Manitoba legislation lifting ban on homegrown recreational cannabis to come into effect May 1

Manitobans will be allowed to grow cannabis plants in their homes starting this coming month.

Legislation that will lift a ban on homegrown recreational cannabis is set to come into effect on May 1. Anyone aged 19 years or older will be allowed to cultivate up to four cannabis plants in their residence.

The federal Cannabis Act set a four-plant maximum, but also allowed provinces to set up their own restrictions.

Manitoba's former Progressive Conservative government introduced the ban in 2018. It was upheld in a court ruling from 2023.

The lifting of the ban in Manitoba would make Quebec the only province in Canada barring people from growing cannabis plants in their homes.

The amendment bill passed in June.