Cannabis and Alcohol in Your Vehicle: What's Allowed in Ontario

Ontario law sets clear rules for carrying alcohol and cannabis in a vehicle, whether you are driving or a passenger.

Alcohol

• Alcohol in a vehicle must be unopened, or packed in baggage that is fastened closed or not otherwise accessible.
• An open bottle within reach can lead to a ticket, even if no one is drinking.

Cannabis

• Cannabis must be in its original, unopened packaging, or packed in baggage that isn't readily available to anyone in the vehicle.
• Using cannabis in a vehicle, even as a passenger, is not allowed while it is being driven or is likely to be put in motion.

Zero tolerance

• Drivers aged 21 and under, and all novice (G1, G2, M1, M2) drivers, must have zero alcohol in their blood and no drugs.
• Commercial drivers have zero-tolerance rules too.

Impaired driving

Driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs is a criminal offence with serious penalties. Police may also demand a breath sample at a lawful roadside stop.

Charged?

Provincial charges about carrying alcohol or cannabis can be defended in provincial offences court. Impaired driving charges are criminal: speak to a criminal lawyer.

Sources

• Cannabis Control Act, 2017
• Highway Traffic Act

Read next: RIDE Checks and Mandatory Alcohol Screening in Ontario

General Ontario legal information, not legal advice for your matter, and reading it does not create a retainer. Sources checked 15 October 2026: check the current law, forms and dates before you act.

Photos from Pexels: Driving down a tree-lined road at dusk · A parking lot seen from above.

This article is general information for people in Ontario, not legal advice. Rules, forms and deadlines change, and every situation is different. Check the current rule or speak to a licensed legal professional before you act.