Cannanaskis: From Prohibition to Pot — A Calgary Walking Tour

Starting at Olympic Plaza, you'll visit the spot where Tommy Chong tried cannabis for the first time, long before Up In Smoke.

From there, the story unfolds along Stephen Avenue, where archaic laws and “reefer madness” pushed cannabis out of public view. Along the way, you’ll hear how culture persisted despite prohibition, with stops near the Royal Canadian Legion and stories of the earliest arrests and enforcement in Canada.

See rare historical artifacts, including handwritten court records and early references to cannabis dating back thousands of years.

Discover Calgary’s connections to global figures like Bob Marley, where some cannabis slang comes from, and why it’s even called 'cannabis' in the first place.

Led by longtime journalist Dave Dormer, this small-group experience offers a factual, story-driven look at an often misunderstood plant, and its surprising place in Calgary’s history.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Cannanaskis