The Government of Canada has conducted national cannabis surveys (NCS) to monitor cannabis consumption and related behaviours in 2023.

By the end of 2023, over 10.4 million or 26% (increased from 22% in 2018 and unchanged from 27% in 2022) of Canadians aged 16 and older reported using cannabis. 10% (decreased from 13% in 2022) indicated that they used cannabis for medical purposes.

In 2023, 34% of residents of Nova Scotia, British Columbia (31%), Newfoundland and Labrador (31%), New Brunswick (30%), Alberta (29%) and Ontario (27%) reported using cannabis above estimates for the rest of Canada (all other provinces combined).

Canadian Cannabis Market

According to the 2023 NCS, an estimated 73% of cannabis users reported they had made a purchase from a legal storefront or from a legal website (an increase from 69% in 2022). In 2023, 69% reported they ‘always’ obtain cannabis from a legal or licensed source compared to only 48% in 2022. The 5 factors most influenced from whom they usually obtain cannabis were price (42%), convenience (15%), strength (9%), safe supply (6%) and quality (6%).

Report also shows that as in previous years, cannabis use was highest among 20–24-year-olds (48%), followed by 16–19-year-olds (43%) and those 25 years and older (23%). Consumption rates were still higher among men (29%) than among women (23%).

60% (a decrease from 65% in 2022) of cannabis users reported that they consumed dried cannabis (flower/leaf), while 54% (unchanged from 2024) consumed edibles. Canadians also reported using other types of products, such as cannabis oil cartridges or vape pens (34%), liquid concentrates (26%), cannabis beverages (19%) and topical products (12%).

Canada Cannabis Market Infographics