Teen Cannabis Use Down 50% in Canada Post Legalization

Statistics Canada’s National Cannabis Survey found the number of teens aged 15 to 17 who use cannabis has fallen from 20 percent to 10 percent in the nation post-legalization, the Calgary Sun reports. The survey did not find any change in cannabis use among adults 18 to 24-years-old. Which remained at 33 percent from 2018 to 2019.

Michelle Rotermann, Statistics Canada senior analyst, said that while the survey suggests cannabis use among teens fell in the year following nationwide legalization, attributing the change to ending prohibition would require a more in-depth analysis of the individuals surveyed.

“The National Cannabis Survey uses a cross-sectional design, which has been collected every three months from independent samples across Canada. This allows us to look at associations and change at the population level but not changes experienced by individuals.” – Rotermann to the Sun

Nationally, the survey found a 2 percent increase in national cannabis use following the 2018 reforms, to 17 percent.

A U.S.-focused study last year found an 8 percent decline in the number of high schoolers in states with recreational cannabis legalization who have used cannabis within the last 30 days, and a 9 percent drop among teenagers who have used cannabis 10 times in the last month, suggesting that cannabis use among youth may decline following legalization.

Rotermann warned that the numbers of teens using cannabis could spike following ‘Cannabis 2.0’ legalization which allowed the sale of edibles, concentrates, and other so-called ‘alternative’ cannabis products.