With a resounding “Yes!” today it is both safe and legal to buy cannabis in Canada. Recreational and medicinal cannabis use now occurs across the country. There are a variety of reliable means to acquire the plant and a plethora of options through online dispensaries.

The Cannabis Act came into play on October 17, 2018. This is the legal framework that governs the production, sale, distribution and possession of cannabis across the country. The act was put into place by the government for three reasons:
1) prevent youth access
2) prohibit and limit illegal profiteering of cannabis
3) protect public health and safety
The Legality of Cannabis in Canada Today
The Cannabis Act initially opened up possession and purchase to adults. It ultimately meant that cannabis users no longer violated criminal law. This is subject to restrictions governed by each individual province and territory. Each province, territory and Indigenous community has its own rules in regards to: legal age, purchasing, consumption and possession.

There can sometimes seem like a lot of complex details but federally the 2018 act allows possession, growth and shared consumption of dried and fresh cannabis. This includes oils, seeds, seedlings and the legal ability to make cannabis products or edibles (not including homemade concentrates). Exactly one year after the act came into law edibles, extracts, topicals and concentrates became legal for sale. This effectively legalized cannabis in Canada as they were some of the final federal restrictions for consumers.

Growing cannabis yourself is a bit more legally complex. You are allowed four plants per household. There are also bylaws to consider depending on the municipality you may live in. You must be licensed by Health Canada if you intend to sell the weed you cultivate. These hoops to jump through can seem daunting. This is why so many people are choosing to buy cannabis in Canada from online retailers.

Medical marijuana essentially has a different set of laws, rules and bylaws. You need to be authorized by a healthcare provider. By doing so the patient has a variance to some of the recreational laws and may be able to grow, buy and possess different quantities.
Cannabis Regulation and Shipping Laws
Since cannabis has become decriminalized it is being sent all across Canada for recreational and medicinal uses. Individuals can both ship and receive packages containing the plant. Since it is a regulated product there are certain requirements that the federal government and Canada Post require.

Senders need to make sure to follow certain contents, packaging and labelling requirements. This is per government legislation and regulations. Recreationally, the distribution plans are determined by the area where the buyer lives.

The receiving may need to verify a proof of age if picking up a package from a licensed seller. This is especially the case if the person looks to be under 30 years old. Remember different provinces, territories and Indigenous communities set the age limits so this could be 18, 19 or 21 years old.

As long as you buy cannabis in Canada from a licensed producer, you can send cannabis to one another within the country. This can legally be done with any courier. This also includes any extracts, topicals, concentrates and edibles. There are limits on how much can be shipped and purchased at any given time depending on if it is recreational (typically 30 grams) or medicinal, but there are exceptions to this. It remains illegal to ship outside of Canada.
Buying Online Vs. Buying on the Black Market
Provincial and territorials retailers as well as federally licensed sellers are the encouraged means to buy cannabis online. With that said, there is still a Black Market for buying weed in Canada. Criminal penalties can be up to 14 years for illegal distribution or sale, moving cannabis across international borders from Canada and penalties involving youth.

The majority of the offences pre-2018 were in relation to possession. Possession over the legal limit can now range from tickets to a minor amount of jail time but are exceedingly rare. In many places these penalties are not enforced at all.

It is clear that the government stance is to buy cannabis in Canada from government or licensed private dispensaries only. Black market cannabis is illegally trafficked and traded. Federal and local laws govern certain conditions of the cannabis sale and consumption so weed cannot be sold by anyone on a street corner. One reason for this is to increase regulation is to increase safety of the general public and consumers alike.

Despite the obvious safety advantages of legal weed versus black market weed some people still seek out illegal means of procurement due to the price tag. Legal dispensaries do sometimes have higher price tags but with this comes quality and safety that you will not find on the street. You can be sure that buying from a dispensary online does not include cannabis that is laced with some mystery drug. You can also be sure that your purchase is more ethical.
Benefits of Online Dispensaries
Beyond benefits of the safety, ethics and legality of buying from online dispensaries there are also some other clear advantages.
Selection
There is a wide array of options of types of marijuana strains and cannabis products to choose from. Whether you want edibles, concentrates or a very specific cannabinoid product you can find it from the comfort of your own home. Check out the wide range of products here to get an idea of the different products currently available.
Quality
You know when you buy from a reputable dispensary that you get a quality product. These are professionally manufactured and packaged. The workers get fair, livable wages and are doing legal work.

Reliability
You do not have to show up in some dingy alley at midnight to meet a specific person at a specific time to get a questionable product for an uncertain amount of money. Your purchase through a legal dispensary is assured. You can pay with a debit or credit card through a secure website and have confidence that your package will arrive. If you have yet to buy through a dispensary online give it a go yourself. It’s less risky and you have little to lose.

In Canada, Online Cannabis is the Safer Option

Buying weed online in Canada is no longer a black market affair. It’s legal, safe, reliable, and always discreet. Nobody is going to check your vehicle parked too-many times in front of that local dispensary. All your packages get shipped quickly and under the radar to your house. Plus, if you haven’t already noticed, the selection of your local retailer does not compare to those from online dispensaries - like ours at Top BC Cannabis. We bring the world of weed straight to your doorstep, no matter where you live in Canada.

Author's Bio: 

Jacob is an experienced cannabis content writers who write on various cannabis health related topics. Visit Top BC Cannabis to learn more about marijuana affects and benefits.