The Manitoba government is seeking feedback on its proposed repeal of the prohibition on adults growing up to four cannabis plants at home. The law will require plants to be grown indoors only.

The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba (LGCA) has now shared an opportunity for public feedback on the regulatory changes, with a proposed Coming into Force Date of April 1, 2025.

Bill 34, The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Amendment Act, which repealed Manitoba’s ban on growing up to four cannabis plants at home, passed on June 3, 2024. The ban on growing cannabis at home had been put in place by the former Progressive Conservative government in Manitoba in 2018. The Manitoba NDP committed to repealing the bill and did so after forming government following an election in October 2023. 

The proposed regulations would allow a person who is 19 years of age or older to cultivate up to four cannabis plants in their “ordinary residence.” However, a person will not be allowed to cultivate cannabis plants in different residences at the same time, and only four plants can be in a home, regardless of how many adults reside there. 

All cannabis plants will be required to come from seeds or plant material that is not illicit cannabis, and all plants must be cultivated indoors in a room or container that is securely locked or in a location that is not otherwise accessible to young persons. 

The proposed regulations also state that a person who is cultivating cannabis in their residence may possess cannabis that they have cultivated that is not packaged, labelled, and stamped while that cannabis is in their residence. StratCann has requested clarification from representatives with the Manitoba government on whether this means Manitobans cannot take their home grown cannabis outside of their home. This article will be updated if and when that information becomes available.

The move will make Quebec the only province that still does not allow residents to grow cannabis at home. In 2023, the Supreme Court upheld the province’s right to ban growing cannabis at home.

In September 2024, the provincial government completed targeted stakeholder consultations. The LGCA invited First Nations organizations, industry and business organizations, law enforcement, Manitoba Health and Addictions, The Residential Tenancies Branch and other stakeholders to submit feedback on the proposal and the potential safety and security requirements for doing so.

The LGCA and Manitoba Justice will also jointly communicate with municipalities to provide a summary of the laws and regulations and answer questions about where complaints can be directed.

Jesse Lavoie, who helped to spearhead a lawsuit targeting Manitoba’s home grow ban with his group TobaGrown, says he is happy to see the law progressing but has concerns with some of the proposed regulations.

“Our initial excitement about the passing of this Bill has been tempered upon reviewing the preliminary draft, which proposes restrictions requiring plants to remain indoors and preventing harvested cannabis from being removed from the home. This is a critical moment for Manitobans to engage and provide constructive feedback to the Government of Manitoba. We are committed to doing so.”

Kirk Tousaw, a lawyer who has worked with TobaGrown on the campaign to change the provincial law, shared a similar sentiment with StratCann.

“We are pleased that Manitobans will finally be able to grow their four plants like almost all other Canadians have been permitted to do since 2018,” says Tousaw. “That said, it is disappointing that Manitoba will continue to prohibit outdoor cannabis cultivation on the misguided belief that doing so will protect young people. Cannabis has been grown outdoors throughout Canada, legally for decades when you consider medical cannabis cultivation, and there are virtually zero incidents in which young people have accessed it. This is just continued fear mongering that has no place in modern Canadian society.”

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