Rules for Use on Campus

The legal age to purchase and consume cannabis in the province of Ontario is 19 years.

It is illegal for anyone under the age of 19 to possess, consume, cultivate or share cannabis.

Everyone on campus will be expected to abide by all federal and provincial laws regarding recreational cannabis cultivation (external link) , sale (external link) , possession (external link)  and use (external link) .

Ryerson community members are reminded that: 

• smoking and vaping of any substance inside enclosed Ryerson University buildings, including residences,
• smoking and vaping of any substance within nine (9) metres of building entrances and exits, and
• smoking and vaping of any substance within 20-metres of the Early Learning Centre (ELC) playground is prohibited, as per the Smoke Free Ontario Act (external link) .

In addition:

• smoking and vaping of any substance within nine (9) metres of loading docks, fresh air intakes, and compressed gas storage areas on Ryerson property, 
• smoking and vaping of any substance in university-owned vehicles, and
• smoking and vaping of any substance on the Ryerson Quad is prohibited, as per Ryerson's Smoking and Vaping Policy. 

The government has enacted the following rules for using cannabis - both medical and recreational - publicly.  (external link) 

No. 

Smoking/vaping any substance (tobacco, cannabis) inside Ryerson University buildings, including residences, and smoking and vaping within nine metres of building entrances and exits is prohibited, as per the Smoke Free Ontario Act (external link)  and  Ryerson's Smoking and Vaping Policy. 

For more information on residence rules and guidelines, please read  (PDF file)  the Ryerson Residence Community Standards.

If consuming cannabis edibles, students are expected to do so in a responsible and safe manner and to refrain from practices that lead to overconsumption.

As with all controlled legal substances, Ryerson students are expected to behave responsibly and to conduct themselves appropriately. 

There is zero tolerance for giving someone edibles without their knowledge. Doing so could have serious effects on the person’s health and goes against Ryerson’s principles of informed consent. 

Consequences for any inappropriate behaviour on campus related to the use of alcohol/drugs may be addressed through the Student Code of Non-Academic Conduct (Policy 61).

Employees are reminded that consuming recreational cannabis in the workplace is illegal, and continues to be after legalization. Employees are expected to continue to arrive to work unimpaired and fit to perform their duties.

For more health information and resources on cannabis consumption, please visit the Student Health and Wellness cannabis page

The consumption of cannabis by means other than smoking or vaping in non-public spaces of Ryerson student residence buildings (suite/bedroom) is permitted for students 19 years of age and older. Students under the age of 19 cannot possess, consume, or share cannabis on Ryerson University Property.

If consuming cannabis edibles, students are expected to do so in a responsible and safe manner, and to refrain from practices that lead to overconsumption.

There is zero tolerance for giving someone edibles without their knowledge. Doing so could have a serious effect on the person’s health and goes against Ryerson’s principles of informed consent. 

Students in residence are advised to label any edible products appropriately and are not permitted to store them in shared residence community spaces.

Consequences for any inappropriate behaviour on campus and in residences related to the use of alcohol/drugs may be addressed through the Student Code of Non-Academic Conduct (Policy 61).

For more health information and resources on cannabis consumption, please visit the Student Health and Wellness cannabis page

No. The production of cannabis-related products (e.g. edible candies, baked goods, etc.) while in residences is prohibited.

Students are not permitted to grow cannabis in Ryerson residences. It is also prohibited for students to sell / supply controlled legal substances (e.g. cannabis, alcohol, prescription medication) in or on Ryerson University property.

For more information on residence rules and guidelines,  (PDF file) please see the Ryerson Residence Community Standards.

No.

Students are not permitted to grow cannabis in Ryerson residences. The production of cannabis related products (edibles, use in baking, etc.) while in Ryerson residence is also prohibited.

For more information on residence rules and guidelines, please read  (PDF file) the Ryerson Residence Community Standards. (opens in new window) 

Ontario currently has strict rules in place to make sure workplaces are safe. Consuming recreational cannabis in the workplace is illegal, and continues to be after legalization. Employees are expected to continue to arrive to work unimpaired and fit to perform their duties.

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Ryerson community members are reminded that: 

• smoking and vaping any substance (i.e. tobacco, cannabis) inside enclosed Ryerson University buildings, including residences,
• smoking and vaping within nine (9) metres of building entrances and exits, and
• within 20-metres of the Early Learning Centre (ELC) playground is prohibited, as per the Smoke Free Ontario Act (external link) .

In addition:

• smoking and vaping within nine (9) metres of loading docks, fresh air intakes, and compressed gas storage areas on Ryerson property, 
• smoking and vaping in university-owned vehicles, and
• smoking and vaping on the Ryerson Quad is prohibited, as per Ryerson's Smoking and Vaping Policy. 

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For more information on the government's rules for workplaces, you can visit the Ontario government's webpage on cannabis legalization. (external link) 

For staff and faculty who need support regarding accommodation of medical marijuana, please contact Workplace Wellbeing Services.

Under our current processes, when employees or students require medical accommodation that includes the use of medical marijuana, the University reviews each case individually, under the direction of the Ontario Human Rights Code and Ryerson policies and procedures:

1. For students, Ryerson’s Academic Accommodation Support (AAS), currently considers requests for use of medical marijuana on a case-by-case basis, following practices and procedures informed by Senate (PDF file)  Policy 159.
2. For staff and faculty, Workplace Wellbeing Services continues to assess all medical marijuana workplace accommodation requests through standard process, and reviews all requests as per the Accommodation for Persons with Disabilities Policy.

Ryerson recognizes and respects Indigenous ceremonial and cultural practices. For indoor campus locations where Indigenous ceremonial and cultural practices are to be carried out, three days of advance notification to Facilities Management and Development (FMD) is required.

If you suspect someone requires immediate assistance, please contact Ryerson Community Safety and Security

• External phones: 416-979-5040
• Internal phones: 5040
• Email: security@torontomu.ca
• Location: Victoria Building (VIC), 285 Victoria Street, 1st floor

For Students:

Student Health and Wellness provides a wide range of services to Ryerson students, including Counselling and Development, Health Promotion, and medical services for students seeking support.

Please visit Student Health and Wellness for more information.

For Staff and Faculty:

Workplace Wellbeing Services in Human Resources can provide strategic support to faculty and staff about cannabis awareness, making healthy choices, and access to various support services. Please visit Workplace Wellbeing Services for more information.

The Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) is a confidential and voluntary support service that can help you solve all kinds of problems and challenges in your life, including substance abuse and addiction. The program is administered by Shepell and services are entirely anonymous. Neither HR nor supervisors are privy to information regarding who has accessed the program.

Ryerson's approach to managing cannabis on campus focuses on education and awareness. Security is on campus 24/7, and will ensure that community members are aware of and following the rules.

Everyone on campus will be expected to abide by all provincial regulations regarding recreational cannabis cultivation (external link) , sale (external link) , possession (external link)  and use (external link) .

Ryerson's approach to managing cannabis on campus focuses on education and awareness. If a student, staff or faculty member were to violate campus rules related to cannabis, their behaviour would be addressed through Ryerson’s administrative policies. As such, outcomes are situational and behaviour based, and are not prescribed.

Impact of misbehaviour on campus and in the workplace as a result of the  use of controlled substances will be addressed as follows:

Students:

While current practices favour resolutions based on a harm reduction and educational approach, consequences for any inappropriate behaviour on campus related to the use of alcohol/drugs may be addressed through the Student Code of Non-Academic Conduct (Policy 61).

As with all controlled legal substances, Ryerson students are expected to behave responsibly and to conduct themselves appropriately.

Employees:

Consuming recreational cannabis in the workplace is illegal, and continues to be after legalization. Employees are expected to continue to arrive to work unimpaired and fit to perform their duties.

For faculty and staff, community members may work closely with their Human Resources consultant to follow standard practices and procedures as outlined in HR policy and collective agreements.