According to the Statistics Canada National Cannabis Survey released Apr. 18, Nova Scotia leads the nation in cannabis use over the last three months, with 20 percent of respondents indicating they have consumed some cannabis during the period. Overall, 14 percent of Canadians admitted to using cannabis during the last three months.
Cannabis use in Canada by the numbers: 17 percent of respondents from Manitoba, Alberta, and British Columbia said they had consumed some cannabis over the last three months, followed by Newfoundland and Labrador (16 percent), Saskatchewan (15 percent), Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Ontario (14 percent), and Quebec (10 percent). Of Canadians who have not used cannabis in the last three months, 6 percent said they would likely try cannabis or increase their consumption after it is federally legalized. Another 24 percent of current users said their consumption would likely increase post-legalization.
The largest consumer group (26 percent) was aged 25 to 34. Followed by 15 to 24-year-olds (23 percent), 35 to 44-year-olds (16 percent), 55 to 64-year-olds (10 percent), 45 to 54-year-olds (8 percent), and 65-years-and-older (4 percent).
Less than half of respondents (40 percent) reported using cannabis daily over the last three months. Thirty percent indicated they had used it “once or twice” over the last three months, while 17 percent said they had consumed cannabis “weekly” and 14 percent said they had used cannabis “monthly” during that period.
Flower was the most commonly used product, with 76 percent of respondents saying they had used flower products. Twenty-eight percent said they had used edibles over the last three months and 11 percent said they had used “hashish.”
Most Canadians (31 percent) get their cannabis from friends and say they pay nothing, while 22 percent share among a group of friends. Nineteen percent said they obtained their products from a dealer (the same percentage gets their products from a storefront), while 6 percent grow their own.
Canada is expected to legalize cannabis federally this summer.