Stats Can has been conducting its National Cannabis Survey, an online questionnaire, since February 2018 in an effort to collect data on Canadians’ cannabis habits before and after legalization. While the data has limitations—it’s based on self-reported surveys and answers haven’t been verified—it does paint a pretty chill post-legalization picture.
One of the government’s stated goals of legalizing weed was keeping it out of the hands of kids. Those who were opposed to legalization, meanwhile, claimed that ending prohibition would make it easier for minors to get their hands on weed—one MP went as far as saying weed is just as deadly as fentanyl for children. But according to Stats Canada, the rate of cannabis consumption for 15-17 year olds fell from 19.8 percent in 2018 to 10.4 percent in 2019.
Overall, cannabis consumption is up slightly from 15 percent to nearly 17 percent, with 5.1 million Canadians 15 and older reporting using weed in 2019. The Atlantic provinces were the highest with Nova Scotia reporting about 26 percent of residents consuming cannabis, followed by Newfoundland (21 percent) and New Brunswick (20 percent.) In Quebec, which has some of the strictest weed laws on the books (growing and most edibles are banned there), only about 12 percent of residents reported consuming weed.
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