially awarded in a lottery and more will be awarded in the coming months. Not all of the licensed stores will be up and running byOct. 17.

Manitoba

It's still unclear how many private retail shops will open in Manitoba. The provincial governmentsays Ottawa moved too quickly and didn't allow enough time for provinces to manage issues ranging from road side tests to federal packaging, excise stamps, online age verificationand seed-to-sale verification.

The province maintains it's stillon track to meet its goalof having cannabis retail outlets withina 30-minute drive for90 per cent the population openwithin two years.

Nunavut

Nunavut had to find a word for cannabis. The Inuktitut word for weed is "surrarnaqtuq." The territory will sell cannabis online and by phone once it's legal. Consumption is largely permitted wherever you can smoke cigarettes, with a long list of exceptions, including:playgrounds, parades and other outdoor public events.

Ontario

Canada's most populous province enters legalization with plenty of question marks. The new Progressive Conservative government is introducing legislation which will broaden consumption rules (allowing cannabis to be consumed in most places you can smoke tobacco) and permit for private retail stores. But for now, the province will only sell through the government-run Ontario Cannabis Store. Expect private retail to be up and running sometime in the spring of 2019.

Quebec

Often known for its relatively liberal laws around beer and wine sales, Quebec has opted for a government-runretail chain. It plans to have12 retail outlets open by Oct. 17. Three more should open by the end of the month. Like most jurisdictions, Quebec allows consumers to possess up to 30 grams in public. But the province was the only one to cap the amount of pot that someone can have in their own home at 150 grams. Quebecwas also one of just two provinces along with Manitoba to forbid people from growing plants at home. Everywhere else, you can have up to four plants.

New Brunswick

Cannabis NB expects sales of$45 million in its first year of sales. The provincially-regulated distributorwill be responsible for all pot sales in New Brunswick. It's asubsidiary of the New Brunswick Liquor Corporation. Twenty stores are expected tobe open and ready on Oct. 17

Prince Edward Island

Canada's smallest province will be a national leader in the number ofmost cannabis stores per capita.PEI Cannabis will open three retail outlets and will sell pot online with another expectedto open in November. That would mean four shops for the island's 153,244 residents.

Nova Scotia

Most cannabis sales in Nova Scotia will take place inside existing liquor stores. Twelveexisting Nova Scotia Liquor Commission locations will have a "store within a store" offering pot sales. One stand alone location in Halifax is expected to be open in time for legalization. Statistics Canada says Nova Scotianscurrently lead the country in per capita cannabis consumption.

Newfoundland and Labrador

The province is expected to have about 30 private retail stores open for legalization. All online sales will be done through the Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation.

The liquor corporation's Cannabis NL division says there may be "instances and areas" of the province where private retailers don't want to set up shop. In such cases, liquor stores may sell cannabis.

Premier Dwight Ball says legal weed can go on sale at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 17. But, by law stores willhave to close again at 2 a.m.

Northwest Territories

Cannabis sales will be run by the Northwest Territories Liquor and Cannabis Commission, though the government has now said it will open the retail market to private entrepreneurs. Finance MinisterRobert C. McLeod released the regulations for cannabis stores last week.

Video: How will Canadians buy pot? It depends where they live

Legal weed in Canada: How it works where you live | Power & Politics

6 years ago

Duration 1:58

Marijuana will be legal in Canada starting Oct. 17, but the rules are different in each province. CBC's Power & Politics breaks it down.