Since the legalization of cannabis in Canada in late 2018, buying cannabis is easier than ever. Every adult now has the opportunity to buy cannabis in various marijuana stores around the country. Plus, even if you don’t have a local store, buying online is incredibly easy and convenient.
There are all kinds of cannabis products you can buy. With cannabis strains alone, you can choose from indica, sativa, and hybrid varieties. You can also buy a wide range of cannabis concentrates such as hash, shatter, bud, wax, and many more. Beyond that, there are also marijuana edibles, oils, topicals, and more. With so much selection, buyers can often have a confusing time deciding which product is best for them.
There’s also a lot of questions consumers have when it comes to buying cannabis. For instance, how much can you legally buy? Is weed delivery safe and legal? What’s the best way to buy? However, buying marijuana can be easy and hassle-free for anyone. Here’s BXN’s guide to buying cannabis to help you out.
Where Can You Buy Cannabis?
With cannabis now legal in Canada, there are a few ways to buy it. There are many physical marijuana stores across the country offering strains, concentrates, and oils. However, some provinces have more than others, and there are still many cities and towns in Canada which aren’t within a good distance of a marijuana store. You can find local cannabis stores by searching online or checking your local government’s website.
Fortunately, you can buy cannabis online no matter where you are in Canada. In addition to online government sales, you can also order directly from various mail-order marijuana websites. This way, you can often find cheaper prices and a much greater product selection.
When you buy online, your products will be sent straight to your address discreetly. No one from the postman to your neighbors will know what you’re having delivered and your details will be kept private. Many people now choose to buy online due to the ease and convenience of online orders.
Cannabis Laws in Canada
If you’re buying cannabis for the first time, it helps to know about Canada’s cannabis laws. Certain laws vary from province to province, such as how old you need to be to buy cannabis and where you can smoke it. However, most cannabis laws are the same across the country.
Although the Canadian government set a legal age of 18 to buy and use cannabis, most provinces require you to be 19 or over. You can buy and use cannabis from the age of 18 in Alberta and Quebec. However, you will need to be at least 19 in every other Canadian province and territory.
As for possession limits, the law allows you to publicly possess up to 30 grams of dried cannabis. Different possession limits apply to different products, however. These are the possession limits for different types of cannabis products.
- 30 grams of dried cannabis
- 150 grams of fresh cannabis
- 450 grams of cannabis edibles
- 2100 grams (4.62 pounds) of liquid products
- 7.5 grams of cannabis concentrates (solid or liquid)
- 30 cannabis plant seeds
While exceeding the possession limits in public can land you a fine, you can keep as much cannabis as you want at home. Make sure you keep your cannabis locked away safely and well out of the reach of children.
All provinces allow you to smoke or vape cannabis in private properties or residences. However, landlords are able to restrict the use of cannabis on their properties. Public smoking laws vary significantly from province to province. While some don’t allow smoking in public, some allow smoking in certain public places where tobacco is permitted such as parks and trails where there are no children present. You must never smoke in a vehicle or anywhere where children are nearby.
Guide to Buying Cannabis Flower
Generally, the most popular cannabis product to buy is flower. Also known as bud, weed or cannabis strains, this is dried cannabis which you can use to smoke or vape. There’s a huge amount of variety when it comes to cannabis flower strains, and each strain has its own unique properties. However, strains are usually divided into three broad categories- indica, sativa, and hybrid strains.
Indica strains give you more relaxing and sedating effects. They’re known to give users a more body-focused high which delivers intense physically soothing effects. These are great for medical issues such as pain, inflammation, headaches, migraines, muscle spasms, and nausea. They can also help with insomnia, anxiety, and stress.
Sativa strains are known for their more energizing and stimulating effects. Sativa strains generally give you more of a head high which can make you happy, giggly, social, creative, and motivated. They heighten your senses and make all kinds of tasks and activities more interesting. The uplifting effects are also useful for counteracting stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.
Hybrid strains are made by crossing indica and sativa genetics. These will generally give you both physically relaxing indica effects and mentally stimulating effects of sativa strains. Some hybrid strains lean more towards indica or sativa, whereas some others give you an almost even mix of both. Hybrid strains are highly popular as they can give you the medical perks of both indica and sativa strains, as well as an enjoyable recreational high that can suit any time of the day.
When you browse cannabis flower strains online, you can see product reviews and descriptions. These will let you know what kind of effects to expect, how they taste, and what medical ailments they can help with. There are tons of cannabis strains to choose from, and most users try out all kinds of strains to find the best one for them.
Guide to Buying Cannabis Concentrates
If you want something stronger than cannabis flower, try cannabis concentrates. Concentrates are made by taking strains of cannabis and using various processes to transform them into condensed forms with much higher levels of THC. As such, these can give you an extremely strong high with just a small amount.
Many vaporizers have chambers designed for use with concentrates. Some users also dab concentrates using a dab rig or dab pen. This is a more advanced form of consumption which can have stronger effects. You can also mix concentrates into a joint, bong or pipe along with flower to add its strength.
You can buy cannabis concentrates in many different forms. Here are some of the most popular.
Shatter – Shatter is a high THC concentrate recognizable by its golden, glass-like form. It’s easy to break apart into small pieces to add to a vaporizer, dab rig or joint. It’s one of the most popular kinds of concentrates and you can usually find various different strains of shatter.
Budder/Wax – Budder and wax concentrates are softer and more pliable than most other forms of concentrates. Budder is usually more powdery whereas wax has more moisture. Both of these can give you a very strong high with intense relaxing effects.
Hash – Hash comes in the form of a solid brown brick of concentrated cannabis. In order to break it apart, you’ll need to burn it and crumble it. It’s easy to add to joint or pipe, although you can also vape or dab it. There are also different kinds of hash such as Moroccan Hash, Lebanese Hash, and Afghani Hash. Hash is one of the most popular kinds of concentrates available and you’ll find it in most marijuana stores.
Other popular concentrates include crumble, rosin, live resin, and caviar. All of these can give you very powerful effects thanks to their high THC content.
Guide to Buying Cannabis Edibles
Although cannabis concentrates are strong, edibles give you even stronger effects. When you consume marijuana in edible form, your liver converts the THC into 11-hydroxy-THC. This is a more powerful form of the chemical which gives you a much more intense high.
The high from edibles can take up to two hours to kick in. However, when it does the effects can last up to eight hours or even more in some cases. You should avoid edibles if you plan to be productive, but if you want the most powerful THC effects, you’ll enjoy the high you get from them. You can also microdose edibles for a more manageable high- this is good for medical use.
All kinds of food and drink products can be infused with marijuana. As such, you can buy all kinds of readymade marijuana edibles. Popular options include THC Gummy Bears, Coke Bottles, and Honey. You can also find CBD edibles which can give you medical perks without getting you high, such as CBD Tea. Edibles usually give you great value for your money and it doesn’t cost a lot to get a strong high with edibles.
Guide to Buying Cannabis Tinctures
Cannabis Tinctures, also known as Cannabis Oils, are convenient products which are particularly useful for medical users. Cannabis Tinctures come in a bottle complete with a dropper.
Tinctures can come with THC, CBD or both. While THC tinctures will get you high, CBD tinctures are useful for those who want purely medical effects. Whichever way, these are quick and easy to use.
You use them by applying the oil underneath your tongue and holding it there for a couple of minutes. This will absorb the cannabinoids into your body, giving you the effects of THC and/or CBD within around 20 minutes.
Guide to Buying Cannabis Topicals
Cannabis Topicals are a unique kind of marijuana product which won’t get you high. However, many users enjoy them for the therapeutic pain-relieving effects they deliver directly to the skin.
Topicals can come in many forms, such as cannabis creams, oils, salves, balms, and body sprays. You simply apply these products to your body in the area where you need the effects. Although you won’t get any psychoactive effects, they’re useful for relieving pain, reducing inflammation, and can even help with skin infections and give you more youthful looking skin.
Guide to Buying Cannabis Vape Products
Vaping is becoming an increasingly popular way to use cannabis. It’s a smokeless method of consumption which may be healthier for your respiratory system than smoking. One study also found that vaping cannabis gives you stronger effects than smoking it does.
You can buy a vape pen or vaporizer for use with various different products. Some are compatible with cannabis strains and concentrates, making it quick and convenient to inhale your favorite products.
Alternatively, you can also use specially designed cannabis vape-oils, e-juices, and vape cartridges. These can come in various different strains and flavors and contain THC, CBD or both.
What Kind of Cannabis Should You Buy?
With so many options when it comes to buying cannabis, consumers often find themselves spoiled for choice. All of these products have their uses and the choice can often come down to personal preference. However, there are a few things you can base your decision on.
For a simple and straightforward way to get high, cannabis strains are always a good bet. There are all kinds of different strains to try with unique flavors and effects. You can also choose between various methods of consumption, such as smoking a joint, using a bong or vaping them.
If you want something a little stronger, concentrates can help. However, for the strongest effects of cannabis, you should use marijuana edibles. These come in various tasty forms such as gummy bears and chocolate bars. However, be warned that the high from edibles is extreme and can last for hours on end.
Those who want purely medical effects may prefer tinctures and topicals. These are easy to use and, if you buy pure CBD versions, they can give you purely medical effects without getting you high.
Conclusion
Buying cannabis is easier than ever thanks to the growth of the market since legalization. While you can find many marijuana stores across Canada now, many users turn to buying cannabis online due to its convenience and wider product ranges. Make sure you stay aware of your local cannabis laws and enjoy cannabis responsibly.
