Latest data show fewer Quebecers are using cannabis

Since the legalizing cannabis in Canada, consumption trends cannabis are very popular. In Quebec, they are undergoing surprising changes, as survey data from the Institut de la statistique du Québec (ISQ) show.

Decrease in cannabis consumption between 2022 and 2023

According to the latest ISQ report, a significant drop in the consumption of cannabis among Quebecers aged 15 and over in the 12 months preceding the survey. A few less than one Quebecer in five (17.4%) aged 15 or over reported having used cannabis in the 12 months preceding the survey, down 2 points on 2022.

Reducing consumption of cannabis is evident across all age groups. Adolescents aged 15 to 17 are the only age group for which the proportion of consumers has never increased since 2018, with a drop from 22.3% in 2018 to 16.9% in 2023. Furthermore, the 21-24 age group has the highest number of cannabis users in 2023 (37.6%), showing a consistent trend over the years.

In terms of gender, ISQ data reveals that the cannabis use is more widespread among men than women, with 20.8% of men and 14.1% of women reporting cannabis use in 2023, versus 23.3% and 15.6% respectively in 2022.

Changing consumption patterns: Vaping and Edibles

An interesting aspect of these trends is the growing popularity of the vaporizing cannabis. In 2021, 19% of those surveyed who had used cannabis in the 12 months preceding the survey said they had done so by vaping. This proportion rose to 24% in 2022, before stabilizing at 25.5% in 2023. Visit cannabis vaping is nevertheless particularly popular with young users aged 15 to 17, for whom cannabis consumption is still illegal, with 72.7 % using this method.

For products cannabis edibles, nearly a third of consumers (30.6 %) said they had consumed cannabis in a food product in the past year, reflecting a diversification in consumption patterns. Despite this, smoking remains the dominant mode of consumption, with 81.4% of consumers preferring this traditional method.

The ISQ data also show the importance of monitoring consumption of cannabis because many minors are unaware of the THC content of the products they vapotage.

The evolution of the cannabis in Quebec reflects national trends. The cannabis market has gradually accelerated in the few years since legalization, reaching a plateau in 2022, then declining in 2023. A trend that remains to be confirmed over the coming years.