HALIFAX — Any adult who feels inclined can spark up on Wednesday when pot becomes legal.

Many Canadians have been watching the days tick down to Oct. 17 when Bill C-45 comes into effect, making recreational marijuana legal. However, there’s a patchwork approach to selling and consuming across the country, so it’s important to know what the rules are wherever you live.

We have gathered the answers to the most pressing questions for Nova Scotians around legalization, so you’ll be in the know however you choose to consume or simply learn more about the historic change.

How old do you have to be?

Much like having your first legal drink at 19, you’ll now be able to smoke then, too. In N.S., 19 is the legal age to use, buy, grow or possess cannabis. If you’re under 19, you can be fined or face criminal charges.

Where can I buy it?

Nova Scotia is one of the only provinces bringing cannabis into their existing liquor stores.

The Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC) is the only authorized retailer of cannabis in the province, and weed can be purchased by anyone of legal age at 12 designated NSLC stores across N.S. or online for home delivery. The downtown Halifax NSLC on Clyde St. is the only stand-alone cannabis store, which will have the most variety and amount of products.

The four HRM locations are 650 Portland St. in Dartmouth, 5540 Clyde St. and 3601 Joseph Howe Dr. in Halifax, and 752 Sackville Dr. in Lower Sackville.

In order to access its website to place cannabis orders, customers will need an access code. Those will be available at all NSLC stores provincewide beginning on Oct. 17.

To be eligible for an online access code, customers must present a valid photo ID to help ensure no one under the age of 19 can access the website.

Private cannabis dispensaries are currently illegal in N.S. and will remain so after Oct.17.

What will be sold at the NSLC?

The NSLC website at mynslc.com says they’ll initially sell dried and fresh cannabis, cannabis oil and cannabis accessories. It is likely their products will include prepackaged dried cannabis flowers (buds) as well as pre-rolled cannabis, seeds, cannabis oil, and a selection of related accessories required for consumption.

The NSLC has set cannabis at three price points: Value — priced between $6.33 and $8.49 per gram; Core — sold at between $9.00 and $10.98 per gram; and Premium — priced at $10.99 per gram and above.

Prices are to be determined by brand and package size with a price per gram that decreases as the product package size increases, while pre-rolls and accessories will also be sold at a variety of prices.

Seeds and cannabis oil won’t be available right away on Oct.17, however, the corporation says the products will be added to its inventory when they are available from producers.

While you can make your own edibles at home for personal use, it will remain illegal under federal law to sell edibles, including through the NSLC.

Where can I smoke cannabis?

In short, your best bet will be in a private residence, backyard, or smoke-friendly places within your town or city.

If you rent, your landlord may amend your lease and put rules in place about cannabis smoking or growing. For more information, visit Service Nova Scotia.

The rules that tobacco smokers have had to follow in the past remain the same for cannabis use. Nova Scotia’s Smoke-free Places Act bans the use of all combustibles like cannabis, tobacco, and e-cigarettes in all indoor work and public places, within four metres of windows, air intake vents and entrances to buildings, as well as outdoor licensed areas and patios of all kinds. See a full list here.

New additions to the act also ban smoking within 20 metres of outdoor public playgrounds or a publicly owned sport venue, within nine metres of public trails, and at all times in provincial parks and beaches except for within a rented campsite.

Municipalities may decide to pass bylaws that put additional smoking restrictions in place, like in Halifax where a new bylaw bans smoking (tobacco and cannabis) from all municipal property outside of Designated Smoking Areas (DSAs).

As of Monday, there were only nine DSAs in HRM at various transit terminals — but none on the Halifax peninsula. That changed on Tuesday as the number grew to more than 30.

How much can I grow, and where?

Adults of legal age can grow up to four cannabis plants per household. Each apartment in a house or building is considered a separate household.

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However, like smoking, municipalities can place more rules on where you grow, so check with your specific town to see if they’re more strict.

In urban and suburban areas of HRM, plants have to be grown inside your home or in a detached structure, like a shed or greenhouse. If you live on a rural lot where you don’t have municipal sewer and water, you can grow your plants outside.

How much can I have?

You’re allowed to have up to 30 grams of dried cannabis (or equivalent) with you in public.

There are no restrictions on how much weed you can keep in your home, as long as it’s for personal use. The province reminds people to store cannabis safely and keep it away from kids and pets.

What happens if I break the law?

You can be fined up to $2,000 for a bylaw violation like smoking where you’re not supposed to, according to the Halifax municipality.

If you’re underage, any cannabis you have will be seized and you may be fined up to $150, while if you’re under 18 and in possession of more than five grams, it is a criminal offence.

If you’re over 18 and in possession of more than 30 grams, it is a criminal offence under the federal Cannabis Act and if you sell or give cannabis to someone under 19 or involve them in a cannabis-related crime you may be fined up to $10,000.

Can I drive while smoking?

No, cannabis in any form cannot be used in cars by passengers or drivers. You may be fined up to $2,000 for consumption in a vehicle, or another $2,000 for improper storage if cannabis is not in a closed, sealed package and out of reach from anyone in the vehicle.

How does this change affect me as a medical marijuana user?

It won’t. If you’ve been authorized by your doctor and Health Canada to access cannabis for medical purposes, you can still buy it from a licenced producer, or grow your own for medical use.

How will cannabis make me feel?

The experience will differ from person to person, but it’s good to know how much THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is in your cannabis since that ingredient impacts your brain and body.

If you smoke or inhale cannabis, the effects will likely be felt almost immediately, while if you consume cannabis as a food or beverage, the effects may be more delayed and can last longer, according to the province.

Varying amounts, types and forms of cannabis can cause different lengths and levels of impairment, says the NSLC. You can always begin with low THC percentages and slowly learn how you react.

But if you’re still nervous and want more information, there will be a phone number and an online chat window available with NSLC employees standing by during store hours to answer any questions.

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