Canadian Cannabis Use Up Significantly In Recent Years
April 30, 2024Canadian cannabis use has continued to tick up significantly in recent years, according to government statistics agency StatCan. Sales of recreational cannabis by provincial authorities and other retailers jumped 15.8% to C$4.7 billion ($3.4b) in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, with more than one third of Canadians between the ages of 18-44 reporting cannabis use in the past 12 months. That compares with about 16% of adults 45 and over.
While vape products have grown more strongly of late, flower remains the top selling category, accounting for 65% of sales north of the border. On average, Canadians of legal age spent C$150 ($110) on cannabis in the past year.
Further, wastewater testing across Canada shows cannabis use has “significantly increased in all the measured cities in recent years.” According to StatCan, “Growth was highest in Toronto, where average cannabis levels were up 85.2% in 2023 from three years earlier. Metro Vancouver saw the second-highest increase, with levels up 56.0% from three years earlier.”
While there are now over 3 million legal cannabis stores nationwide, the black market continues to account for a significant part of consumption, with seven out of 10 consumers saying they purchase exclusively from legal sources. —Daniel Marsteller
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