Cannabis legalization is coming to Canada on Oct. 17, and whether you plan on smoking up or not, it’ll change the way you live. Businesses across the country, from growers and retailers to the tech and tourism sectors, are preparing to reap a windfall from legal marijuana. But Canadians also face difficult questions about cannabis use in the workplace, in their homes and among their friends and loved ones.

Globe and Mail journalists have been documenting Canada’s preparations for legalization day, and the possible future that comes after. Our cannabis portal and premium newsletter, Cannabis Professional, are good places to get caught up and stay informed once legalization is here. Here’s an overview of some of the major issues to get you ready for the 17th.

I want to know ... • Where to buy it • What’s going on in Ontario • Where the black market begins • How to invest in cannabis • How to start a cannabis career • Can I get high at work? • How to get a healthy high • How to talk to my kids

Where to buy it

A hybrid liquor and cannabis store in Nova Scotia is unveiled at a media event, July 19, 2018.

When the federal government legalized cannabis earlier this year, it left the provinces in charge of how the drug will be sold and where consumers can smoke it. Some things are mostly constant across the country: You can’t buy cannabis if you’re under 18 (though you may have to be 19 in some provinces), you can grow up to four plants at home (except in Manitoba and Quebec, where you can’t) and you’ll be able to carry up to 30 grams outside your residence.

When it comes to buying the stuff, though, it’s a mixed bag. Manitoba’s stores and online sales will be exclusively private; retailers in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI and Quebec are exclusively government run; Alberta has private retailers, but government online sales; and B.C. is a mix of everything. (We’ll get to Ontario in the next section of this guide.) And when it comes to smoking outside your home, the rules will generally be close to the local tobacco-smoking laws, but some places won’t let you smoke in your car or near places where children play.