Buy legal cannabis

When you buy legal cannabis, you're not just protecting yourself, you’re supporting local jobs, safe practices, and a vibrant industry.

On this page

• Where to buy legal cannabis
• Buying cannabis online
• Why legal, regulated cannabis matters
• Support legal B.C. growers

Where to buy legal cannabis 

Legal non-medical cannabis in B.C. is only sold by:

• Licensed private retailers, and
• Government-run BC Cannabis Stores

Every legal cannabis product must meet Health Canada’s packaging requirements and include a federal excise stamp.

In B.C., look for the green provincial excise stamp on cannabis products. If you don’t see a stamp on a cannabis product, it’s not legal.

In-store, look for the Licensed Cannabis Retailer government decal.

Buying cannabis online

Legal cannabis stores in B.C. may only ship non-medical cannabis to customers within B.C.

If you see any of the traits below, the online retailer is operating illegally:

• No licensed physical location or services are exclusively online
• No age-gating on website
• Ship across Canada/out-of-province
• Only accepts alternative payment methods such as e-transfer or cryptocurrency, does not accept credit cards
• Offer products in packaging that appeal to children (see examples of legally packaged cannabis products)
• Offer cannabis products that do not have an excise stamp
• Allow purchases that exceed the legal possession limits
• Offer other drugs or substances other than cannabis
• Make medicinal claims about products, but are not associated with a federally licensed cannabis producer

Why legal, regulated cannabis matters

Any time you purchase from an illicit cannabis store, you are taking an unnecessary risk.

Health and safety

Illicit cannabis can contain harmful contaminants like:

• Pesticides
• Mold
• Bacteria
• Heavy metals

Plus, THC and CBD levels may be misleading or completely false. A 2022 study found dangerous pesticide levels and inaccurate THC claims in illegal products.

• Read the Chemical Analysis of Illicit Cannabis (PDF,350.8KB)

Protect your personal information

Purchasing illicit cannabis online puts your personal information at risk. Unregulated retailers may not adhere to the same security policies and laws designed to protect consumers.

Illegal online sellers may collect:

• Your name and birthdate
• Address
• SIN or financial details

This information can be used for identity theft, fraud, or even illegal loans.

It only takes one illicit cannabis purchase for the wrong person to collect and use your personal information for criminal purposes. Buy from legal cannabis retailers to protect your personal information.

Find a legal retailer

Criminal penalties

Possessing or buying illicit cannabis is a crime. Penalties include:

• Up to $5,000 in fines or 6 months in jail (summary conviction)
• Up to 5 years less a day in prison (serious offences)

Support legal B.C. growers

B.C. is working to build a diverse and thriving cannabis economy that honours its unique history and removes illegal operations that put lives at risk.

Many illegal cannabis operators use their profits to fund larger organized criminal enterprises linked to:

• Fentanyl production and distribution
• Human trafficking
• Lethal assaults with firearms

Help keep our communities safe by supporting legal B.C. cannabis.