Are Seed Banks Legal in Canada?

Canada has shown the full acceptance of Cannabis as the legalization of this plant was done on June 19, 2018. The supporters may have seen the Canadian flag waving with a marijuana leaf instead of the maple leaf as a sign of victory.

This article will show you how this legalization transforms Cannabis cultivation, consumption, and purchasing. If you’re eyeing to buy Cannabis seeds or buds from a marijuana seed bank in Canada, it will be your guide to adhere to the legal scope. 

The Status of Medical Marijuana in Canada

Canada is the first country to legalize medical marijuana, and it happened in 2001. The country’s Court of Appeal ruled that it’s unconstitutional to forbid medical marijuana. An epileptic man attested that he only finds relief from weed in a case that took place in 2000.

Since the law does not exclude any medical aid, it’s unconstitutional to view marijuana as an exemption. So Marihuana Medical Access Regulations, the very first act made for allowing the use of marijuana as a medication.

The guidelines of this act include the right of the patients to own dried buds of Cannabis as long as there’s an approval from a doctor who has a license from the government to do so. Some suppliers have approval from the government during that period. 

There were also licenses given to the patients so they can buy or grow their own Cannabis plant. They may also find a supplier. To be specific, only patients with severe cases are allowed to do this. 

Several ailments were left out. It takes a lot of time, and it is highly complex to process the license before getting it.

More About the Act

The first act was replaced with Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations. Patients can grow their own Cannabis plant without the need to secure a license. 

Then, there are revisions, and another act was born and called Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations. It promotes the same personal cultivation regimen, which has some similarities with what was imposed in the first act.

In this newest act, patients are not required to possess a license but instead a prescription from a Canadian physician. The usual prescription would be 5 grams a day. Patients are directed to buy buds from providers that are approved by Health Canada. The legality of medical marijuana was expanded by the Supreme Court to edibles such as tea, oil, or brownies and kinds of concentrate. 

All in all, it’s legal to have medical marijuana in Canada. Patients can possess and use weed for a medical purpose without a lot of requirements.

Recreational Marijuana in Canada

The Bill C-45 or The Cannabis Act was passed by the Senate and completely became legalized in the whole country on June 19, 2018. This bill had its chance to enter the Senate in November 2017. 

After the bill was passed, municipalities throughout Canada arranged the system on the regulation of growth, possessions, sale, and use of Cannabis. The government gave them enough time to set things up. The implementation of the bill was delayed to October in the same year. 

Bill C-45 only allows people at the age of 18 years old and up to use Cannabis. They can buy it from retailers governed by the federal government and provincial authorities. 

The amount of Cannabis that is allowed for an individual to possess is up to 30 grams. Each person can buy Cannabis Seeds and have four plants for personal consumption. The sale of Cannabis that is concentrated in beverages, edibles, extract, and topicals are allowed. However, people are not allowed to make concentrates at home like BHO or Butane hash oil.

Is it Legal to Buy Cannabis Seeds from a Seed Bank in Canada?

Availing Cannabis seeds became legal after Bill C-45 can be legally practiced. It ended a century of Cannabis prohibition since the Opium act took effect in 1908. Then Cannabis was banned in 1923 as it is in the Narcotics Drug Act’s Confidential Restricted List.

When the bill to legalize Cannabis was passed, people of the Cannabis community based on Canada can buy seeds from local sources and online. Seed banks were brilliant to think of selling their stuff online as a convenient way for themselves and the customers. It brought the rise to the sale in the Cannabis industry.

Everyone who sells Cannabis products should be given the authorization to operate like selling fresh weed, dried buds, or cannabis oil to medical marijuana patients. Patients should meet the requirements. You can check the list of licensed producers and sellers on the website of Health Canada. 

So you would know if the seed bank or the seller is a legitimate source. You can trust the list as Health Canada is strict about it as they have different enforcement tools for the assurance of compliance. 

The sellers who won’t follow the regulations will have their licenses taken away from them. They may even face prosecution. The law enforcement was able to track down those who operate illegally in a total number of 300. 

It’s better to check the seed banks included in the list of Health Canada rather than relying on pot shops or compassion clubs. They can’t guarantee you that they have quality buds.

Permission on Using and Growing Cannabis Seeds in Canada

Although the information in the legal records is that the using and growing of Cannabis seeds can be done by those 25 years old and above, the act allows people starting from 18 years old as it is considered the legal age. They’re only allowed to grow up to four plants.

Medical users should remain within the limits as they may need to pay penalties when they go overboard. Once they obtain the weed, they are not allowed to share it with others as well as exporting or importing Cannabis. They are not permitted to make hash and concentrate too. 

Numbers and Digits in Canada’s Cannabis Culture

There were more than 235, 000 individuals received a license to consume Cannabis for medical use by January 2018. Some obtain their weed from producers like seed banks, and some just buy seeds and grow their plant. 

The number continues to increase, and the expert foresees that by 2024, the users will be multiplied by 10. It is the estimate set by Health Canada.

Forty-four percent of Canadians have at least used weed even just once in their lifetime for recreation or medication. 

Final Thoughts

Since Bill C-45 or the legalization in Canada is implemented, seed banks who are authorized by the law are legal. They are also reputable producers and sellers that you depend on. But you have to make sure that they are legit.