Fewer Quebecers report cannabis use in 2025

The cannabis use among Quebecers has decreased for the first time in several years, according to preliminary data from the’Institut de la statistique du Québec (ISQ). The results suggest that, even though fewer residents consume them, the The legal market continues to consolidate its position in the province.

The ISQ survey, conducted between February and July 2025 among more than 15,000 people aged 15 and over, shows that 16,9 % Quebecers reported using cannabis in the past 12 months, a decrease compared to 18,1 % recorded in 2024. This decrease affects all age groups, but it is more pronounced among young consumers.

In 2024, 21.9% of 15- to 20-year-olds stated they had consumed cannabis. This number dropped to 19,4 % in 2025, which indicates a clear change in current consumption habits among young people. Regular consumers also consume less frequently: the proportion of daily consumers It has passed from 17,5 % à 15,9 % year over year. However, the percentage of occasional consumers—that is, those who consume less than once a month—remains stable at around 41 %.

These trends could mark the beginning of stabilization in consumption after legalization, after several years of stable or growing consumption since the Legalization of cannabis in Quebec in 2018 and a fortiori in Canada.

Combustion remains the preferred method

Despite the diversification of the cannabis market, combustion remains the dominant form of consumption in Quebec. Nearly Eight out of ten consumers reported having smoked cannabis in the past year. Other consumption methods are gaining traction, but remain secondary:

• 33 % respondents reported using cannabis in a food product
• 28 % them vaped
• 18 % used some Oral drops
• 15 % ingested it under pill form

The growing popularity of edibles and alternative formats may reflect the normalization of cannabis consumption in regulated contexts, where discreet and precise dosage forms appeal to older or more health-conscious consumers. Nevertheless, the continued dominance of smoking suggests that traditional consumption habits continue to define the market or that alternative products are not accessible enough. extracts are notably limited in power, at 30% of THC, which excludes most vape cartridges.

Legal streaming services dominate the market

The ISQ study also confirms that legal channels have largely supplanted the illegal market. In 2025, 70 % for consumers declared buying cannabis from the Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC), at least in part.

The state-owned company remains the sole legal retailer cannabis in Quebec. Its network continues to expand, with the opening of seven new branches during fiscal year 2024-2025. These additions contributed to a 12% increase in sales from Q1 to Q3 compared to the previous year, according to the SQDC's latest financial report published in June.

The total amount of cannabis sold also increased, from 122.5 tons in 2023-2024 à 149.2 tonnes in 2024-2025. These numbers suggest that if the number of consumers is declining, legal consumption per consumption – or at least purchases made through official channels – is on the rise.

Consumers who do not purchase through the SQDC continue to obtain their cannabis illegally, whether online, from acquaintances, or from suppliers in other provinces. Nevertheless, the declining share of the illicit market indicates a ecosystem legal in full maturation which increasingly meets Quebecers' expectations in terms of accessibility and quality.

As the seventh anniversary of legalization, Québec seems to be entering a new phase, where the consumption responsible, regulation, and consumer confidence prevail over novelty and experimentation.