Vancouver Island Cannabis Guide - Tourism Vancouver Island

The term “BC Bud” has been around for ages. Its name synonymous with top-grade cannabis proudly grown in British Columbia. Here’s a go-to guide for all your need to know about buying, consuming, and enjoying cannabis while on a trip to BC’s Vancouver Island.

Where To Shop

Pot Shop Hop

In the pot shops across Vancouver Island you’ll find that much of the dried cannabis, pre-rolled joints, edibles, oils, and topicals have been made from cannabis grown on the Island itself. Be sure you ask staff which strains and products are from Vancouver Island producers for a straight from the source high. One of the most well-known Vancouver Island growers is Broken Coast Cannabis. Based in Duncan, Broken Coast grows, slow cures, and hand trims cannabis at their facility located between Victoria and Nanaimo. Their attention to detail and dedication to quality make them unmatched to the mechanical process of large-scale cannabis producers. You can find their products at one of the four government-run BC Cannabis Stores in Campbell River, Courtney, Port Alberni and Parksville.

Across the Island there are many other independent, and legal, cannabis shops. One of the most well-known shops is The Original Farm, stocked with the largest selection of cannabis products in Victoria. Professional cannabis consultants can direct and educate you on the 70 plus strains of cannabis, capsules, tinctures, and CBD products they have in store. Tofino’s first pot shop, Daylight Cannabis, sells high-quality cannabis to this laid-back, surf town crowd. One of the first licensed shops run by a First Nation is located in Port Alberni. Orange Bridge Cannabis, is owned and operated by the Tseshaht First Nation, selling a variety of products out of their cozy shop. While in Comox, pop into Coast Range Cannabis, a locally-owned and community-minded shop in this seaside town. Meanwhile, if you’re visiting the North Island, you can check out North Island Cannabis, the very first licensed cannabis retailer on the Island!

For a detailed map of all cannabis shops on Vancouver Island, check here.

Must Stop Spots

The Original Farm

1402 Douglas Street Victoria, BC
BC Cannabis Store - Parksville

826 Island Hwy W, Parksville, BC V9P 2B7
BC Cannabis Store - Port Alberni

303 – 3555 Johnston Road, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 8K2
Daylight Cannabis

671-1 Industrial Way, Tofino, BC V0R 2Z0
Orange Bridge Cannabis

7583 Pacific Rim Hwy, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 8Y5
BC Cannabis Store - Courtenay

Unit 2A - 795 Ryan Road, Courtenay, BC V9N 3R6
Coast Range Cannabis

221C Church St, Comox, BC V9M 1X7
BC Cannabis Store - Campbell River

130 – 1416 Island Hwy, Campbell River, BC V9W 8C9
North Island Cannabis

5-9250 Trustee Road, Port Hardy, BC

Where You Can Smoke

Where to (Legally) Light Up

Just because cannabis is legal, doesn’t mean you can freely smoke wherever you’d like. For the most part, wherever tobacco is permitted you can also smoke cannabis. There are always exceptions to this depending on local government rules, so be sure to check regulations before indulging.

If you like to smoke your cannabis in nature, surrounded by old-growth forests or beside the ocean, then you’re in luck on Vancouver Island. You can take a toke at one of the two national parks on Vancouver Island. Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and Gulf Islands National Park Reserve allow guests to smoke on hiking trails and in backcountry areas. That means you can bring your bud with you while hiking the famous West Coast Trail or paddling the crystal-clear waters of the Broken Groups Islands.

Campers can also smoke while at designated campsites in BC Parks, with more than 150 located on Vancouver Island. Some accommodation operators on Vancouver Island are ahead of the times. Hotel Zed in Victoria, and soon-to-be-opened location in Tofino, have created specific cannabis smoking areas so their guests can relax while smoking their grass.

They’ve also created a handy Weed Walk guide to Victoria, highlighting all the best places to wander while stoned.

Do not smoke cannabis on or near playgrounds, schools, hospitals, parks, beaches, bus shelters, or any place that children are present. Smoking is allowed on sidewalks (so long as it’s not adjacent to a school), private balconies, and private property. Check the specific rules for any Airbnb, home rentals, or accommodation you have booked before indulging.

Need to Know

Before you buy or consume cannabis while in BC, understand the rules.

You must be 19 years of age or older to buy or smoke cannabis.
One person can only process 30 grams or less of dried cannabis, or the equivalent amount of another product, fresh or liquid.
Cannabis can never be smoked in vehicles.
Smoking and driving is strictly illegal.
Crossing borders with cannabis on your person is illegal. Don’t bring it in, don’t take it out.
You can travel around BC, and within Canada, while in possession of the legal limit of cannabis.

For cannabis clarity, check out the detailed information on the BC Government website.

Safe Consumption

All cannabis users should be knowledgeable on safe consumption before they take any cannabis product. Here are some tips.

Always use legal, regulated cannabis products, purchased from licenced and legal cannabis stores. A full list of these can be found here.
Know what you are buying. Learn the difference between Indica and Sativa and understand their effects.
Always start low and go slow. It can take anywhere from a few minutes to four hours to feel the full effects of edibles.
Your high from smoking or ingesting cannabis products can last anywhere between a few minutes to 24 hours depending on the product.
Check out Cannapedia to understand cannabis terminology.
Read more on safe consumption here.