The federal Cannabis Act as well as Ontario’s Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 and the Cannabis Control Act, 2017 regulate the possession and use of recreational cannabis in Ontario, including in provincial parks.
Here is some helpful information about cannabis use at Ontario Parks:
Can I use cannabis in any provincial park?
Under the Cannabis Control Act, 2017 , persons who are at least 19 years old can possess recreational cannabis. This includes in Ontario’s provincial parks; however, you must be aware of places within parks you cannot use cannabis.
Is there anywhere in the park cannabis use is not allowed?
Smoking or vaping cannabis is prohibited in the same areas where smoking tobacco is prohibited.
Smoking tobacco or cannabis, or using an electronic cigarette to vape any substance (including cannabis) is not permitted in certain areas of provincial parks, including:
- enclosed public places, including washrooms
- sheltered areas with a roof and more than two walls
- children’s playgrounds and 20 m from the perimeter of the playground
- sporting areas, such as volleyball and beach volleyball areas, designated swimming areas, baseball diamonds, soccer fields, and adjacent spectator areas, as well as 20 m from the perimeter of the sporting or spectator areas
You cannot consume cannabis in any manner in a vehicle or boat (including a canoe, kayak, paddleboard, etc.) that is being driven or under someone’s care or control.
If the provincial park you are visiting is located within a fire region, you cannot smoke while walking in a forest area from April 1 to October 31 each year.
Can I transport cannabis in my vehicle?
The laws regarding transporting cannabis in a vehicle or boat are similar to those for transporting alcohol, please refer to the Cannabis Control Act, 2017.
Cannabis must be in its unopened, original packaging or packed away in baggage that’s fastened closed or not readily available to any person in the vehicle or boat.
If there’s a liquor ban, is cannabis also banned?
In several provincial parks, a liquor ban is in effect for 11 days in May up to and including Victoria Day Monday (May 10 to 20, 2019).
At this time, cannabis use is permitted during a liquor ban.
The possession and consumption of liquor falls under the Liquor Licence Act which is separate from the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017.