Reviewed Sep 2026Adult-use legal

Cannabis in Hamilton

Hamilton opted in by a 10–6 vote in January 2019 after an opt-out tie; Verdex lists 63 AGCO-authorized stores. Legal age 19, 30 g in public.

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Sellers listed: 52
License verified: 52
Minimum age: 18+

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The rules

Key rules in Canada

Plain-language summary. The regulator is Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).

Minimum age
18 in Alberta, 21 in Quebec, 19 in all other provinces and territories.
Possession
30 g of dried cannabis or equivalent in public (1 g dried = 5 g fresh, 15 g edible solids, 70 g non-solid products, 570 g beverages, 0.25 g concentrates or 1 seed). Some provinces cap home storage, e.g. 150 g per residence in Quebec and 1,000 g per household in B.C.
Home grow
Up to 4 plants per residence under federal law. Prohibited in Quebec. Manitoba passed Bill 34 in June 2024 and home growing became legal there on May 1, 2025 (19+, up to 4 plants per household, grown indoors; gov.mb.ca).
Public use
Set provincially: generally allowed where tobacco smoking is in Ontario and B.C. (with exceptions); smoking and vaping banned in all public spaces in Quebec; no public consumption in New Brunswick; private dwellings only in PEI; restricted in Alberta and Nova Scotia; not in vehicles.
Edibles and extracts
Max 10 mg THC per edible package; extracts max 10 mg per unit and 1,000 mg per package; topicals max 1,000 mg per package. Quebec bans edibles in the form of candy, desserts or chocolate.
Buying online
Only from provincially run or authorized retailers, delivered within that province.
Travel
Taking cannabis into or out of Canada is illegal, with penalties of up to 14 years in prison.

Summary, not legal advice — rules change; check local law. Last reviewed Sep 2026.

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How it works

How cannabis is sold in Hamilton

Hamilton's legal stores exist by a narrow margin. On January 14, 2019, Ward 4 Councillor Sam Merulla's motion to opt out failed on a tie; council then passed the mayor's opt-in motion 10–6. Under Ontario's rules a city that made no decision would have counted as opted in anyway.

Legal age: 19+
Public possession: 30 g dried (or equivalent)
Tax at the till: 13% HST on top of federal excise duty
Store hours: 9 a.m.–11 p.m. max (AGCO)
Delivery: Store staff only, to a residence, 9 a.m.–11 p.m.; online sales via OCS
Local status: Opted in January 14, 2019 (10–6)
School buffer: 150 m (AGCO)
Consumption lounges: None licensed in Ontario

What's on the receipt at a Hamilton store?

Two layers of tax apply to legal cannabis in Ontario; one is hidden in the shelf price.

Layer	Who sets it	How it shows up
Cannabis excise duty	Federal government (with Ontario's share)	Built into the product price; stamp on the package
HST 13%	Federal + Ontario	Added at the register
City cannabis tax	None	Hamilton has no local cannabis tax

The excise stamp is also your quickest proof a product is legal. No stamp, no sale in a licensed store.

Who approves stores in Hamilton?

Short version: the province, store by store.

The AGCO does. The city can comment during each application's public notice, but it cannot cap the number of stores or require spacing between them. Provincial rules only keep stores 150 metres from schools and limit hours to 9 a.m.–11 p.m.

Using cannabis in Hamilton: the rules people break

The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 bans smoking or vaping cannabis anywhere tobacco smoking is banned: enclosed public places, workplaces, restaurant and bar patios, playgrounds, sports fields and within 9 metres of hospital entrances. Driving high is a Criminal Code offence, and Ontario adds zero-tolerance rules for young, novice and commercial drivers. The cannabis use check helps you think through timing before you drive.

Possession rules apply across the whole city, including the Mountain, Stoney Creek, Dundas and Ancaster, which amalgamated into Hamilton in 2001: 30 g dried in public, and adults may grow up to four plants per household under Ontario rules. Seeds and clones must come from a legal source such as the OCS or an authorized store.

New to legal stores? Read what to bring and ask on a first dispensary visit. Check unfamiliar sellers on the Verdex Red List of flagged sellers, and see Ontario cannabis rules and ratings for the provincial rules.

Cannabis in Hamilton: questions

When did Hamilton allow cannabis stores?

Hamilton council voted 10–6 on January 14, 2019 to allow private cannabis retail, after a motion to opt out failed on a tie. Stores began opening later in 2019.

How many dispensaries are in Hamilton, Ontario?

Verdex lists 63 AGCO-authorized cannabis stores in Hamilton, from Ontario's official register. The count changes as stores open and close.

Does Hamilton charge a local cannabis tax?

No. Buyers pay 13% HST at the register plus the federal cannabis excise duty, which is already included in the shelf price.

Can I smoke weed on a patio in Hamilton?

No. The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 bans cannabis smoking and vaping on restaurant and bar patios, as well as in enclosed public places, workplaces, playgrounds and sports fields.

Guides

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Cannabis in Hamilton

Every rated seller in Hamilton

Key rules in Canada

Minimum age

Possession

Home grow

Public use

Edibles and extracts

Buying online

Travel