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Manitoba may order home growing to stay indoors

Published on January 10, 2025 by Pat Bulmer

Cannabis plants growing in an indoor tent Photo: Adobe Stock/the oz.
Cannabis plants grow in a tent. Manitoba may not allow its residents to grow cannabis outdoors.

Manitobans who want to grow their own cannabis at home will have to do so indoors, under proposed regulations.

The provincial government is asking for feedback on the regulations, which are set to take effect on April 1.

“Those who grow at home will be required by regulation to keep their plants indoors and in a location not accessible by young persons under the age of 19,” the government says in a summary.

The wording is clearer in the actual regulations: the growing room must be locked.

Up to four plants per household will be permitted, which is the maximum allowed under federal law.

“A person must not cultivate cannabis plants at different residences at the same time,” the regulations say.

Other provinces allow outdoor growing. In BC, for example, “you can grow plants on your balcony, or in your yard, as long as they’re not visible from a public place,” the government explains online. Alberta has the same standard.

Quebec will now be the only province that doesn’t allow any home growing.

The Manitoba summary notes home growing was not a controversial issue in previous public consultations.

“It is anticipated that there will be minimal social, economic, and environmental impacts from the regulation,” the summary said. “Cannabis retailers may see a decrease in sales as consumers switch to growing at home. However, this loss may be offset by the ability to sell a wider range of products including seeds and plants.”

Growing at home will improve access to cannabis for people in remote, rural and northern communities that may not have a cannabis store nearby, the government says.