Cannabis 420: An Amazing Toronto Guide.

UpDated April 20 2020

Exhaling deeply, he begins to remember a time not so long ago. Placing his pipe full of cannabis back down on the table. It is 420. That can only mean Cannabis 420 a amazing Toronto day. On 4 20 (April 20th) His mind began to wander to a time where the smell of patchouli oil filled the air anytime you required rolling paper or bong. Blacklight and tie-dyed filled your immediate field of vision. This was a long time ago. Eaton’s was still a store with a catalogue. Back then, he seemed to remember this as only an odd pre-adolescent memory, without much understanding of what was being perceived. Hey Cheech!

Time moved on to the next decade and then the next. The clouded patchouli memories become much less evident. Those images were apparent as he picked up his phone and called a local friend to “score.” To some, this is a memory of the Yorkville and Joni Mitchell. To other none of this holds any tone whatsoever, maybe just the faint whine of tin.

 Amazing Toronto Guide

The friend was not home, no cell phone. Dialing another number, then a text, a current reality set in. 

Why not call one of the many delivery services, pay the juice and have my Pot delivered to my home. No more looking over the shoulder or meeting clandestinely in alleys.

Yes, times have changed. As of October 17th, 2018, cannabis has become a legal product for both medicinal and recreational purposes. As with any government regulated substance, it comes with many restrictions. To ensure that you are not breaking any Federal, Provincial and Municipal laws, here we have created a semi concise overview. In each province, the legislative body has interpreted the federal mandate differently. For our purposes, we will focus on Ontario and the city of Toronto. Being one of the leading tourist magnets in the country, it seems appropriate for this to be the focus.

Let get some Amazing Marijuana

One of the first and sometimes confusing concerns is the difference between Medical and Recreational Marijuana. As this is a travel blog, we are gathering information primarily for tourists. That will not be searching for a “script” or prescription. But it may be necessary to be able to differentiate between the two.

Medical Purposes

Medical, as the name implies, is scripted by a medical doctor to aid in either a physical or psychological ailment that the patient may be suffering from. With a medical marijuana card, it does offer you extended rights of usage. As an example, you can use your cannabis in most areas out in public – this is important later. You do not have to be 19 years of age, and you can request that you can grow more than the provision of four plants per household. Most medical cannabis has a higher level of CBD (Cannabidiol), with a decreased level of THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol)

Now that is out of the way as my head is starting to hurt…Where is that medical marijuana?

Its 420 time to purchase Cannabis.

Recreational cannabis is going to aid large municipalities in becoming a mecca for “THC Tourism,” so here are a few things you should know. It might be daunting, you may consider lighting up after reading this.

In Ontario, you have to be 19 years of age to purchase recreational marijuana. You also need to buy it from a government selected distributor. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to go to a storefront vendor. You can purchase online through the government of Ontario website, or you can use one of the many services that can deliver your product directly to you for a service charge. 

When using a storefront, you can also purchase other goodies of the trade, the list is long, suffice it to say it stems far beyond merely buying papers.

With a wide array of products, you can spend a substantial length of time deciphering all of the choices available. Fortunately, in most of these stores, employees are knowledgeable and are happy to help you. With such an assortment of products available, experienced staff is essential. So that you achieve the right outcome for your anticipated “frame of mind.”

The edible… where is Margret Atwood?

The product selection extends beyond combustibles, they have now extended their product lines into edibles as well. Why not cure your “munchies” by eating a cookie or Gummy bear first. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way, so you may want to have the nearest pizza place on speed dial… Kidding…

Long gone are the days of the “grass” that Neil and Joni smoked in Yorkville on there way to Woodstock.

As of January 16th 2020. Edibles are now available at both Storefront and Government  sanctioned on line providers. If food be the music of life play on, but lets hope it is Jimi Hendrix 🙂

There goes the recreational fancy

As was mentioned earlier, you must be at least 19 years of age to purchase cannabis or cannabis products. You can not be holding more than 30 grams (about an ounce). These products are not intended for resale, or the government will miss out on the much-coveted tax compensation. How that number and information corresponds to edibles, I would ask my vendor to explain. However, I wonder if that has been taken into consideration as of yet. Three gummy max? Perhaps add a bag of non-cannabinoid gummies to mess the authorities up. Find fun where you can 🙂

So you have your papers, a freshly rolled “fatty” now what? Can I light it up right here with two cops across the street? Neil and Joni would never have considered it. But you are in an enlightened age. Strike the match…

No, don’t make me.

In most cases, you should look at cannabis smoking in the same way you would look at cigarette smoking. So that the rules governing smoking are clear, I pulled this part from the city of Toronto Website. I felt that the information must be correct. Now inhale, the information below may have a sobering effect.

Individuals may smoke or vape recreational and medical cannabis in a private home; in a residential unit or its balcony (depending on building rules). You may also light up in many outdoor public places (e.g. sidewalks); in designated guest rooms in hotels, motels or inns; residential boats or vehicles fitted with permanent sleeping accommodations and cooking facilities when parked or anchored and meet other criteria; and in controlled areas in:

• Long-term care homes
• Certain retirement homes
• Residential hospices
• Provincially-funded supportive housing
• Designated psychiatric facilities or veterans’ facilities

However, other laws and policies may apply to restrict cannabis use in these places, such as municipal bylaws (e.g. the Parks Bylaw), condo bylaws, lease agreements, and the policies of employers and property owners.

The Act prohibits the smoking of tobacco and cannabis as well as the vaping of any substance in all enclosed workplaces and public places as well as some outdoor designated areas.

Places, where smoking and vaping is prohibited, include:

• In all enclosed workplaces and public places (the inside of any building/structure/vehicle to which the public or employee has access).
• Playgrounds and public places within a 20-metre radius of their perimeter.
• Sporting areas and adjacent spectator areas and public places within a 20-metre radius of their perimeter.
• The outdoor grounds of a primary or secondary school and public places within a 20-metre radius of the perimeter of the school’s grounds.
• The outdoor grounds of a community recreational facility and public places within a 20-metre radius of the perimeter of the facility’s grounds.
• Restaurant and bar patios (excluding some Royal Canadian Legions) and public places within a 9-metre radius of the perimeter of the patio.
• The outdoor grounds of a hospital and public places within a 9-metre radius of hospital entrances/exits.

IMPORTANT:

This was not listed above, but taking cannabis into the USA is completely frowned upon by the US government. You could find yourself in the Hilton “Rikers Island,” in other words, incarcerated, jail, prison. I hope you get the idea. This also extends to medical cannabis users. I would suggest medical marijuana users or anyone for that matter proceed directly to a State where marijuana is legal such as Colorado. Here a little research can keep in the clothes you prefer to wear.

Now back to our regularly scheduled topic.

There are no provisions in the new legislation to allow for cannabis lounges or other enclosed areas and spaces where members of the public are allowed to smoke or vape cannabis. Why not have bars, as other cities do? 

With only a snorkel, I can’t reach the surface.

In essence, you can smoke marijuana anywhere unless it is prohibited. Honestly, the wording and concept are bizarre. You can smoke on a public street, providing the road does not intersect with a school or restaurants or recreational facility. You can smoke in a park unless there is a bylaw prohibiting smoking in the parks. 

Yes, it is legal, providing you are prepared to recognize many of these obtuse legal stipulations. On behalf of the sane people in amazing Toronto, I will apologize for this. Sorry. You can tell that it is written by a Canadian. Once you have sifted through the rhetoric. You can now take out your laser tape measure to determine that 20 meters radius-away from the club or restaurant. This has now placed you in a dark alley, light up… Don’t worry, that was just a rat.

Even Neil and Joni had coffee shops. Hmm… 

Not a very progressive move, after all. That being said, I have yet to see anyone hassled for smoking in a public park ( this doesn’t mean it has not happened, only that I have not witnessed it).

It’s 420 Light up

As a tourist landing into the city and finding a cannabis vendor and lighting up while walking down a public street is a “buzz,” enjoy it. This is yet another way that we, as Canadians, can proudly place ourselves on the world stage. The “sometimes” envy of other nations.

If you plan on coming to Toronto and would like to partake in the wealth of cannabis and accessories that are certain to make your “trip” here more exciting. Follow the links in the text to help guide you to pot-smoking nirvana. 

Have you spent time in Toronto recently? Would you like to share some of your marijuana-induced experiences? Please leave a comment in the area below. Looking for more information? Leave a comment in the section below, and we will get back to you.

Me, I think I will lay back, text my guy and play my Joni Mitchell and Neil Young records and enjoy my patchouli-scented memories from years past. 🙂

As always, thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to join the re-evolution.

Your Vacation. Your Escape.

VTE