More Canadians are purchasing cannabis from the legal market, according to a national survey by Statistics Canada.
Survey Results
Released on March 18, the survey collected data from 2,251 young adults (18-24) and 5,185 adults (25 and older). The findings indicate that over two-thirds of cannabis consumers are buying from legal sources. Specifically, 71.7% of those who used cannabis within the last 12 months exclusively purchased from legal outlets.
Reasons for Legal Purchases
When asked why they buy legal cannabis, respondents cited product safety (38%), convenience (16.9%), and a desire to follow the law (12.9%) as primary reasons.
Trend Over Time
This marks an increase from previous years. In the 2023 survey, 61% of respondents reported using legal cannabis in the past 12 months, up from 53% in 2021. These trends suggest the success of Canadian cannabis policies and the consolidation of the legal market since recreational cannabis was legalized in 2018.
Sales Data
Recreational cannabis sales by provincial authorities rose by 15.8% year-over-year, reaching approximately $4.7 billion in the 2022-2023 fiscal year.
Consumption by Age Group
The survey also analyzed cannabis use by age group:
- 38.4% of adults aged 18-24 reported using cannabis in the past year.
- 34.5% of adults aged 25-44 reported usage.
- 15.5% of adults aged 45 and older reported usage.
- Daily or almost daily use was reported by 8.7% of adults aged 18-24, 10.3% of adults aged 25-44, and 4.8% of adults aged 45 and older.
Gender Differences
Among adults 45 and older, men were more likely to report daily cannabis use compared to women. No significant gender differences were found among adults under 45.
Product Preferences
- Cannabis flowers (62.1%) and edibles (57.1%) were the most used products across all age groups.
- Younger consumers preferred vape pens, cartridges, extracts, concentrates, and beverages.
- Older consumers tended to buy topicals and oral oils.
- Men favored cannabis flowers (70.2%) over women (48.4%), while edibles were more popular among women (62.7%) than men (51.9%).
Economic Impact
Canadian recreational cannabis sales amounted to over CAD 5 billion (over $3.6 billion) in 2023, up from CAD 4.2 billion (about $3.1 billion) in 2022. Despite this growth, the retail trend indicates a slower growth rate as the market matures. Since legalization in October 2018, the industry has contributed $43.5 billion to Canada’s GDP, according to Deloitte Canada.
Challenges Ahead
While the majority of consumers are shifting from the illicit market to legal cannabis, the regulated market still faces significant challenges.
