ARE YOU 19+?
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Vancouver is one of the most cannabis-forward cities in the world and tourists ask us about buying cannabis here every single day at our Dunsmuir Street store near Canada Place. The questions are always the same: is it legal, what do I need to bring, can I take it home, what should I actually buy. This guide answers all of it plainly, based on questions our team has answered in person hundreds of times.
Yes. Cannabis has been legal across Canada since October 2018 under the Cannabis Act. As a visitor to British Columbia, you can purchase cannabis from any licensed dispensary as long as you are 19 years of age or older. Your citizenship or country of origin does not matter. American visitors, European visitors, visitors from anywhere in the world are all welcome to purchase legal cannabis in BC.
British Columbia sets the legal age at 19, which is also the minimum age for alcohol in this province. If you are 19 or over and have valid ID, you can walk into any Coastal Green location and buy cannabis the same way a local resident would.
The short version: 19+ with valid photo ID. That is the requirement. No prescription, no medical card, no residency requirement. Just ID.
You need one piece of government-issued photo ID that shows your name, date of birth, and photograph. The ID must be valid , expired ID will not be accepted. Here is what works and what does not.
| ID Type | Accepted? |
|---|---|
| Passport (any country) | ✓ Yes , the most reliable option for international visitors |
| US Driver's Licence | ✓ Yes |
| BC or Canadian Driver's Licence | ✓ Yes |
| NEXUS Card | ✓ Yes |
| International Student ID | ✗ No , not government issued |
| Credit or bank card alone | ✗ No , not photo ID |
| Digital or phone-based ID | ✗ No , physical ID required |
If you look young, bring your passport regardless of what other ID you carry. Our staff check ID on every transaction and they will ask if there is any doubt. This is not personal , it is a licensing requirement that applies equally to every customer regardless of how obvious their age appears.
Walking into a Coastal Green store for the first time is straightforward. You show your ID at the door or at the counter, you browse the products, you ask our team questions, and you pay. That is it. There is no complex process, no medical consultation, no paperwork to fill out.
Every customer shows ID before purchasing. Have it ready when you walk up to the counter. At our Dunsmuir Street location we check at the point of sale.
You do not need to know what you want before you walk in. Our budtenders are used to working with people at every experience level. Tell us what effect you are after, whether you have any tolerance, how you prefer to consume, and what your budget is. We will narrow it down from there. Nobody is going to judge you for being new to this or for having questions.
We carry flower, vapes, edibles, pre-rolls, concentrates, beverages, and CBD products. For first-time or occasional users visiting Vancouver, edibles in the 2.5mg to 5mg range or a low-dose beverage are usually the most manageable starting point. Flower and pre-rolls are accessible but require knowing how much you are smoking. Vapes are discreet and consistent. Ask our team which is right for your situation.
We accept cash, debit, and credit cards at all three Coastal Green locations. You will receive your product in a sealed, labelled package that meets Health Canada requirements.
This is where most tourists get confused. In British Columbia, you can smoke or vape cannabis in most public spaces where tobacco smoking is permitted. The rules follow the same logic as cigarettes: you can smoke on sidewalks and in most outdoor spaces, but not within 6 metres of doors, windows, or air intakes of public buildings, not in parks designated as smoke-free, not in vehicles, and not anywhere near schools or playgrounds.
Your hotel room is a different matter. The overwhelming majority of Vancouver hotels prohibit smoking indoors under their own policies, and cannabis falls under that prohibition. Using a vape pen on a private balcony is typically more accepted than smoking flower, but check your hotel's specific policy rather than assuming.
Practical advice: If you are unsure whether you can consume somewhere, look for tobacco smokers. If they are doing it there, cannabis is probably allowed. If they are not, you are likely in a restricted zone.
No. This is the most important thing in this entire guide. Taking cannabis across an international border is a federal offence in both Canada and the United States regardless of the legal status of cannabis in either country. The Canada-US border is a federal border. Federal law applies. Cannabis purchased legally in Vancouver must stay in Canada.
Do not attempt to bring cannabis back through customs, through airport security, or across the border in a vehicle. The consequences are serious and the legal status of cannabis in your home state does not create an exemption at a federal crossing point.
Legal cannabis in Canada is stronger than what many visitors expect, particularly those buying from the legal market for the first time. Products are lab-tested and the THC content on the label is accurate, which was not always the case in unregulated markets. A pre-roll or flower labelled at 20% THC contains 20% THC.
For edibles, start with 2.5mg to 5mg and wait 90 minutes before deciding to take more. The common mistake is taking a second dose at the 45-minute mark because nothing seems to be happening yet. The onset for edibles is slow. Both doses then arrive together. Start low, wait longer than feels necessary, and plan your day around the experience rather than trying to fit the experience around a full schedule.
For flower and vapes, start with one small inhalation and wait 10 minutes. You can always take more. You cannot take less.
Coastal Green operates three licensed dispensaries. Here is where to find us depending on where you are in or around Vancouver.
No. Canadian law applies while you are in Canada. Your home state's cannabis status is irrelevant here. You follow BC regulations, which means 19+ with valid ID and no cross-border transport.
No. Vancouver International Airport does not have cannabis retail. You need to visit a licensed dispensary in the city. Our Dunsmuir Street location is approximately 30 minutes from YVR by Canada Line SkyTrain to Granville Station.
Yes. Under Canadian law, an individual can purchase up to 30 grams of dried cannabis or the equivalent in other product forms per transaction. For a tourist buying for personal use during a short trip, you will not realistically approach this limit.
The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority does not actively search for cannabis. Flying within Canada with up to 30 grams of cannabis in your carry-on or checked baggage is legal. Flying internationally is a different matter , see the border crossing section above.
Come in and tell us that. We will not push you toward anything. A low-dose edible at 2.5mg, a CBD-dominant product, or a small vape cart from a relaxing indica strain are typical starting points for first-time users. The conversation is low-pressure and genuinely helpful. That is what our team is here for.