Cannabis Act (S.C. 2018, c. 16)

Marginal note:Promotion

• 17 (1) Unless authorized under this Act, it is prohibited to promote cannabis or a cannabis accessory or any service related to cannabis, including

  • (a) by communicating information about its price or distribution;

  • (b) by doing so in a manner that there are reasonable grounds to believe could be appealing to young persons;

  • (c) by means of a testimonial or endorsement, however displayed or communicated;

  • (d) by means of the depiction of a person, character or animal, whether real or fictional; or

  • (e) by presenting it or any of its brand elements in a manner that associates it or the brand element with, or evokes a positive or negative emotion about or image of, a way of life such as one that includes glamour, recreation, excitement, vitality, risk or daring.

• Marginal note:Exception — informational promotion — cannabis

  (2) Subject to the regulations, a person that is authorized to produce, sell or distribute cannabis may promote cannabis by means of informational promotion or brand-preference promotion if the promotion is

  • (a) in a communication that is addressed and sent to an individual who is 18 years of age or older and is identified by name;

  • (b) in a place where young persons are not permitted by law;

  • (c) communicated by means of a telecommunication, where the person responsible for the content of the promotion has taken reasonable steps to ensure that the promotion cannot be accessed by a young person;

  • (d) in a prescribed place; or

  • (e) done in a prescribed manner.

• Marginal note:Exception — informational promotion — cannabis accessories and services

  (3) Subject to the regulations, a person may promote a cannabis accessory or a service related to cannabis by means of informational promotion or brand-preference promotion if the promotion is

  • (a) in a communication that is addressed and sent to an individual who is 18 years of age or older and is identified by name;

  • (b) in a place where young persons are not permitted by law;

  • (c) communicated by means of a telecommunication, where the person responsible for the content of the promotion has taken reasonable steps to ensure that the promotion cannot be accessed by a young person;

  • (d) in a prescribed place; or

  • (e) done in a prescribed manner.

• Marginal note:Exception — point of sale — cannabis

  (4) Subject to the regulations, a person that is authorized to sell cannabis may promote it at the point of sale if the promotion indicates only its availability, its price or its availability and price.

• Marginal note:Exception — point of sale — cannabis accessory and services

  (5) Subject to the regulations, a person that sells a cannabis accessory or provides a service related to cannabis may promote it at the point of sale if the promotion indicates only its availability, its price or its availability and price.

• Marginal note:Exception — brand element on other things

  (6) Subject to the regulations, a person may promote cannabis, a cannabis accessory or a service related to cannabis by displaying a brand element of cannabis, of a cannabis accessory or of a service related to cannabis on a thing that is not cannabis or a cannabis accessory, other than

  • (a) a thing that is associated with young persons;

  • (b) a thing that there are reasonable grounds to believe could be appealing to young persons; or

  • (c) a thing that is associated with a way of life such as one that includes glamour, recreation, excitement, vitality, risk or daring.