In Canada, 73% of cannabis now comes from legal sources

Last week, Health Canada released the results of the 2023 Canadian Cannabis Survey, providing valuable insights into how the landscape of cannabis use in the country is evolving. Conducted every year since 2017, the survey aims to shed light on how Canadians perceive and engage with cannabis, providing crucial data for monitoring and shaping national regulations under the Cannabis Act.

Cannabis Use Among Young People

The survey revealed a stable picture of the Cannabis Use Among Canadian Youth aged 16 to 19. In 2023, 43 % of them reported having used cannabis in the past 12 months, representing an increase compared to 2022 and 2018. However, this rate remained comparable to that of 2019 and 2020.

Overall cannabis use across all age groups—particularly daily or nearly daily use—has remained stable since 20% and continues to hover around 25%. The percentage of young Canadians who regularly use cannabis has remained stable at approximately 20%.

The percentage of Canadians deemed «high-risk» due to their cannabis use has also remained stable, hovering around 3 % since 2018.

There has been a notable decline in the use of cannabis through smoking. In 2023, smoking remains the predominant method (63%), but alternative methods are gaining popularity, particularly edibles (52%) and vaping (33%). This change highlights a diversification in consumption patterns, which may be influenced by changes in product availability and consumer preferences.

Impacts of Legalization

The number of Canadians who obtain cannabis from legal sources rose from 37% in 2019 to 73% in 2023, and up from 2021. Legal stores have emerged as the primary source of supply since 2019. The study estimates that the growing accessibility of legal options and the normalization of regulated cannabis retail outlets are the main factors behind this trend.

The percentage of Canadians behind the wheel The prevalence of driving after recent cannabis use fell from 27 % in 2018 to 16 % in 2021 and has remained unchanged since then, which suggests increased awareness of the potential risks associated with driving under the influence of cannabis and adherence to responsible consumption practices.

Approximately 11,690 respondents aged 16 and older participated in the survey across all provinces and territories. Data collection covered a variety of topics, including knowledge, attitudes, and opinions; cannabis use and products; sources and purchasing; assessment of high-risk cannabis use; accidental use and adverse effects; driving and cannabis; and medical cannabis.

In 2023, the survey expanded its scope to include new topics, such as the reporting and occurrence of adverse effects, the identification of legal sources, awareness of cannabis packaging requirements, and an alternative assessment tool to measure harmful cannabis use.