Vancouver Weed Visitors Guide 2024
When I first arrived in Vancouver, British Columbia as a student, one of my biggest questions – besides how I would make friends in a new country, choose my major, and choose currency exchange rates – was where should I find grass?
Luckily, Vancouver has long been a major cannabis city, and British Columbia has a reputation not unlike Norcal's Emerald Triangle – it's not called BC Bud for nothing! Over 5 years after federally legalizing cannabis for recreational use, Vancouver and (most of) Canada have built on the infrastructure of the medical/traditional days to offer consumers a wide variety of products and strains, both from national, government-owned brands and family-run micro-cultivators supplying their local communities.
Next time you're in Vancity, you know where it's wet. Let's go!
What are Vans Grass Rules?
If you're not old enough to visit a dispensary in the US, rejoice! Adults 19 and older can legally visit recreational cannabis dispensaries and carry up to 30 grams (or the equivalent in edibles, vapes, etc.) while on the go. At home, you can grow up to 4 plants and possess no more than 1,000 grams of cannabis and derived products.
Like the Big Apple, Vancouver allows public cannabis consumption…
Best of all, Vancouver, like the Big Apple, allows public cannabis consumption anywhere smoking and vaping tobacco is allowed, with the exception of parks (there are designated areas there), playgrounds, public buildings, and near bus, train, and ferry stops. If your hotel allows it, you can also smoke in your room.
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Canada Cannabis 101
Where are Vans legal cannabis stores?
Excellent question! Vancouver is a large city with over 80 dispensaries in the metropolitan area. In the city itself, most walk-in stores are concentrated downtown; you can take a ferry to North Vancouver where you have a few more options. Most stores offer delivery, and you can order cannabis through UberEats just like you would a breakfast burrito.
Because Canada's cannabis legislation is federal, there are two levels of dispensaries. There are BC Cannabis stores operated by the government under the province's British Columbia Liquor Distribution Branch, and there are privately run stores. The BC Cannabis stores offer better prices and a wider selection of brands from across the country; privately run stores may have more of a store atmosphere and local options from craft growers.
Shop at highly rated pharmacies near you:
Delivery
A number of dispensaries across Vancouver are offering pickup and delivery options for adults 19 and older. You can also order weed for delivery and pickup from select dispensaries via UberEats. Start a Vancouver delivery.
What is the closest legal cannabis store to YVR Airport?
If you just came from YVR, you can head to Dutch Love at 8602 Granville Street or La Canapa up the street at 8002 Granville Street.
What good weed can you buy in Van?
Shopping at a Canadian dispensary is a little different than in the U.S.—your weed can come from Ontario, Quebec, or Newfoundland. I chose to stick with local growers in British Columbia, with one exception from Ontario. Here are six of the best buds I've tried.
Stoned Age: 6 BC buds rated
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I'm high, what do I do now in Van?
The best cannabis attractions in Van can be found at:
- Stanley Park
- The art gallery complex in the city centre
- The Amsterdam Café
- Bloedel Conservatory (North Vancouver)
- Vancouver Aquarium
- Pacific National Exhibition, also known as The PNE, Playland amusement park (May–August)
- A ride on the Seabus ferry
- A Skyride gondola ride to the summit of Grouse Mountain (North Vancouver)
- Skiing and snowboarding at Grouse Mountain (North Vancouver)
Spotlight: Amsterdam Café
Although smoking is now legal in public, not everyone wants to smoke in a smoking area, and Vancouver winters can be brutal. At the time of writing, dispensaries are unable to offer consumption rooms. But one of the most iconic North American smoking lounges is still active in Downtown Vancouver: the Amsterdam Cafe.
This is a one-stop shop for a comfortable, discreet session – there's a full-service cafe on the ground floor with food and drinks. A $10 membership fee gives guests access to the basement lounge during the day and the main floor in the evening. Bongs and rolling kits are available for rent.
Van's best stoner food can be found here:
- Tim Horton's, the (better) Dunkin Donuts of Canada.
- White spot
- A&W is not just a root beer brand, but an entire burger chain that competes with the American giants McDonalds and Burger King.
- Mello Donuts
- La Belle Patate, for a wide selection of Canada's best snack: poutine.
- Cactus Club Café
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Frequently Asked Questions About Cannabis Visitors in Vancouver
What's going on with weed lounges?
Unfortunately, dispensaries cannot get approval for consumption lounges—yet. But Amsterdam Cafe at 301 W Hastings Street and Cannabis Culture next door offer discreet and stylish smoking areas for locals and visitors.
What does nationwide legalization mean for me and my shopping experience?
Most importantly, this means lots of options. You're not limited to your province's selection of flower, vapes, edibles, or concentrates. I recommend talking to your budtender and doing research beforehand; sometimes products from other provinces are older or your local store doesn't have the full selection.
Can I import weed into or out of Canada?
This is a big no-no. Just because weed is legal at the federal level, it's illegal to cross the Canadian border or fly with it. So smoke it while you can, or leave it at a friend's house before you head home.
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