McGill University - Drug Scene

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Considering the nightlife at McGill, it is definitely no surprise that McGill is a bit of a party school. Most people drink, and most people get drunk at least once a week, with a good portion getting drunk multiple times a week. That said, McGill is also a demanding school, so as much as there is partying, there is also studying. The most popular drug of choice, in a city where 18 is the legal age to be served, is of course alcohol. Above all, students at McGill love their liquor. A night out usually starts with pregaming until everyone is sufficiently tipsy, then ordering some more drinks at whatever venue they are going to. The streets of Montréal at 3 a.m. are littered with drunken students hollering, swaying, and generally disturbing the peace.

As far as illegal substances are concerned, marijuana is the most prevalent. Pot was, for a time, decriminalized in Ontario, but that has since been repealed, so it is now officially illegal across Canada. However, possession penalties are much looser than in the U.S. In Montréal, specifically, there seems to be an unwritten code of ignorance amongst law enforcement. As long as you are smoking in your own house or on your stoop, the police pretty much leave you alone. Every Sunday during good weather at Mont-Royal is an event called Tamtams, where hippies gather to sell their crafts, dance, drum, and smoke grass in the grass. Police do patrol this, but they never arrest anyone. With this kind of attitude, it makes sense that pot is also pretty common on McGill’s campuses.

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Students Speak Out

McGAW says: McGill University 2010 Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

It's Montreal, 4/20 is practically... It's Montreal, 4/20 is practically a national holiday. You can find the harder drugs, but you have to look a little deeper and pay a bit more, but there's something for everyone. 12345 Drug Scene: March 26, 2009 Report

McGTK says: McGill University 2012 Business

I'm not really a good judge of... I'm not really a good judge of this. Marijuana is really popular---it wafts through the residence halls almost every day. I've heard some stories about people trying harder drugs like mushrooms. Drinking is by far the most popular, though, and a huge part of campus life. 12345 Drug Scene: March 24, 2009 Report

watchthe says: McGill University 2011 Area, Ethnic, Cultural, and Gender Studies

The "harder" drug scene isn't huge... The "harder" drug scene isn't huge here, but it's around. Marijuana is popular, especially with Montreal's lax attitude toward it, and you smell it out on the street almost everywhere. Alcohol is most definitely the drug of choice at McGill. 12345 Drug Scene: March 22, 2009 Report

McGEM says: McGill University 2011 Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Drugs are pretty prevalent on... Drugs are pretty prevalent on campus and anywhere around Montreal. Montreal can rival British Columbia for its tolerance and, in some cases, acceptance of marijuana. 12345 Drug Scene: March 11, 2009 Report

McGFS says: McGill University 2011 Psychology

In residences, drugs are more... In residences, drugs are more visible and noticable, but living outside of campus with the groups of people I chose to associate with, they are no longer any part of my experience here (except maybe a couple people experimenting at a party or on the weekend). It all depends on who you decide to associate with. 12345 Drug Scene: March 06, 2009 Report

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Kelly Baker
Hometown: Weston, CT
Major: Sociology

Fun Fact: Kelly can moonwalk just like Michael Jackson, but she's physically incapable of doing any other dance moves.

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