Leafly’s Guide to Cannabis in Ontario Cottage Country

Article by Devon Scoble, Leafly

Cannabis, cottaging, and camping have gone together since long before legalization, but now you can stash up at an actual store before enjoying a puff in the great outdoors.

As a disclaimer, impaired driving of any kind is against the law. The federal government has prohibited experienced drivers from getting behind the wheel with 2ng/ml THC in their system or above. There are heavy fines and strict penalties for operating a motor vehicle under the influence.

We encourage you to think ahead and arrange a designated driver for these cannabis-seeking road trips. If you consume at any of these locations, you should seek nearby accommodation and/or have a sober friend on hand for the drive home.

Here are some shops and attractions located near prime Ontario cottage and camping country.

Near: Niagara-on-the-Lake

The Niagara Herbalist

33 Lakeshore Rd., St. Catharines
(905) 934-4372

Looking to explore the southern shores of Lake Ontario? The Niagara Herbalist is your best bet for scoring in the Niagara area without having to navigate the hoards at the Falls. The store sells everything you’d expect from a licensed retailer: dried flower, oil, and a range of accessories that include handy last-minute papers, pipes, and a $48 vape, in case you forgot yours at home.

Where to Explore Once You’ve Picked Up Your Stash

Niagara-on-the-Lake is a gem of a town whether you’re high or not. Wander through its well-preserved historical buildings, visit its tranquil shores, or pair your new strain with some local wine and gastronomy—there are plenty of choices!

Nearby Short Hills Provincial Park is great for a day hike through woodland and meadows, with a lovely little waterfall. Of course, the other falls—you know, the big ones—are even closer.

Visiting Niagara Falls means dealing with crowds, but in return, you’ll get to experience all the trappings of a legacy attraction: Wax museums! Casinos! Fudge! Stop by Living Water Wayside Chapel en route from Niagara-on-the-Lake to the Falls. The chapel claims to be the world’s smallest church, and it’s a good spot for some meditation between libations.

Near: Prince Edward County and Kawartha

Alderville’s “Green Mile,” Alderville First Nation Reserve

Alderville First Nation Reserve is conveniently located between two booming rural Ontario tourist areas, with the Kawartha Lakes to the north, and Prince Edward County to the south.

The shops on Alderville’s Green Mile are not licensed by Health Canada; instead, they “operate as medical cannabis dispensaries in a complicated legal environment that involves questions of jurisdiction and tribal sovereignty stretching back decades.” Given recent police raids on shops at Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, it’s prudent to call ahead. The stores below were all open at the time of writing.

Medicine Wheel Natural Healing

8986 Highway 45, Roseneath
(905) 352-3322

You won’t find licensed products at Medicine Wheel, but you will discover a greater variety of cannabis than is available at licensed stores, including a selection of edibles, concentrates, and flower.

Healing House Medicinals

8965 Highway 45, Roseneath
(249) 494-5680

Like Medicine Wheel down the street, Healing House offers a variety of products that aren’t available in Health Canada-licensed cannabis stores, with daily specials including Munchie Mondays, Tincture Thursdays, and Pre-Roll Fridays.

Find more shops on Alderville’s Green Mile here.

Just north of Prince Edward County, and on the Bay of Quinte is Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, where you can find several dispensaries operating under the same complicated sovereignty as the ones at Alderville. Stores in the area are clustered on York Road and Highway 49. Here’s one:

Legacy 420

346 York Rd., Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory
(613) 707-4538

Legacy 420 boasts two staff biochemists and batch-tests all their products on site, including goods from the in-store bakery. “There’s nothing else like it in all of Canada,” says Jordan Brant, the company’s marketing and training coordinator. Find a selection of edibles and beverages, as well as topicals, concentrates, suppositories, and tinctures.

Where to Explore Once You’ve Picked Up Your Stash

It’s a short drive from Alderville to Rice Lake Conservation Area, offering winding trails with scenic waterfront views. Alderville and Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory are also close to the boutique hotels and restaurants of Prince Edward County.

Read the full article here.