Cannabis: What France Could Learn from Quebec, Eight Years After Legalization

Eight years after the cannabis legalization, Quebec's track record could fuel the French debate on prohibition.

According to the latest data from the’Institut de la statistique du Québec (ISQ), 14 % of Quebecers aged 15 and older have used cannabis in the past 12 months, compared with 17 % in 2025. After rising in the first few years following legalization, consumption has now returned to its 2018 level, before the legal market opened.

But the Quebec experience is not limited to a decline in consumption. The province has also implemented a legal and regulated market, allowing adults to access regulated products while diverting a portion of cannabis revenue away from illicit markets through a public distribution network.

This raises questions about the French model, which continues to penalize consumers while leaving the recreational market in the hands of «networks.» Eight years after legalization in Quebec, what lessons could France learn from this experience?

Cannabis use has returned to where it started

When the Canada legalized recreational cannabis in October 2018, concerns about rising consumption were at the heart of the debate. In Quebec, consumption initially increased, affecting approximately 20% of the population in 2021. But this trend has reversed.

According to the’2026 Quebec Cannabis Survey, annual consumption now stands at approximately 14%, a figure virtually identical to that recorded before legalization.

This survey, conducted between February and July 2026 among 17,369 respondents, also reveals that cannabis use is far from widespread. Among those who used cannabis in the past year, 40% consumed it less than once a month, while 20% used it occasionally, 22% used it regularly, and 18% used it daily.

The ISQ nevertheless recommends caution when interpreting the specific decline observed between 2025 and 2026, as methodological differences may have influenced the results.

The long-term trend remains significant: legalization has not been accompanied by a sustained increase in the prevalence of cannabis use.

Young people in Quebec are using less cannabis than they did before legalization

Among Quebecers aged 15 to 20, the Annual cannabis use has declined, from 28% in 2018 to 18% in 2026. Among 21- to 34-year-olds, it fell from 29 % to 25 %.

A reverse trend emerged among adults aged 35 and older, whose consumption rose from 8 to 11% during the same period.

One development, however, is worth noting: the cannabis vaping remains particularly widespread among young users. In 2026, 60% of cannabis users aged 15 to 20 reported vaping, compared with 24% in 2019.

In Quebec, cannabis users are customers.

In Quebec, adults aged 21 and over can legally purchase cannabis from the Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC) and possess up to 30 grams in public, subject to certain restrictions.

Quebec’s approach is far from permissive; the province has adopted one of the most restrictive models in the country. Home cultivation remains prohibited, public consumption is strictly restricted, and retail sales are subject to a state monopoly. Nevertheless, adults who comply with these rules are not subject to criminal penalties simply for possessing legally purchased cannabis.

The products sold by the SQDC must comply with regulatory standards covering production, testing, packaging, and labeling. The concentrations of THC and CBD are verified and listed on the packaging, while quality controls focus on contaminants such as pesticides and mold.

These protective measures do not make cannabis harmless. Its use still carries health risks, particularly with products that have a high THC content or when used frequently. However, they provide information and oversight that are lacking in an unregulated supply chain.

The Quebec survey highlights the importance of this issue: 26% of cannabis users were unaware of the composition of cannabinoids the products they used. Legal regulations therefore create opportunities for consumer education and risk reduction.

Legal cannabis sales divert revenue away from illicit networks

In 2026, approximately 72%: Cannabis Users in Quebec purchased at least part of their supply from the SQDC. Among consumers aged 21 and older, 46 % purchased all of their cannabis from the provincial retailer, while an additional 15% obtained between half and nearly all of their supply there.

An additional 21% purchased smaller quantities from the SQDC, leaving 18% who reported making no purchases from the public retailer.

Every purchase made through the regulated supply chain represents revenue (5.4 billion since legalization)  that do not go directly to an illegal cannabis seller.

What France Can Learn from Quebec’s Experience with Cannabis Prohibition

The latest national figures available for France indicate that 10.81% of adults aged 18 to 64 had used cannabis in the past year, although differences in survey dates, age groups, and legal status preclude a direct comparison with the 14% figure observed in Quebec.

And while we cannot conclude from these statistics that cannabis use in Quebec is lower than in France, the’ISQ study reminds us that Quebec has a regulated cannabis market, tested products, legal access for adults, and a significant proportion of consumers who purchase cannabis through authorized channels.

Overall consumption has returned to roughly its pre-legalization level, while reported consumption among younger generations has declined, all while diverting a large portion of illicit cannabis revenue to a legal sector. That is, exactly the three pillars on which it is based the Canadian Cannabis Act.