Canada

Legal Cannabis in Nunavut: What You Should Know

Published on October 15, 2018 · Last updated July 28, 2020
(Elysse Feigenblatt/Leafly)

Cannabis will be legal for adults throughout Canada starting on Oct. 17, 2018. You have questions, we have answers: Where to buy it, which stores are open, age limits, purchase limits, what’s actually on the shelves, where it’s legal to consume, and more.

Retail Sales in Nunavut

Cannabis will not be sold in any physical stores, to start. The government will run an online store, and other private and public retail options will be permitted at a later date.

Legal Age in Nunavut: 19

Each province sets its own legal age, as with alcohol. In Nunavut, the minimum age for purchase and possession is 19.

I’m New to Cannabis. Help!

We’ve got you covered. Leafly maintains the world’s most accurate database of cannabis information, and it’s here at your fingertips. Think of us as your cannabis library. To get started, check out our Cannabis 101 page, which contains articles and how-to guides prepared by cannabis experts writing in plain English, not confusing jargon.

What Can I Buy in Nunavut?

One publicly run online store, www.tweed.com, will be allowed to sell a range of dried cannabis (aka flower or buds), pre-rolls, cannabis oils, capsules, and seeds for home growing. The province has not publicly announced any supply deals with licensed producers. Edibles are not yet allowed, but are expected to enter the market nationwide in October 2019.

Will Physical Stores Be Open on Oct. 17?

No. Cannabis will be sold by the government online to start.

Okay, So Will the Online Store Be Open?

Yes. The government of Nunavut recently announced that a one-year non-exclusive agreement was signed between the Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis Commission (NULC) and Canopy Growth, allowing for the sale of cannabis products directly to Nunavummiut.

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Canopy committed to making at least 500 kg of cannabis available for sale in Nunavut over the next year. Online orders can be placed at www.tweed.com, as of Oct. 17.

Possession Limits in Nunavut

Those 19 and up can possess up to one ounce (30 grams) of dried cannabis in public.

Transporting Rules

Cannabis in any form cannot be used in vehicles by passengers or drivers.

Purchase Limits

Each customer is limited to the federal possession limit, which is 30 grams of dried cannabis, 30 cannabis seeds, or an equivalent amount of cannabis oil.

Consumption Restrictions in Nunavut

In Nunavut, the same rules that apply to tobacco use will apply to cannabis, and will also prohibit use in vehicles, school grounds, hospitals, and playgrounds.

Home-grow Is Allowed

The federal Cannabis Act allows adults to cultivate up to four plants per residence, and the province of Nunavut is no different, although regulations may prescribe restrictions.

Crossing Provincial Borders

Can you transport cannabis from one province to another? Yes. But you must abide by the federal public possession limit, which is 30 grams of dried cannabis per person. Important: Do not attempt to transport cannabis across any international border. Cannabis is legal in Washington state, Vermont, Alaska, and Maine, but the border crossing is a federal zone. And cannabis remains federally illegal in the United States.

Can I Fly with Cannabis?

Yes, as long as you remain within Canada and abide by the possession limits of the departure province and the arrival province. But please be mindful. The fragrance of cannabis flower can be powerful, and not everybody enjoys it in the close confines of an airplane cabin.

Cannabis Supply Chain in Nunavut

Like most other provinces, the territory of Nunavut will act as middleman through the Nunavut Liquor Commission (NULC). That’s how the eventual physical store system will work. In the early post-Oct. 17 days, it looks like Canopy Growth will deliver cannabis ordered through the province’s online portal, www.tweed.com, directly to consumers.

Nunavut Provincial Laws

The Nunavut government passed the Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Implementation Act, which sets out the parameters of lawful sale, purchase and consumption of cannabis there.

Will There be Caps on Cannabis Stores in Nunavut

Since they are only selling online to start, we don’t know if Nunavut will eventually place caps on stores when they do launch.

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Harrison Jordan
Harrison Jordan
Harrison Jordan is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto and enjoys reading and writing about the regulatory affairs of cannabis in Canada and around the world.
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