Cannabis Dispensaries in Alberta: 10 Tips to Find a Legal Store

Alberta has more than 900 licensed cannabis stores, from busy shops in Calgary and Edmonton to small counters in towns across the province. Finding a store is easy. Making sure it is licensed takes one quick check. These tips are for adults who want to buy legal cannabis in Alberta and know what to expect at the counter.

Who Licenses Cannabis Stores in Alberta

The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) licenses every private cannabis store in the province. AGLC buys cannabis from federally licensed producers and supplies it to those stores. Health Canada sets the federal rules for how cannabis is grown, packaged and labelled.

10 Tips for Finding a Legal Cannabis Store in Alberta

1. Use the AGLC Licensee Search

AGLC keeps a public cannabis licensee search where you can look up any store by name or city. Each result shows the address, phone number and whether the store sells online. If a store is not on the list, do not buy from it.

2. Bring Photo ID

You must be 18 or older to buy cannabis, carry it or even walk into a cannabis store in Alberta. Staff check government photo ID for anyone who looks under 25.

3. Order Online Only From Licensed Stores

Since March 2022, licensed stores with a physical location can sell online once AGLC approves their website. The old government site, AlbertaCannabis.org, no longer sells cannabis. A legal online store shows its licence number, store name and address on its homepage, plus a link back to the AGLC licensee search.

4. Know the 30 Gram Limit

A single order can include up to 30 grams of dried cannabis or the equivalent. You can make more than one purchase in a day, but adults may carry no more than 30 grams in public at any time.

5. Check the Packaging

Legal cannabis comes in plain, child-resistant packaging with a federal excise stamp, a Health Canada warning and the standard THC symbol. Bright candy-style packs or missing labels are a warning sign.

6. Do Not Expect Samples

Alberta stores are not allowed to offer samples, and nobody can consume cannabis inside the store. You choose by looking at the product and reading the label.

7. Check Store Hours Before You Go

Alberta cannabis stores can open as early as 9 in the morning and stay open until 2 at night, the same hours allowed for liquor stores. Many towns and cities set shorter hours, so check before you drive over.

8. Know How Delivery Works

Delivery comes from the licensed store or a common carrier such as a courier or Canada Post. Food delivery apps cannot deliver cannabis. Orders stay inside Alberta, and the driver checks photo ID if you look under 25.

9. Ask the Staff

Store staff take AGLC’s SellSafe cannabis training. Ask them to explain product types, how to read the THC and CBD amounts on a label, and what the package dates mean. If you are new to cannabis, say so.

10. Planning to Grow? Check the Rules First

Adults in Alberta can grow up to four cannabis plants per household. Buy seeds or plants from a licensed store, and check your city bylaws and any lease or condo rules before you plant.

How to Spot a Store That Is Not Licensed

If a shop or website does not appear in the AGLC search, treat it as unlicensed. Products from unlicensed sellers skip the testing, labelling and tracking rules that legal products follow. If something seems wrong at a licensed store, AGLC takes complaints.

Find Your Nearest Licensed Store

Search the AGLC list for your city, check the store’s hours, and bring your ID. For more on what to expect once you are inside, see Read This Before You Shop at a Marijuana Dispensary.

Related reading: Cannabis Dispensaries in British Columbia, Cannabis Dispensaries in Ontario and How Many Cannabis Plants Can You Grow per Square Metre?.