Non-medical cannabis use in Canada 2018-2024

Some 26 percent of Canadian consumers surveyed stated that they had consumed cannabis, or marijuana as it is otherwise known, the past year in 2024. This is a one percent decrease compared to 2022. Canada became only the second country worldwide to legalize the use of marijuana for recreational purposes in all of their provinces in 2018.

How can cannabis be consumed?

Cannabis can come in various forms, and with this comes different ways to consume the product. 83.2 percent of surveyed recreational cannabis users stated that they smoked the product. Smoking cannabis in handmade cigarettes utilizes the dried flower form of the product. With the recent legalization of the manufacturing and sale of e-cigarettes in Canada, it is likely that an increasing number of consumers will use vape pens to inhale this herbal form in the future. Cannabis can also be combined with food and drink products. Baked goods such as cookies and brownies are the type of cannabis edible most consumers are interested in trying.

Cannabis regulation in Canada

Regulation of the drug is not a straight forward topic, there has been issues keeping up with demand and not everyone agrees with the legalization of non-medical marijuana. As of October 2018, over half of Canadians approved of the legalization. There is also an ongoing debate on how cannabis should be regulated, if it should be treated more like alcohol or tobacco.