What are the cannabis rules on the Sunshine Coast?

The Sunshine Coast has no road link to Vancouver, so every trip starts with the 40-minute BC Ferries crossing from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale. You can carry up to 30 grams on board. You can't smoke, vape or consume cannabis anywhere on the vessel or at the terminals, and that includes inside your own car on the car deck. Our guide to bringing cannabis on BC Ferries covers the crossing in detail.

Gibsons is the first town off the ferry. Its smoking bylaw covers cannabis and vaping, and it bans smoking within 7.5 metres of any park, public beach or public trail.

Sechelt's smoking bylaw also covers cannabis and vaping. It bans smoking in and within 7.5 metres of parks, beaches, trails and pathways, transit stops, outdoor public events and customer service areas. Davis Bay beach and the Sechelt waterfront are both included.

Outside the two towns, the Sunshine Coast Regional District's parks fall under BC law, which bans smoking and vaping cannabis in regional parks and in outdoor areas set aside for community recreation.

In provincial parks such as Porpoise Bay and Roberts Creek, you can smoke cannabis only where the park allows tobacco. Check the rules for your campsite when you arrive.

That leaves private property: your own place, or a cabin or rental where the owner allows it. Get a host's answer in writing before you light up. Edibles and cannabis drinks avoid most of these rules, since BC's public smoking bans don't cover them, though you still can't consume anything in a vehicle.

Highway 101 runs the length of the coast, from Langdale through Gibsons, Roberts Creek and Sechelt to Earls Cove. Keep any opened cannabis in the trunk and never use it in the car, even parked. Our guide to having weed in your car in BC covers the fines.

Coastal Green Sechelt is at 4330 Sunshine Coast Hwy, Unit #12, about 20 minutes' drive from the Langdale terminal on Highway 101. It's open 9AM to 10PM daily, holds BC Licence No. 450313 and has free parking right out front. The shelves carry the same range as our Vancouver stores, so there's no need to stock up before the ferry. See hours and directions on our Sechelt store page.