Canadian Cannabis Survey 2023: Summary

Introduction

The Cannabis Act came into force on October 17, 2018 and provides legal access to cannabis and controls and regulates its production, distribution and sale. To evaluate the impact of the Cannabis Act, Health Canada collects data to better understand how Canadians view and use cannabis. These data also support development of policy and program initiatives, including public education and awareness activities.

Health Canada developed and implemented the Canadian Cannabis Survey (CCS), in anticipation of legalization, to obtain detailed information about the habits of people who use cannabis and behaviours relative to cannabis use over time.

The CCS started in 2017 and is conducted annually. It examines aspects of patterns of use, such as the quantities of cannabis consumed and the use of cannabis for medical purposes; The cannabis market, such as sources of cannabis and pricing; and issues of public safety, such as impaired driving. While core content remains consistent to allow for comparisons, survey content is reviewed annually and modified to address any identified gaps in the data.

The 2023 CCS included additional questions related to such issues as:

reporting and occurrence of adverse reactions
how people identify legal sources of cannabis
knowledge of requirements for cannabis packaging
assessment of problematic cannabis use

The 2023 CCS was also revised to remove redundancies. In previous survey cycles, most questions on cannabis use and related indicators were asked in two sections that inquired about cannabis use for non-medical and medical purposes, respectively. In the CCS 2023, the majority of these questions were replaced by a single question that referred to any cannabis use. Respondents were also asked about their reason for cannabis use in the past 12 months (non-medical purposes only, medical purposes only, both, or no cannabis use), to allow results to be disaggregated by medical versus non-medical use.

Results by theme

Results from the 2023 survey are presented by theme. The CCS has been conducted for 5 years since cannabis for non-medical purposes was legalized in Canada in October 2018. To document changes over time, comparisons to 2018 are presented. Note that for survey questions that were added to the survey in later cycles, findings from 2023 are compared to the first year in which the question was asked. Findings are also compared to the previous survey cycle (2022). Findings are unchanged from 2022 unless stated otherwise.

For key findings across Canada from the CCS 2018 to 2023, visit the Cannabis use for non-medical purposes among Canadians (aged 16+).

All reported increases and decreases in the text below are statistically significant changes (meaning that they are not likely to have occurred by chance alone). To improve readability, the words "statistically significant" will not be repeated. Similarly, at times the text will state that the proportion is "unchanged" or not different between groups, even though the numbers are not identical. This occurs when the difference between numbers is not statistically significant.

Definitions

Cannabis use includes using cannabis in its dry form or when mixed or processed into another product, such as an edible, a concentrate, including hashish, a liquid, or other product.
Cannabis use for non-medical purposes is defined as use for a range of non-medical reasons (such as, socially for enjoyment, pleasure, amusement or for spiritual, lifestyle and other non-medical reasons).
Cannabis use for medical purposes is defined as use to treat a disease or disorder or to improve symptoms.

Detailed results tables have been published on the Library and Archives Canada website. A summary of the key results by theme is provided below.

Knowledge, attitudes and opinions

Canadians were asked questions about their knowledge and opinions related to cannabis. Topics included:

Knowledge and beliefs about harms related to cannabis
Access to trustworthy information
Exposure to health warning messages and public health messaging
Exposure to advertisements or promotions of cannabis
Social acceptability of cannabis and other substance use
Perceived risk of using cannabis and other substances
Identifying legal stores and websites
Knowledge of cannabis packaging requirements

Knowledge/beliefs about harms related to cannabis

Canadians were asked a series of questions which assessed their knowledge and beliefs about harms related to cannabis. Changes over time are shown in Figure 1. In all years, over 80% of Canadians correctly identified that cannabis use can be habit-forming, that use while pregnant or breastfeeding can be harmful, that teenagers are at greater risk of harms from cannabis use, and that vaping cannabis can be harmful (added in 2023). In 2023, 68% believed that daily or almost daily cannabis use increases the risk of mental health problems. Approximately half of Canadians or fewer correctly identified that it could take 4 or more hours to feel the full effects of cannabis edibles or drinks, the association between THC levels and impairment, knew that legal cannabis products were tested for contaminants, and were aware of the longer duration of effects of edibles versus inhaled cannabis products.

Knowledge and beliefs about cannabis-associated harms differed by cannabis use (Figure 2). Compared to those who had not used cannabis, those who had used cannabis in the past 12 months were more likely to acknowledge that cannabis can be habit-forming, were aware that the effects of edibles have a delayed onset, knew of the association between THC levels and impairment, knew that legal cannabis products are tested for contaminants, and were aware of the longer duration of effects of edibles versus inhaled cannabis products. On the other hand, those who had used cannabis in the past 12 months were less likely to acknowledge the harms associated with cannabis use while pregnant or breastfeeding or the risk of mental health issues associated with daily or almost daily cannabis use.

Figure 1. KKnowledge or beliefs regarding cannabis-associated harms1, 2018 to 2023. Text description follows. — **Figure 1. Knowledge or beliefs regarding cannabis-associated harms^{Figure 1, Footnote 1}, 2018 to 2023**

Figure 1: Knowledge or beliefs regarding cannabis-associated harms^{Footnote 1}, 2018 to 2023
Cannabis-associated harm	2018 (%)	2019 (%)	2020 (%)	2021 (%)	2022 (%)	2023 (%)
Habit-forming^{Figure 1 footnote *}	82	90	90	89	89	90
Pregnant or breastfeeding^{Figure 1 footnote *}	n/a	98	88	87	86	87
Teenagers at greater risk^{Figure 1 footnote *}	n/a	93	84	82	83	84
Harms of vaping cannabis	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	84
Harms of smoking cannabis^{Figure 1 footnote *},^{Figure 1 footnote ^}	n/a	87	75	76	78	81
Drug interactions	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	71
Frequent use and mental health^{Figure 1 footnote *},^{Figure 1 footnote ^}	n/a	89	66	65	66	68
Delayed onset of edibles	n/a	n/a	52	50	52	51
THC level and impairment^{Figure 1 footnote *},^{Figure 1 footnote ^}	n/a	n/a	45	41	42	40
Testing of legal products	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	38
Duration of effects (inhaled vs. edible)^{Figure 1 footnote *},^{Figure 1 footnote ^}	n/a	n/a	40	36	37	35
Table 1 footnote 1 Question wording for Figures 1 and 2 The question wording have been abbreviated in Figures 1 and 2. Full question wording is listed below. Note that not all questions were asked in all survey years (see Figure 1). Habit-forming: Can using cannabis become habit forming for some people? Pregnant or breastfeeding+: Is it okay to use cannabis when pregnant or breastfeeding? Harms of vaping cannabis: Can cannabis vaping be harmful? Harms of smoking cannabis: Cannabis smoke can be harmful? Drug interactions: Can cannabis change the way other medications work in the body? Frequent use and mental health: Daily or almost daily cannabis use increases risk of mental health problems. Delayed onset of edibles: Can it take up to 4 hours to feel the full effects from eating or drinking cannabis? THC level and impairment +: Does consuming cannabis products with lower levels of THC lead to greater impairment? Testing of legal products: Are legal cannabis products tested for contaminants such as bacteria, moulds and pesticides? Duration of effects (inhaled vs. edible) +: Are the effects of inhaling cannabis longer-lasting than eating or drinking cannabis products? + 'No' was coded as 'correct' for these items ('Yes' and 'Don't know/not sure' were coded as 'incorrect'). For the remaining items, 'Yes' was coded as 'correct' ('No' and 'Don't know/not sure' were coded as 'incorrect'). Return to Table 1 footnote 1 referrer Table 1 footnote * Significantly different between 2018 (or first year question was asked) and 2023. Return to Table 1 footnote * referrer Table 1 footnote ^ Significantly different between 2022 and 2023. Return to Table 1 footnote ^ referrer

Figure 2: Location of exposure to education campaigns, public health or safety messages about cannabis, among all Canadians, 2022. Text description follows. — **Figure 2: Knowledge or beliefs regarding cannabis-associated harms^{Figure 2, Footnote 1}, among those who had and had not consumed cannabis in the past 12 months, 2023**

Figure 2: Knowledge or beliefs regarding cannabis-associated harms^{Figure 2 footnote 1}, among those who had and had not consumed cannabis in the past 12 months, 2023
Question theme	Overall (%)	People who did not use cannabis (past 12 months) (%)	People who used cannabis (past 12 months) (%)
Habit-forming^{Figure 2 footnote *}	90	89	92
Pregnant or breastfeeding^{Figure 2 footnote *}	87	88	83
Teenagers at greater risk	84	84	85
Harms of vaping cannabis	84	84	84
Harms of smoking cannabis	81	81	80
Drug interactions	71	71	72
Frequent use and mental health ^{Figure 2 footnote *}	68	70	61
Delayed onset of edibles^{Figure 2 footnote *}	51	42	76
THC level and impairment^{Figure 2 footnote *}	40	30	68
Testing of legal products^{Figure 2 footnote *}	38	32	55
Duration of effects (inhaled vs. edible)^{Figure 2 footnote *}	35	24	67
Table 2 footnote 1 Question wording for Figures 1 and 2 The question wording have been abbreviated in Figures 1 and 2. Full question wording is listed below. Note that not all questions were asked in all survey years (see Figure 1). Habit-forming: Can using cannabis become habit forming for some people? Pregnant or breastfeeding+: Is it okay to use cannabis when pregnant or breastfeeding? Harms of vaping cannabis: Can cannabis vaping be harmful? Harms of smoking cannabis: Cannabis smoke can be harmful? Drug interactions: Can cannabis change the way other medications work in the body? Frequent use and mental health: Daily or almost daily cannabis use increases risk of mental health problems. Delayed onset of edibles: Can it take up to 4 hours to feel the full effects from eating or drinking cannabis? THC level and impairment +: Does consuming cannabis products with lower levels of THC lead to greater impairment? Testing of legal products: Are legal cannabis products tested for contaminants such as bacteria, moulds and pesticides? Duration of effects (inhaled vs. edible) +: Are the effects of inhaling cannabis longer-lasting than eating or drinking cannabis products? + 'No' was coded as 'correct' for these items ('Yes' and 'Don't know/not sure' were coded as 'incorrect'). For the remaining items, 'Yes' was coded as 'correct' ('No' and 'Don't know/not sure' were coded as 'incorrect'). Return to Figure 2 footnote 1 referrer Table 2 footnote * Significant differences between those who used cannabis in the past 12 months and those who had not used cannabis. Return to Figure 2 footnote * referrer

Access to trustworthy information

Starting in 2019, Canadians were asked if they felt they had access to enough trustworthy information about the health risks of cannabis use to make informed decisions. Sixty-nine percent (69%) reported somewhat or strongly agreeing that they had enough trustworthy information, a decrease compared to both 2019 and 2022 (71% and 72%, respectively). This was more common among those who used cannabis in the past 12 months (84%) than among those who had not used cannabis (63%).

Exposure to health warning messages

Starting in 2019, Canadians were asked if they had seen the health warning messages on cannabis products or packages or on Health Canada's website. In 2023, 32% reported they had seen the warnings (a decrease from 2019 but an increase from 2022), and a further 27% reported they were not sure. Among those who used cannabis in the past 12 months, 66% reported having seen the warnings, an increase over time from 58% in 2019.

Of those who had seen the warnings, over half (55%) reported that this had increased their knowledge of the harms related to cannabis use at least somewhat, unchanged from all previous cycles.

Exposure to education campaigns, public health or safety messages

Starting in 2019, Canadians were asked if they had seen or heard education campaigns, public health or safety messages about cannabis in various locations in the past 12 months, and could select more than one location if they had seen or heard these messages in multiple locations. The most common locations selected in 2023 were TV or radio (27%), social media (14%), posters or billboards (13%), health care settings (13%) and inside or outside a legal cannabis store (7%). With the exception of TV or radio, those who used cannabis in the past 12 months were more likely to report having seen the messages in these locations than those who had not used cannabis. The number of Canadians who reported that they did not recall seeing any education campaigns or public health messages increased over time (from 24% in 2019 to 50% in 2023).

Starting in 2020, those who saw or heard education campaigns or public health messages were asked if the information was credible or believable. Of those who saw or heard these messages, 68% reported that the information was credible or believable, a decrease since 2020 (73%).

Exposure to cannabis advertisements or promotions

Starting in 2022, Canadians were asked if they had noticed or seen cannabis being advertised or promoted in various locations over the past 12 months. People could select more than one location if they had noticed these advertisements or promotions in multiple locations. As shown in Figure 3, over half had not noticed any cannabis advertisements (54%), an increase since 2022 (51%). Where seen, most were outside of stores that sell cannabis (24%).

Figure 3: Location^{Figure 3 footnote 1} of exposure to education campaigns, public health or safety messages about cannabis, among all Canadians, 2022 to 2023
Location	2022 (%)	2023 (%)
I didn't notice any advertisement or promotions (exclusive) ^{Footnote ^}	51	54
TV or radio ^{Footnote ^}	10	8
Websites ^{Footnote ^}	13	9
Public display of posters or billboards	10	10
Inside a store that sells cannabis	13	12
Social media	14	13
Outside a store that sells cannabis	24	24
Table 3 footnote 1 Multiple response options could be selected. Return to Figure 3 footnote 1 referrer Table 3 footnote ^ Significant difference between 2022 and 2023. Return to Figure 3 footnote ^ referrer

Social acceptability

Starting in 2018, Canadians were asked about the social acceptability of regularly using various substances including cannabis. Of the proposed substances (alcohol, tobacco, e-cigarettes and cannabis), the most socially acceptable substance to use was alcohol, followed by cannabis and then e-cigarettes and tobacco (Figure 4). Social acceptability of regularly drinking alcohol (75%), eating or drinking cannabis (58%), vaping cannabis^{Footnote 1} (55%) and smoking cannabis (54%) has increased compared to 2018 (60%; 44%, 44%, and 45%, respectively). Social acceptability of using e-cigarettes with nicotine (46%) and smoking tobacco (39%) is unchanged compared to 2018 (46% and 38%, respectively). Perceived social acceptability of all substances was higher in 2023 compared to 2022. Note that in the 2023 cycle, the phrase 'for non-medical purposes' was removed from the questions on smoking, vaping and eating cannabis, which could have led to changes in social acceptability ratings, but these were also increasing prior to this change.

Figure 4: Social acceptability^{Figure 4 footnote 1} of using various products, among all Canadians, 2018 to 2023
Somewhat/completely socially acceptable	2018 (%)	2019 (%)	2020 (%)	2021 (%)	2022 (%)	2023 (%)
Eating or drinking cannabis^{Figure 4 footnote *},^{Figure 4 footnote ^}	44	43	48	49	52	58
Smoking cannabis^{Figure 4 footnote *},^{Figure 4 footnote ^}	45	44	48	49	51	54
Vaping cannabis^{Figure 4 footnote +},^{Figure 4 footnote *},^{Figure 4 footnote ^}	44	42	43	45	48	55
Drinking alcohol^{Figure 4 footnote *},^{Figure 4 footnote ^}	60	55	61	62	62	75
Using an e-cigarette containing nicotine ^{Figure 4 footnote ^}	46	41	35	38	41	46
Smoking tobacco (cigarette/cigar/ smokeless tobacco) ^{Figure 4 footnote ^}	38	35	35	35	38	39
Table 4 footnote 1 Social acceptability is defined as somewhat or completely socially acceptable. Return to Figure 4 footnote 1 referrer Table 4 footnote + In 2023, the data point for vaping combines two questions on vaping dried cannabis and liquid/solid cannabis extracts. Return to Figure 4 footnote + referrer Table 4 footnote * Significantly different between 2018 and 2023. Return to Figure 4 footnote * referrer Table 4 footnote ^ Significantly different between 2022 and 2023. Return to Figure 4 footnote ^ referrer

Social acceptability of regularly using alcohol, tobacco, e-cigarettes and cannabis was higher among people who indicated using cannabis in the past 12 months compared to those who did not report cannabis use.

Perceived risks of using various substances

Starting in 2018, Canadians were asked how much they thought a person risked harming themselves by using various substances regularly. Perceived risk was determined using a 4-point Likert scale, which had the following categories: no risk, slight risk, moderate risk, great risk and "don't know."

The majority of people perceived either a moderate or great risk for smoking tobacco (93%), using an e-cigarette with nicotine (87%), drinking alcohol (85%), vaping liquid or solid cannabis extracts (75%), smoking cannabis (75%), vaping dried cannabis (72%) and eating or drinking cannabis (63%). Compared to 2018, perception of moderate or great risk increased for regularly drinking alcohol (from 78%), using an e-cigarette (from 82%), smoking cannabis (from 72%), and vaping cannabis^{Footnote 1} (from 70%). Perceived moderate or great risk of smoking tobacco and eating or drinking cannabis decreased compared to 2018 (95% and 66%, respectively) (Figure 5).

Perceived risk of drinking alcohol and vaping cannabis was higher in 2023 compared to 2022, while perceived risk of smoking tobacco and eating or drinking cannabis was lower. Note that in the 2023 cycle, the phrase 'for non-medical purposes' was removed from the questions on smoking, vaping and eating cannabis, which may have led to changes in risk perception ratings.

Among those who used cannabis in the past 12 months, a smaller percentage perceived moderate or great risk from regularly using the aforementioned substances, compared to those who had not used cannabis, with the exception of smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol regularly. The difference in the percentage perceiving moderate or great risk was smaller for regularly using e-cigarettes with nicotine compared to regularly vaping, smoking, or eating or drinking cannabis.

Perceived risk of using various substances regularly, 2018 to 2023. Text description follows. — **Figure 5: Perceived risk of using various substances regularly, 2018 to 2023**

**Figure 5: Perceived risk of using various substances regularly, 2018 to 2023**
Moderate/great risk from regular use	2018 (%)	2019 (%)	2020 (%)	2021 (%)	2022 (%)	2023 (%)
Drink alcohol^{Figure 5 footnote *},^{Figure 5 footnote ^}	78	79	74	75	77	85
Smoke tobacco^{Figure 5 footnote *},^{Figure 5 footnote ^}	95	94	95	95	95	93
Use an e-cigarette with nicotine^{Figure 5 footnote *}	82	84	90	89	87	87
Smoke cannabis^{Figure 5 footnote *}	72	74	73	73	74	75
Vape cannabis^{Figure 5 footnote +},^{Figure 5 footnote *},^{Figure 5 footnote ^}	70	72	75	75	75	78
Eat or drink cannabis^{Figure 5 footnote *},^{Figure 5 footnote ^}	66	68	65	66	64	63
Table 5 footnote + In 2023, vaping cannabis combines two questions on vaping dried cannabis (72%) and liquid/solid cannabis extracts (75%). Return to Figure 5 footnote + referrer Table 5 footnote * Significant difference between 2018 and 2023. Return to Figure 5 footnote * referrer Table 5 footnote ^ Significant difference between 2022 and 2023. Return to Figure 5 footnote ^ referrer

Identifying legal store and websites

New in 2023, Canadians were asked how they knew if a store or website selling cannabis was legal. Responses were open-ended text that was coded in themes. For both storefronts and websites the 3 most common themes were that it is provincially, territorially or government run (14% store, 7% website), a posted certification (8% store, 3% website), and based on the product, packaging and labelling of what is being sold (6% store, 1% website). For storefronts, 72% reported they did not consume cannabis or did not know how to identify a legal store. For websites this was even higher with 89% saying they do not order cannabis online or did not know how to identify a legal website.

Knowledge of cannabis packaging requirements

New in 2023, Canadians were asked to indicate what is required to be shown or present on legal cannabis packages. Not all of the options shown are required on legal packaging. This was done to gauge if people could pick out the correct options. People could also select a 'don't know' option. Overall, 54% reported they did not know what is required to be shown or present on legal cannabis packages. This was more common among those who did not use cannabis compared to those who consumed cannabis (72% and 16%, respectively). For the options that should have been selected 38% correctly indicated THC and CBD content, 32% indicated health warning messages, 28% indicated the standardized cannabis symbol, 28% indicated child resistant packaging and 17% indicated an excise stamp. Those who used cannabis were more likely to select each of these packaging requirements (78%, 63%, 60%, 62% and 40%, respectively) than those who did not use cannabis (21%, 18%, 14%, 13% and 7%, respectively).

Cannabis use and products used

Canadians who reported using cannabis were asked detailed questions about their use of cannabis. Topics included:

Age of initiation of cannabis use
Types of cannabis products used and frequency of use
Typical THC to CBD (cannabidiol) levels of products
Typical use in terms of amount used per use day
Where cannabis is stored inside the home

Cannabis use for non-medical purposes

Starting in 2018, Canadians were asked about their cannabis use within the past 12 months. Twenty-six percent (26%) of people 16 years of age and older reported having used cannabis for non-medical purposes in the past 12 months, unchanged from the previous cycle (27%). Past 12-month cannabis use increased over time from 22% in 2018 (Figure 6). Note that due to the data collection methodology, the CCS may provide general population prevalence estimates for cannabis use that are higher than other Canadian surveys.

Past 12-month use for non-medical purposes in Canadians of various demographic groups

As in previous years, past 12-month cannabis use for non-medical purposes was highest among 20 to 24 year olds (48%), unchanged from 2018 and 2022 (Figure 6). This was followed by 16 to 19 year-olds (43%), up from both 2018 and 2022 (36% and 37%, respectively), and those 25 years and older (23%), up from 2018 but down from 2022 (19% and 25%, respectively).

Males (29%) reported a higher percentage of cannabis use for non-medical purposes in the past year than females (23%), both up from 2018 (26% and 19%, respectively).

Figure 6: Past 12-month cannabis use for non-medical purposes, by sex and age group, 2018 to 2023. Text description follows. — **Figure 6: Past 12-month cannabis use for non-medical purposes, by sex and age group, 2018 to 2023**

**Figure 6: Past 12-month cannabis use for non-medical purposes, by sex and age group, 2018 to 2023**
Demographic group	2018 (%)	2019 (%)	2020 (%)	2021 (%)	2022 (%)	2023 (%)
Overall^{Figure 6 footnote *}	22	25	27	25	27	26
Males^{Figure 6 footnote *}	26	29	31	29	30	29
Females^{Figure 6 footnote *}	18	21	23	22	25	23
16 to 19 years^{Figure 6 footnote *},^{Figure 6 footnote ^}	36	44	44	37	37	43
20 to 24 years	44	51	52	49	50	48
25 years or older^{Figure 6 footnote *},^{Figure 6 footnote ^}	19	21	24	22	25	23
Table 6 footnote * Significant difference between 2018 and 2023. Return to Figure 6 footnote * referrer Table 6 footnote ^ Significant difference between 2022 and 2023. Return to Figure 6 footnote ^ referrer

Similar to the patterns seen in 2018 and 2022, the proportion of people reporting cannabis use for non-medical purposes in the past 12 months was lower among people who identified as heterosexual or straight (23%) compared to those who identified as bisexual (56%), another sexuality (54%), or lesbian or gay (48%).

The proportion of people using cannabis in the past 12 months was 29% among people who were born in Canada, compared to people who were not born in Canada (17%). These same patterns were also seen in 2018 and 2022.

People who reported "going to school" as their main activity in the past week reported higher rates of past 12-month cannabis use (36%) compared to those who selected an activity other than "going to school" (25%). People who reported working at a job or business in the past week, or have a job or business from which they were on vacation, reported higher rates of past 12-month cannabis use, (30%) compared to those who did not work at a job or business (20%). This is consistent with the patterns seen in 2018 and 2022.

Those who reported having less than high school or a high school diploma as their highest level of education reported higher rates of past 12-month cannabis use (32%), compared to those with a post-graduate degree or diploma (21%) or other level of education (25%). This is similar to the patterns seen in 2018 and 2022.

Canadians were asked about their physical and mental health using a 5-point Likert scale, which had the following categories: excellent, very good, good, fair, and poor. Past 12-month cannabis use was highest among people who reported good, fair, and poor physical health (28%, 29%, and 28%, respectively), and lowest among those reporting excellent (23%) and very good (25%) physical health. For self-reported mental health, the percentage reporting past 12-month cannabis use increases as mental health ratings decrease: excellent (15%), very good (22%), good (29%), fair (42%), and poor (47%). This was similar to the pattern seen in previous cycles.

Age of initiation

People who reported ever using cannabis were asked about the age at which they first tried or started using cannabis. For comparability across survey cycles, average age was restricted to those who reported a starting age between 5 and 70 years old. The average age of starting cannabis use was 20.8, an increase from 18.9 years in 2018. Females were older than males when they first tried cannabis (21.0 and 20.5 years, respectively). Average age of initiation is highly dependent on the age range of the Canadians in a survey, as well as the distribution of Canadians within predetermined age groups. For the CCS, the age of initiation is higher among the largest age group of adults age 25 and older (21.3 years) compared to 16 to 19 year olds (15.7 years) and 20 to 24 year olds (17.5 years), resulting in a higher average age of initiation overall.

Frequency of cannabis use

Canadians who reported using cannabis for non-medical purposes over the past 12 months were asked how frequently they used it. Over half (57%) reported using cannabis 3 days per month or less, and 15% reported daily cannabis use (Figure 7). Compared to the previous cycle in 2022, more people used cannabis 2 to 3 days per month, while fewer used 3 to 4 days per week or daily. Over the 6-year period, frequency of cannabis use was generally unchanged, with the exception that more people used cannabis 5 to 6 days per week and fewer used daily compared to 2018 (Figure 7).

**Figure 7: Frequency of cannabis use for non-medical purposes among those who have used cannabis in the past 12 months, 2018 to 2023**
Frequency	2018 (%)	2019 (%)	2020 (%)	2021 (%)	2022 (%)	2023 (%)
Less than 1 day per month	35	35	35	33	34	36
1 day per month	6	6	7	7	6	7
2 to 3 days per month^{Figure 7 footnote ^}	14	14	12	14	12	14
1 to 2 days per week	10	12	13	11	13	11
3 to 4 days per week^{Figure 7 footnote ^}	10	9	9	9	11	9
5 to 6 days per week^{Figure 7 footnote *}	6	6	7	7	7	8
Daily^{Figure 7 footnote *},^{Figure 7 footnote ^}	19	18	18	19	18	15
Table 7 footnote * Significant difference between 2018 and 2023. Return to Figure 7 footnote * referrer Table 7 footnote ^ Significant difference between 2022 and 2023. Return to Figure 7 footnote ^ referrer

Overall, a greater percentage of males (25%) reported daily or almost daily (that is, 5 or more days per week) use compared to females (20%), who were more likely to report using less than 1 day per month (40%) compared to males (33%). There was no difference between age groups in the percentage who used less than 1 day per month or daily or almost daily. The percentage reporting daily or almost daily use by sex and age group is summarized in Figure 8.

Figure 8: Frequency of daily or almost daily (5 or more days per week) cannabis use among those who used cannabis in the past 12 months, by age group and sex, 2018 to 2023. Text description follows. — **Figure 8: Frequency of daily or almost daily (5 or more days per week) cannabis use among those who used cannabis in the past 12 months, by age group and sex, 2018 to 2023**

Figure 8: Frequency of daily or almost daily (5 or more days per week) cannabis use among those who used cannabis in the past 12 months, by age group and sex, 2018 to 2023
Demographic group	2018 (%)	2019 (%)	2020 (%)	2021 (%)	2022 (%)	2023 (%)
Overall	25	24	25	26	25	23
Males	28	26	29	29	29	25
Females	21	21	20	23	21	20
16 to 19 years	23	16	21	20	21	21
20 to 24 years^{Figure 8 footnote ^}	26	23	23	29	29	23
25 years or older	25	25	26	26	25	23
Table 8 footnote ^ Significant difference between 2022 and 2023. Return to Figure 8 footnote ^ referrer

Overall, 17% of Canadians age 16 years and older reported using cannabis in the past 30 days (up from 15% in 2018). Starting in 2020, people who used cannabis within the past 30 days were asked how many days they used cannabis in that time period. The average number of days was 14.4, unchanged from 2020.

Types of cannabis products used and frequency

Canadians who used cannabis in the past 12 months were asked about the types of cannabis products they had used in the past 12 months. People could select more than one product. Changes in product use since 2018 are shown in Figure 9. The three most common product types used in 2023 were dried flower or leaf (60%; down from 2018 and 2022); edible cannabis (54%; up from 2018); and vape pens or cartridges (34%; up from 2018). This was followed by oil for oral use (26%; up from 2019 and 2022); beverages (19%; up from 2018); hashish or kief (16%; down from 2018); topical products (12%; up from 2019 and 2022); and concentrates or extracts (for example, wax, shatter or budder) (11%, down from 2018). Note that in 2023, the phrases 'for non-medical purposes' and 'for medical purposes' were removed from these questions; people who had used any form of cannabis were asked the same question. With the exception of concentrates or extracts, rates of use differed among those who used cannabis for medical versus non-medical purposes only (see Figure 10). This likely contributed to apparent changes in the use of dried flower or leaf, oil for oral use and topical products overall between 2022 and 2023.

Figure 9: Cannabis products used1 among people who used cannabis in the past 12 months, 2018 to 2023. Text description follows. — **Figure 9: Cannabis products used^{Figure 9, Footnote 1} among people who used cannabis in the past 12 months, 2018 to 2023**

Figure 9: Cannabis products used^{Figure 9 footnote 1} among people who used cannabis in past 12 months, 2018 to 2023
Product	2018 (%)	2019 (%)	2020 (%)	2021 (%)	2022 (%)	2023 (%)
Dried flower or leaf^{Figure 9 footnote *},^{Figure 9 footnote ^}	82	77	74	68	65	60
Edibles^{Figure 9 footnote *}	41	44	49	54	53	54
Vape pens or cartridges^{Figure 9 footnote *}	16	26	22	29	33	34
Beverages ^{Figure 9 footnote *}	4	4	6	16	19	19
Oil for oral use ^{Footnote +},^{Footnote #},^{Footnote ^}	n/a	23	25	26	22	26
Hashish or kief^{Figure 9 footnote *}	26	23	19	18	18	16
Concentrates or extracts^{Figure 9 footnote *}	19	17	13	12	12	11
Topical products^{Figure 9 footnote *},^{Figure 9 footnote #},^{Figure 9 footnote ^}	n/a	8	7	10	8	12
Table 9 footnote 1 Multiple response options could be selected. Return to Figure 9 footnote 1 referrer Table 9 footnote + Not asked in 2018. Return to Figure 9 footnote + referrer Table 9 footnote * Significant difference between 2018 and 2023. Return to Figure 9 footnote * referrer Table 9 footnote # Significant difference between 2019 and 2023. Return to Figure 9 footnote # referrer Significant difference between 2022 and 2023. Return to Figure 9 footnote ^ referrer

Figure 10: Cannabis products used1 among those who had used cannabis in the past 12 months, by reason for use, 2023. Text description follows. — **Figure 10: Cannabis products used^{Figure 10, Footnote 1} among those who had used cannabis in the past 12 months, by reason for use, 2023**

Figure 10: Cannabis products used^{Figure 10 footnote 1} among those who had used cannabis in the past 12 months, by reason for use, 2023
Product	Non-medical purposes only (%)	Both medical and non-medical purposes (%)	Medical purposes only (%)
Dried flower or leaf^{Figure 10 footnote *},^{Figure 10 footnote ^},^{Figure 10 footnote +}	63	75	28
Edibles^{Figure 10 footnote *},^{Figure 10 footnote ^},^{Figure 10 footnote +}	54	65	42
Vape pens or cartridges^{Figure 10 footnote *},^{Figure 10 footnote ^},^{Figure 10 footnote +}	34	45	18
Beverages ^{Figure 10 footnote *},^{Figure 10 footnote ^},^{Figure 10 footnote +}	19	29	9
Oil for oral use ^{Figure 10 footnote *},^{Figure 10 footnote ^},^{Figure 10 footnote +}	18	36	53
Hashish or kief^{Figure 10 footnote *},^{Figure 10 footnote ^},^{Figure 10 footnote +}	15	28	9
Concentrates or extracts^{Figure 10 footnote ^},^{Figure 10 footnote +}	9	22	9
Topical products^{Figure 10 footnote *},^{Figure 10 footnote ^}	6	24	39
Table 10 footnote 1 Multiple response options could be selected. Return to Figure 10 footnote 1 referrer Table 10 footnote * Significant difference between non-medical purposes only and medical purposes only. Return to Figure 10 footnote * referrer Table 10 footnote ^ Significant difference between non-medical purposes only and both. Return to Figure 10 footnote ^ referrer Table 10 footnote + Significant difference between medical purposes only and both. Return to Figure 10 footnote + referrer

Canadians who had used each cannabis product in the past 12 months were also asked about the frequency at which they used the product, ranging from less than 1 day per month to daily. The most commonly reported frequency was less than 1 day per month for all products, ranging from 29% among those who used topical products to 58% among those who consumed cannabis beverages. The percentage who used cannabis products daily or almost daily ranged from 2% for cannabis beverages to 31% for dried flower or leaf (Figure 11).

Figure 11: Frequency of product use among people who used each cannabis product in the past 12 months, 2023. Text description follows. — **Figure 11: Frequency of product use among people who used each cannabis product in the past 12 months, 2023**

Figure 11: Frequency of product use among people who used each cannabis product in the past 12 months, 2023
Product	Less than 1 day per month (%)	Daily or almost daily (%)
Beverages	58	2
Edibles	50	5
Oil for oral use	42	17
Hashish or kief	41	8
Concentrates or extracts	38	14
Vape pens or cartridges	32	18
Dried flower or leaf	30	31
Topical products	29	14

Average amount used on a typical use day

People who used cannabis in the past 12 months were asked about the average amount consumed on a typical day when they used cannabis. Of those who consumed dried flower or leaf, the average amount used was 0.9 grams (down from 2018 and 2022). Those who used edible cannabis consumed approximately 1.4 servings (up from 2018 and 2022). The average amount of cannabis oil for oral use consumed was 2.3 millilitres (up from 2018 and 2022). Of those who used each of the following products, the average amount consumed was 0.5 grams of hashish or kief and 0.3 grams of cannabis concentrate or extract. The units used to ask about vape pens and beverages were changed in 2023 so the amounts reported are not comparable to previous years. In 2023, people reported using an average of 10.3 puffs from a vape pen and 1.2 drinks when using beverages.

Note that in 2023, the phrases 'for non-medical purposes' and 'for medical purposes' were removed from these questions; people who had used cannabis for any reason were asked the same question. This may have contributed to the increase in the average amount of cannabis oil for oral use being reported. For dried flower or leaf a new response option ('1 or 2 puffs') was added. The addition of this lower response option may have contributed to the decrease in the average amount report for dried flower or leaf.

Home growing of cannabis and preparation of cannabis edibles or drinks

Canadians were asked if anyone had grown cannabis plants in or around their home in the past 12 months. Overall, 4% of Canadians and 10% of those who had used cannabis for non-medical purposes in the past 12 months reported that cannabis plants had been grown in or around their home, both down from 2020 and 2022. We also asked whether the person who was growing cannabis was authorized by Health Canada to grow for medical purposes for themselves or for another person. Twenty-one percent (21%, unchanged from 2022 – first year question was asked) indicated that the person growing did have an authorization. Among those who reported cannabis plants currently grown in or around their residence, the average number of plants was 3.4. We also asked about the number of plants that had been grown inside and outside the home in the past 12 months. The average number of plants grown outside was 3.1, and the number grown inside was 3.8. People who reported more than 25 plants were not included in the averages to allow for comparability to previous years.

Canadians were asked if anyone had prepared cannabis edibles or beverages in or around their home in the past 12 months. Overall, 6% reported preparing cannabis edibles or beverages in their home, down from 2020 and 2022. Among those who had used cannabis for non-medical purposes in the past 12 months, 15% reported preparing cannabis edibles or beverages in their home, down from 2020 (19%) and 2022 (18%). Among those who had used cannabis for medical purposes in the past 12 months, 18% reported preparing cannabis edibles or beverages in their home, down from 2020 (25%) and unchanged from 2022.

Relative levels of THC and CBD in cannabis products

Starting in 2019, people who used cannabis in the past 12 months were asked about the relative levels of THC and CBD in the cannabis products they typically use. Twenty-eight percent (28%) indicated higher THC and lower CBD, 15% indicated higher CBD and lower THC, 12% selected equal levels of THC and CBD, 7% selected THC only, 4% selected CBD only, 17% said they typically used a mix of these products, and less than 1% said 'other'. Sixteen percent (16%) indicated they did not know the relative levels of THC and CBD.

People who selected 'higher THC and lower CBD' or 'THC only' products were classified as using THC-predominant products and those who selected 'higher CBD and lower THC' or 'CBD only' products were classified as using CBD-predominant products. Thirty-five percent (35%) reported using THC-predominant products, down from 39% in 2022, and 20% reported using CBD-predominant products, up from both 2019 and 2022 (13% and 15%, respectively). Note that in 2023, the phrases 'for non-medical purposes' and 'for medical purposes' were removed from these questions. People who had used any form of cannabis were asked the same question, which could have contributed to changes from previous cycles.

As shown in Figure 12, usual use of THC-predominant products was more common among those who used for both medical and non-medical purposes (41%) or for non-medical purposes only (35%) compared to medical purposes only (20%). Usual use of CBD-predominant products was more common among those who used for medical purposes only (51%) compared to those who used for both medical and non-medical purposes (16%) or for non-medical purposes only (14%). Usual use of other product types (including equal levels of THC and CBD; a mix of product types, and 'other') were more common among those who used for both medical and non-medical purposes (34%) compared to non-medical purposes only (24%) or medical purposes only (21%).

Not knowing the THC and CBD levels of one's cannabis products was more common among those who used for non-medical purposes only (27%) compared to those who used for both medical and non-medical purposes (10%) or medical purposes only (9%).

Figure 12: Usual THC and CBD levels of cannabis products used among those who used cannabis in the past 12 months, by reason for cannabis use. Text description follows. — **Figure 12: Usual THC and CBD levels of cannabis products used among those who used cannabis in the past 12 months, by reason for cannabis use**

Figure 12: Usual THC and CBD levels of cannabis products used among those who used cannabis in the past 12 months, by reason for cannabis use
Product type	Non-medical purposes only (%)	Both medical and non-medical purposes (%)	Medical purposes only (%)
THC-predominant	35	41	20
CBD-predominant	14	16	51
Other^{Footnote *}	24	34	21
Don't know/not sure	27	10	9
Table 12 footnote * Other responses include: Products with equal levels of THC and CBD; A mix of product types; and Other. Return to Figure 12 footnote * referrer

Exposure to second-hand smoke or vapour

Starting in 2020, Canadians were asked about locations of exposure to second-hand cannabis smoke or vapour in the past 30 days. Overall, 57% reported exposure in any location (an increase from both 2020 and 2022). The most common location was in a public place (48%), followed by the home (20%), the workplace or school (8%), and a car (7%). Exposure to second-hand cannabis smoke was more common among people who used cannabis in the past 12 months than among people who did not.

Cannabis use with other substances

People who used cannabis in the past 12 months were asked how often they combined their cannabis use with other substances, by mixing or consuming at the same time. People could select more than one substance. As in previous cycles, alcohol (40%) was the substance most commonly used in combination with cannabis, followed by tobacco (24%) (Figure 13). The frequency of combining alcohol or tobacco with cannabis at a frequency of 'sometimes', 'often' or 'always' both decreased since 2018. The majority of Canadians who used cannabis in the past 12 months never combined cannabis with opioids (96%), sedatives (96%), stimulants (93%), or hallucinogens or dissociatives (90%).

Starting in 2023, Canadians who had used cannabis in the past 12 months were also asked if they took other medications or health products while using cannabis. People could select more than one medication. Thirty-six percent (36%) said they had taken no other medications while using cannabis. The top five medications selected were vitamins or natural health products (44%); psychiatric medications (22%); heart disease medications (13%); birth control or sexual or reproductive health medications (11%); and prescription gastrointestinal medications (10%).

Figure 13: Past 12 months, use of alcohol and tobacco1 in combination2 with cannabis, among people who used cannabis in the past 12 months, 2018 to 2023. Text description follows. — **Figure 13: Past 12 months, use of alcohol and tobacco^{Figure 13, Footnote 1} in combination^{Figure 13, Footnote 2} with cannabis, among people who used cannabis in the past 12 months, 2018 to 2023**

Figure 13: Past 12 months, use of alcohol and tobacco^{Footnote 1} in combination^{Footnote 2} with cannabis, among people who used cannabis in the past 12 months, 2018 to 2023
Substance used in combination with cannabis	2018 (%)	2019 (%)	2020 (%)	2021 (%)	2022 (%)	2023 (%)
Alcohol^{Table 13, Footnote *}	44	42	47	43	41	40
Tobacco^{Table 13, Footnote *}	30	26	25	24	24	24
Table 13 footnote 1 Multiple response options could be selected. Return to Figure 13 footnote 1 referrer Table 13 footnote 2 "Combined" was defined as mixed or consumed at the same time 'sometimes', 'often', or 'always'. Return to Figure 13 footnote 2 referrer Significantly different between 2018 and 2023. Return to Figure 13 footnote * referrer

Effects of cannabis use

Starting in 2019, people who used cannabis in the past 12 months were asked about the effects of their cannabis use on various aspects of their lives (Figure 14). In general, people report their cannabis use is more beneficial than harmful across all categories. The greatest percentage of people felt that cannabis use was somewhat or very beneficial for their quality of life (50%), followed by their mental health (43%).

With the exception of physical health (11%), the percentage reporting somewhat to very harmful effects was 8% or less across all categories. As shown in Figure 15, with the exception of effect on friendships or social life, which did not change over time, the percentage of people who reported that their cannabis use had a somewhat or very harmful effect increased from 2019.

Figure 14: Past 12 months, effects of cannabis use, among people who used cannabis in the past 12 months, 2023. Text description follows. — **Figure 14: Past 12 months, effects of cannabis use, among people who used cannabis in the past 12 months, 2023**

Figure 14: Past 12 months, effects of cannabis use, among people who used cannabis in the past 12 months, 2023
Effect of cannabis use	Somewhat/very beneficial (%)	No effect (%)	Somewhat/very harmful (%)
Friendships or social life	30	67	3
Physical health	28	62	11
Mental health	43	49	8
Home life or marriage	24	71	5
Quality of life	50	45	5
Performance at work or school	11	82	7

Figure 15: Percentage reporting that their cannabis use had a harmful1 effect on their lives, among people who used cannabis in the past 12 months, 2019 to 2023. Text description follows. — **Figure 15: Percentage reporting that their cannabis use had a harmful^{Figure 15, Footnote 1} effect on their lives, among people who used cannabis in the past 12 months, 2019 to 2023**

Figure 15: Percentage reporting that their cannabis use had a harmful^{Footnote 1} effect on their lives, among people who used
Effect of cannabis use	2019 (%)	2020 (%)	2021 (%)	2022 (%)	2023 (%)
Friendships or social life	3	3	3	4	3
Physical health	9	9	10	12	11
Mental health	6	7	7	8	8
Home life or marriage	4	4	4	5	5
Quality of life	4	4	5	5	5
Performance at work or school	5	5	7	7	7
Table 15 footnote 1 'Harmful' was defined as 'somewhat harmful' or 'very harmful'. Return to Figure 15 footnote 1 referrer

Where cannabis is stored inside the home

People who used cannabis in the past 12 months were asked about where they store cannabis inside the home. People could select more than one response. Among those with children under 18 years in the home, 76% stored their cannabis in a container, room or building that was childproof, locked or out of reach. One quarter (25%) stored their cannabis in an unlocked container, room or building, and 2% stored it in an 'other' location.

Sources and purchasing

Canadians who reported using cannabis were asked detailed questions about where they obtained their cannabis from, and their purchasing behaviour. Topics included:

Sources used to obtain cannabis
Average amount spent each month
Type and frequency of cannabis products purchased or received
Average price per unit of purchases
Proportion of people who receive cannabis products for free

Sources used to obtain cannabis

People who reported using cannabis in the past 12 months were asked where they usually obtained the cannabis from. Figure 16 displays the sources used to obtain cannabis over time. Almost three-quarters (73%) of people reported purchasing cannabis from a legal source (legal store or legal website), up from 2019 and 2022. Fifteen percent (15%) of people reported obtaining their cannabis from a social source (shared around a group of friends, from a friend, family member or acquaintance), and 5% reported growing their own cannabis or having it specifically grown for them; both represented a decrease from 2018 and 2022. Only 3% of people reported using an illegal purchase source (illegal store, illegal website or dealer), down from 2018. Two percent (2%) reported using another source, up from 2022 but unchanged from 2018; and 2% reported getting their cannabis from a storefront on a First Nations community (new in 2023).

Figure 17 displays the sources used to obtain cannabis in 2023, by sex. Females were more likely to report purchasing cannabis from a legal source, whereas males were more likely to report purchasing cannabis from an illegal source, or growing their own or having it specifically grown for them. Youth (16 to 19) were less likely to obtain from a legal source than the 2 older age groups. This is likely because many of them are minors. Youth are more likely than older age groups to obtain cannabis from a social source.

Figure 16: Usual source of cannabis among people who used cannabis in the past 12 months, 2018 to 2023. Text description follows. — **Figure 16: Usual source of cannabis among people who used cannabis in the past 12 months, 2018 to 2023**

Figure 16: Usual source of cannabis among people who used cannabis in the past 12 months, 2018 to 2023
Source of cannabis	2018 (%)	2019 (%)	2020 (%)	2021 (%)	2022 (%)	2023 (%)
Legal purchase (legal store, website)^{Footnote *},^{Footnote ^},^{Footnote +}	n/a	37	54	64	69	73
Illegal purchase (illegal store, website, dealer)^{Footnote *}	26	16	9	6	4	3
Social source (shared, friend, family, acquaintance)^{Footnote *},^{Footnote ^}	60	39	29	21	18	15
Grew my own or grown for me^{Footnote *},^{Footnote ^}	7	6	7	8	8	5
Other source^{Footnote ^}	2	2	1	1	1	2
Table 16 footnote * Significantly different between 2018 and 2023. Return to Figure 15 footnote * referrer Table 16 footnote ^ Significantly different between 2022 and 2023. Return to Figure 15 footnote ^ referrer Table 16 footnote + Significantly different between 2022 and 2023. Return to Figure 15 footnote + referrer

Figure 17: Usual source of cannabis among people who used cannabis in the past 12 months, by sex and age group, 2023. Text description follows. — **Figure 17: Usual source of cannabis among people who used cannabis in the past 12 months, by sex and age group, 2023**

Figure 17: Usual source of cannabis among people who used cannabis in the past 12 months, by sex and age group, 2023
Source of cannabis	Overall (%)	Male (%)	Female (%)	16 to 19 years (%)	20 to 24 years (%)	25 years or older (%)
Legal purchase (legal store, website) ^{Footnote *}^{Footnote ^}	73	70	75	41	75	75
Social source (shared, friend, family, acquaintance) ^{Footnote ^}	15	14	16	43	19	12
Grew my own or grown for me ^{Footnote *}	5	7	4	^{Footnote #}	^{Footnote #}	6
Illegal purchase (illegal store, website, dealer) ^{Footnote *}	3	4	3	1	3	3
Other source	2	3	2	#	2	2
Table 17 footnote * Significantly different between males and females. Return to Figure 17 footnote * referrer Table 17 footnote ^ Significantly different from youth (16 to 19 years). Return to Figure 17 footnote ^ referrer Table 17 footnote # Suppressed due to small cell counts and/or high variability. Return to Figure 17 footnote # referrer

Starting in 2020, those who used cannabis in the past 12 months were asked how often they bought or received any cannabis from legal or licensed sources. In 2023, sixty-nine (69%) reported they 'always' obtain cannabis from a legal or licensed source, 10% responded 'mostly', 6% responded 'sometimes', 6% responded 'rarely', and 9% responded 'never'. The reported frequency of obtaining cannabis from a legal or licensed source has increased over time (Figure 18) and did not differ by sex.

Figure 18: Past 12 months, frequency of obtaining cannabis from a legal or licensed source among people who used cannabis in the past 12 months, 2020 to 2023. Text description follows. — **Figure 18: Past 12 months, frequency of obtaining cannabis from a legal or licensed source among people who used cannabis in the past 12 months, 2020 to 2023**

Figure 18: Past 12 months, frequency of obtaining cannabis from a legal or licensed source among people who used cannabis in the past 12 months, 2020 to 2023
Frequency	2020 (%)	2021 (%)	2022 (%)	2023 (%)
Always^{Footnote *},^{Footnote ^}	37	43	48	69
Mostly^{Footnote *},^{Footnote ^}	16	14	15	10
Sometimes^{Footnote *},^{Footnote ^}	12	12	9	6
Rarely^{Footnote *},^{Footnote ^}	14	12	13	6
Never^{Footnote *},^{Footnote ^}	20	18	15	9
Table 18 footnote * Significantly different between 2020 and 2023. Return to Figure 18 footnote * referrer Table 18 footnote ^ Significantly different between 2022 and 2023. Return to Figure 18 footnote ^ referrer

People were also asked to rank which factors most influenced where they usually purchase their cannabis. The most commonly prioritized factors were price (42%), convenience (15%), and strength (9%). The 10 factors with the highest percentage of first priority rankings are shown in Figure 19.

Figure 19: Top 10 factors that most influenced from whom cannabis was obtained, among people who used cannabis in the past 12 months, 2023. Text description follows. — **Figure 19: Top 10 factors that most influenced from whom cannabis was obtained, among people who used cannabis in the past 12 months, 2023**

Figure 19: Top 10 factors that most influenced from whom cannabis was obtained, among people who used cannabis in the past 12 months, 2023
Factor influencing cannabis purchase source	Ranked 1^st (%)	Ranked 2^nd (%)	Ranked 3^rd (%)
Price	42	39	23
Convenience	15	14	10
Strength	9	10	10
Safe supply	6	4	6
Quality	6	7	7
I want to follow the law	4	3	3
Availability of a specific product	3	3	4
Ability to talk to sales staff	2	2	6
Trust or loyalty	2	3	6
I can buy edibles with higher amounts of THC	2	2	3

Average amount spent on cannabis each month

People who used cannabis in the past 12 months indicated typically spending close to $63 on cannabis products each month, a decrease from $73 in 2018. On average, females reported spending less on cannabis than males ($58 vs. $68 per month).

Since 2020, Canadians were also asked about their spending at legal or illegal sources in a month. People reported spending approximately $54 to obtain cannabis from legal sources (a decrease from $65 in 2022), and $8 from illegal sources (a decrease from $47 in 2020 and from $19 in 2022). From 2020 to 2022, people who used cannabis in the past 30 days were asked about their spending in the past 30 days. In 2023, the question was changed and asked people who used in the past 12 months what they spend in an average month. This change could have contributed to the decrease however, spending at illegal sources has been on a downward trend since 2020.

Cannabis products bought or received, and at what frequency

People who used cannabis in the past 30 days were asked about the cannabis products they bought or received and the frequency at which cannabis was obtained. People could select more than one product. Changes in products obtained since 2018 are shown in Figure 20. The most common response selected was buying or receiving dried flower or leaf (58%, down from 2018 and 2022), followed by edible cannabis (28%, up from 2018), vape pens (22%, up from 2018), and cannabis oil for oral use (13%, unchanged from 2018 and 2022). Less commonly obtained products included hashish or kief (7%, down from 2018), concentrates or extracts (5%, down from 2018 and 2022), cannabis beverages (7%, up from 2018), and topicals (4%, up from 2018 and 2022). For all products, the most common frequency of obtaining them was 1 day per month.

Note that in 2023, the phrases 'for non-medical purposes' and 'for medical purposes' were removed from these questions; people who had obtained cannabis were asked the same question. For dried flower, vape pens or cartridges, cannabis oil for oral use, and topical products, rates of obtaining these products differed among those who used cannabis for medical versus non-medical purposes only (see Figure 21).

Figure 20: Cannabis products obtained1 among people who used cannabis in the past 30 days, 2018 to 2023. Text description follows. — **Figure 20: Cannabis products obtained^{Figure 20, Footnote 1} among people who used cannabis in the past 30 days, 2018 to 2023**

Figure 20: Cannabis products obtained^{Footnote 1} among people who used cannabis in the past 30 days, 2018 to 2023
Product	2018 (%)	2019 (%)	2020 (%)	2021 (%)	2022 (%)	2023 (%)
Dried flower or leaf ^{Note de bas de page *},^{Note de bas de page ^}	87	83	71	66	65	68
Edibles ^{Note de bas de page *}	22	20	27	30	29	28
Vape pens or cartridges ^{Note de bas de page *}	8	10	11	18	22	22
Beverages ^{Note de bas de page *}	1	1	3	7	8	7
Oil for oral use ^{Note de bas de page *}+,^{Note de bas de page #},^{Note de bas de page ^}	n/a	11	12	14	11	13
Hashish or kief ^{Note de bas de page *}	11	9	7	8	8	7
Concentrates or extracts ^{Note de bas de page *}	10	9	6	7	6	6
Topical products ^{Note de bas de page *}+,^{Note de bas de page #},^{Note de bas de page ^}	n/a	2	2	4	2	4
Table 20 footnote 1 Multiple response options could be selected. Return to Figure 20 footnote 1 referrer Table 20 footnote + Not asked in 2018. Return to Figure 20 footnote + referrer Table 20 footnote * Significant difference between 2018 and 2023. Return to Figure 20 footnote * referrer Table 20 footnote # Significant difference between 2019 and 2023. Return to Figure 20 footnote # referrer Table 20 footnote ^ Significant difference between 2019 and 2023. Return to Figure 20 footnote ^ referrer

Figure 21: Cannabis products obtained1 among those who had used cannabis in the past 30 days, by reason for use, 2023. Text description follows. — **Figure 21: Cannabis products obtained^{Figure 21, Footnote 1} among those who had used cannabis in the past 30 days, by reason for use, 2023**

Figure 21: Cannabis products obtained^{Footnote 1} among those who had used cannabis in the past 30 days, by reason for use, 2023
Product	Non-medical purposes only (%)	Both medical and non-medical purposes (%)	Medical purposes only (%)
Dried flower or leaf^{Footnote *},^{Footnote ^},^{Footnote +}	59	66	36
Edibles	28	31	24
Vape pens or cartridges ^{Footnote *},^{Footnote +}	22	25	16
Beverages	7	10	^{Footnote #}
Oil for oral use ^{Footnote *},^{Footnote ^},^{Footnote +}	8	13	36
Hashish or kief	6	9	5
Concentrates or extracts ^{Footnote ^}	3	8	4
Topical products ^{Footnote *},^{Footnote ^},^{Footnote +}	1	5	15
Table 21 footnote 1 Multiple response options could be selected. Return to Figure 21 footnote 1 referrer Table 21 footnote * Significant difference between non-medical purposes only and medical purposes only. Return to Figure 21 footnote * referrer Table 21 footnote ^ Significant difference between non-medical purposes only and both. Return to Figure 21 footnote ^ referrer Table 21 footnote + Significant difference between medical purposes only and both. Return to Figure 21 footnote + referrer Table 21 footnote # Suppressed due to small sample and/or high variabilty. Return to Figure 21 footnote # referrer

The average amount obtained in the past 30 days varied by product type. On average, people who used cannabis in the past 30 days purchased or received 18 grams of dried flower or leaf, 8 servings of edibles (up from 2018), 1.3 cannabis cartridges or vape pens, 18 millilitres of cannabis oil for oral use, 3 beverages, 6 grams of concentrate, and 59 grams of topical lotions.

Average price per unit of purchases, by product type

People who purchased cannabis in the past 30 days reported the average price paid per unit, by product type. Over the past 30 days, people spent the most on cannabis cartridges or vape pens ($38.00 per cartridge, down from 2018) and concentrates and extracts ($31.98 per gram). The average price per unit for more frequently used product types was $8.14 per gram of dried flower or leaf and $5.35 per serving of edible cannabis (down from 2018). Note those who reported not paying and those who reported a value above the 99th percentile were excluded for the average price per unit.

Proportion of people who use cannabis and receive cannabis products for free

Of the Canadians who obtained cannabis in the past 30 days, some reported receiving cannabis products for free. Overall, 13% of Canadians obtained edible cannabis for free (down from 2018) and 12% obtained dried flower or leaf for free. Nine percent (9%) reported obtaining cannabis vape pens or cartridges for free.

Assessment of potentially problematic cannabis use

To examine potentially problematic use of cannabis, Canadians were asked if they had ever felt they needed or had ever received professional help for their cannabis use. They were also asked to complete 2 screening tools which were used to assess potentially problematic cannabis use. Females were also asked about use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Professional help for cannabis use

Only 5% of people who had used cannabis more than once in their lifetime reported they felt they ever needed professional help (such as treatment or counselling) for their cannabis use (up from 4% in from 2018), and 2% had ever received professional help (unchanged from 2018).

Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test

People who had used cannabis in the past 3 or 12 months were asked a series of questions about their cannabis use, taken from the World Health Organization's Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). Based on the results of the test, people who use substances are scored according to their apparent need for intervention ('no intervention', 'brief intervention' or 'more intensive intervention'). Only 3% of people who had used cannabis in the past 12 months scored in the category 'more intensive intervention needed', unchanged from 2018. This was higher among those who used for both medical and non-medical purposes (5%) than for non-medical purposes only (3%). The percentage among those who used for medical purposes only was unreportable due to small cell counts that did not allow for an estimate.

Severity of Dependence Scale

New in 2023, people who had used cannabis in the past 12 months were also asked a series of questions about how they feel about their cannabis use, taken from the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS). The SDS was added to the survey as an alternative measure of potential problematic cannabis use. This was done as this scale does not include a question on frequency of use which is a criticism of many tools, especially when assessing people who are using cannabis for medical purposes. Additionally, the ASSIST tool used in past cycles has a large range for the 'brief intervention" category and those at the high end of that range may have impaired control.

People scoring 4 or higher on the SDS were considered to have 'impaired control' with regard to their cannabis use. Among Canadians who used cannabis in the past 12 months, 11% were considered to have impaired control. This was higher among those who used for both medical and non-medical purposes (16%) or non-medical purposes only (11%) than for medical purposes only (6%).

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Starting in 2018, females aged 16 to 50 who had given birth in the past 5 years were asked about cannabis use during their last pregnancy. Overall, 93% did not use cannabis once they learned they were pregnant with their last child. Among those who breastfed, 91% did not use cannabis while breastfeeding their last child. The percentage reporting cannabis use while pregnant or breastfeeding has remained under 10% since 2018.

Other outcomes

Accidental consumption of cannabis in the home

Starting in 2022, Canadians were asked if anyone or any pets in their household had accidentally consumed cannabis (for example, eating or drinking something without knowing it contained cannabis). In 2023, 1% reported that accidental consumption had occurred, unchanged from 2022. Of those who reported accidental consumption in the home, 53% said it involved a pet, 25% said it involved themselves, and 21% said it involved an adult (multiple responses were allowed). Rates of accidental consumption among teenagers and children under 13 years old were not reportable due to small counts that did not allow for an estimate.

Adverse reactions

Starting in 2023, Canadians who had used cannabis in the past 12 months were asked if they had adverse or negative health effects from cannabis use. Seventy percent (70%) reported that they had experienced no adverse or negative health effects. This was higher among those who used for medical purposes only (84%) compared to those who used for non-medical purposes only (68%) and those who used for both purposes (64%). Overall, the top 5 adverse reactions or negative health effects selected were anxiety, panic or rapid heartbeat (14%), drowsiness or lethargy (12%), dissociation or depersonalization (6%), nausea or vomiting (5%), and headache (5%).

Thirty percent (30%) reported having experienced any adverse reaction or negative health effect in the past 12 months, which was higher among those who reported usually selecting THC-predominant products (34%) compared to those who usually selected CBD-predominant products (26%).

Driving and cannabis

People who used cannabis in the past 12 months were asked about their driving habits relative to cannabis use. People were also asked if they had ever been a passenger in a vehicle driven by someone who had consumed cannabis within 2 hours, and for their opinions on cannabis and driving. Note that for these questions, in 2023, respondents were asked about cannabis use in general rather than cannabis for medical and non-medical use separately.

People who operated a vehicle after using cannabis, and at what frequency

People who used cannabis in the past 12 months were asked about driving within 2 hours of smoking or vapourizing cannabis, and about driving within 4 hours of ingesting cannabis.

Twelve percent (12%) reported that they had driven within 2 hours of smoking or vapourizing cannabis in the past 12 months and 8% reported that they had driven within 4 hours of ingesting cannabis in the past 12 months. As shown in Figure 22, 17% of people who had used cannabis in the past 12 months reported driving within 2 hours of smoking or vaping cannabis and/or within 4 hours of ingesting cannabis, a decrease from 27% in 2018. Similar to previous years, a greater percentage of males reported this behaviour than females (19% vs. 14%, respectively) however this sex difference appears to be decreasing.

Figure 22: Past 12 months, driving a vehicle within 2 hours of smoking or vaping cannabis, and/or within 4 hours of ingesting cannabis, among people who used cannabis in the past 12 months, by sex, 2018 to 2023. Text description follows. — Figure 22: Past 12 months, driving a vehicle within 2 hours of smoking or vaping cannabis, and/or within 4 hours of ingesting cannabis, among people who used cannabis in the past 12 months, by sex, 2018 to 2023

Figure 22: Past 12 months, driving a vehicle within 2 hours of smoking or vaping cannabis, and/or within 4 hours of ingesting cannabis, among people who used cannabis in the past 12 months, by sex, 2018 to 2023
Sex	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Overall (%)	27	24	19	16	18	17
Male (%)	33	28	24	20	24	319
Female (%)	16	16	13	11	12	14

People who were passengers in a vehicle driven by someone within 2 hours of using cannabis

Canadians were asked if they had ever been a passenger in a vehicle driven by someone who had used cannabis within the previous 2 hours. As shown in Figure 23, 9% of people reported that they had done so in the past 12 months (down from 13% in 2018). An additional 12% had done so more than 12 months ago, 71% had not done so, and 9% were not sure. In 2023, rates of engaging in this behaviour in the past 12 months did not differ between males and females (both 9%). However, it was more common among those who used cannabis themselves in the past 12 months (24%) compared to those who did not (4%).

Figure 23: Past 12 months, being a passenger in a vehicle with a driver who had used cannabis, all respondents, by sex, 2018 to 2023. Text description follows. — **Figure 23: Past 12 months, being a passenger in a vehicle with a driver who had used cannabis, all respondents, by sex, 2018 to 2023**

Figure 23: Past 12 months, being a passenger in a vehicle with a driver who had used cannabis, all respondents, by sex, 2018 to 2023
Sex	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Overall (%)	13	11	9	7	10	0
Male (%)	16	13	10	9	11	9
Female (%)	10	10	7	6	9	9

Opinions on cannabis use and driving

People were asked whether the use of cannabis impairs one's ability to drive or operate a vehicle. Overall, 86% of people said 'yes', an increase from 2018 (81%) and 2022 (82%). Among those who have used cannabis in the past 12 months, 79% felt that cannabis use impairs one's ability to drive, up from 2018 and 2022 (61% and 76%). Thirteen percent (13%) responded that it depends, down from 2018 (22%) and unchanged from 2022, and 5% responded that it did not impair one's ability to drive, down from both 2018 and 2022 (12% and 7%).

People were also asked their opinion on the time it takes until it is safe to drive after consuming cannabis. They were first asked when it would be safe to drive after inhaling (smoking or vaping) cannabis and then when it would be safe to drive after ingesting (eating or drinking) cannabis. Very few Canadians believed it was safe to drive immediately after inhaling (2%) or ingesting (1%) cannabis. The most common responses were "Don't know" and "More than 8 hours" (Figure 24).

Figure 24: Opinions on when it is safe to drive after consuming cannabis, all respondents. Text description follows. — **Figure 24: Opinions on when it is safe to drive after consuming cannabis, all respondents**

Figure 24: Opinions on when it is safe to drive after consuming cannabis, all respondents
Time after consuming cannabis	Smoke or vape cannabis (%)	Eat or drink cannabis (%)
Immediately	2	1
30 minutes to 1 hour	1	1
1 to 3 hours	4	2
3 to 5 hours	14	6
5 to 7 hours	11	9
7 to 8 hours	6	8
More than 8 hours	21	32
Don't know	37	39
Other	1	1
Other - "It depends" ^{Footnote *}	2	1
Table 24 footnote * The response "It depends" represents a common response entered in "Other- please specify". Return to Figure 24 footnote * referrer

Opinions on likelihood of being caught driving under the influence

Canadians were asked how likely they thought it was that a person would be caught by police if they drove under the influence of alcohol or under the influence of cannabis. Likelihood was determined using a 5-point Likert scale, which had the following categories: not at all likely, not likely, somewhat likely, likely, and extremely likely.

Overall, most people thought it was "somewhat likely" that a person would be caught by police if they drove under the influence of alcohol (41%, up from 2018) or cannabis (37%, down from 2018 and 2022). Another 41% (down from 2018 and 2022) of people believed it was "likely" or "extremely likely" that a driver would be caught when driving under the influence of alcohol, compared to less than a quarter (24%, unchanged from 2018 and 2022) for driving under the influence of cannabis.

Cannabis for medical purposes

Cannabis use for medical purposes was defined in the CCS as cannabis used to treat a disease or disorder or improve symptoms. Ten percent (10%) of Canadians aged 16 years and older indicated that they used cannabis for medical purposes, a decrease from both 2018 and 2022 (both 13%). Note that in previous cycles, people who had used cannabis for medical purposes had the option to complete the medical cannabis section of the survey, whereas in 2023, questions on medical cannabis were shown to everyone who used cannabis for medical purposes. This change likely affected response rates for questions on cannabis use for medical purposes.

Starting in 2019, Canadians who had used cannabis for medical purposes were also asked to specify whether this use was with or without a medical document from a healthcare professional authorizing the use of cannabis for medical purposes. Eighteen percent (18%) said they did so with a document from a healthcare professional, down from both 2019 and 2022 (both 27%).

Frequency of cannabis use for medical purposes

People who used cannabis for medical purposes in the past 12 months were asked how often they typically did so. The most common frequency reported was less than 1 day per month (28%), up from 2018 and 2022, followed by daily (27%), down from 2018, and 2 to 3 days per month (15%), unchanged over time (Figure 25).

Figure 25: Frequency of cannabis use for medical purposes in the past 12 months, 2018 to 2023
Frequency	2018 (%)	2019 (%)	2020 (%)	2021 (%)	2022 (%)	2023 (%)
Less than 1 day per month ^{Footnote *},^{Footnote ^}	15	15	14	19	21	28
1 day per month	5	6	6	5	5	7
2 to 3 days per month	14	15	16	16	17	15
1 to 2 days per week	11	11	13	13	10	10
3 to 4 days per week	10	11	9	10	11	8
5 to 6 days per week	6	7	8	6	6	5
Daily ^{Footnote *}	37	35	35	32	31	27
Table 25 footnote 1 Significantly different between 2018 and 2023. Return to Figure 25 footnote * referrer Table 25 footnote ^ Significant difference between non-medical purposes only and medical purposes only. Return to Figure 21 footnote ^ referrer

Symptoms, diseases and disorders treated by cannabis for medical purposes

Canadians who had used cannabis for medical purposes in the past 12 months were asked which symptoms, diseases or disorders they used cannabis to treat. People could select all that applied. The most common symptoms selected were problems sleeping or insomnia (45%), chronic pain (33%), and anxiety (31%). Figure 26 shows the top 10 symptoms selected; the remaining response options were selected by 10% or fewer people.

Figure 26: : Symptoms, diseases and disorders treated by cannabis, among people who used cannabis for medical purposes in the past 12 months. Text description follows. — **Figure 26: : Symptoms, diseases and disorders treated by cannabis, among people who used cannabis for medical purposes in the past 12 months**

Figure 26: : Symptoms, diseases and disorders treated by cannabis, among people who used cannabis for medical purposes in the past 12 months
Symptom, disease or disorder	Percentage (%)
Problems sleeping or insomnia	45
Chronic pain	33
Anxiety	31
Arthritis (including joint pain)	24
Depression	22
Acute pain	17
Headaches or migraines	17
Attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder (ADD/ADHD)	12
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)	12
Muscle spasms	11

Changes in use of other medications

Canadians who had used cannabis for medical purposes in the past 12 months were asked if cannabis use for medical purposes allowed them to decrease their use of other medications. Forty-four percent (44%) reported that cannabis use helped decrease their use of other medications, a decrease from both 2018 (68%) and 2022 (53%). Over a quarter (28%) reported that cannabis did not help them decrease their use of other medications, and 27% reported that the question was not applicable.

People who reported that their cannabis use for medical purposes allowed them to reduce the use of other medications were asked which medications they had been able to reduce. The five most common medications selected were non-opioid pain relievers such as acetaminophen (56%); anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen (54%); opioid pain relievers (26%); sedatives (23%); and anti-depressants (16%).

Methods

The CCS uses a 2-step recruitment process. First, respondents are recruited by phone (landline or mobile) from lists of random telephone numbers. Respondents who pass a set of screening questions are then sent a link to an online survey, either by email or short message service (SMS) to their mobile phones. The average time to fill out the 2023 CCS was 25 minutes for respondents who reported using cannabis within the past 12 months and 14 minutes for respondents who reported that they had not used cannabis.

This summary presents survey findings from the 7th data collection cycle, which started May 2nd, 2023 and ended July 20th, 2023. Survey findings were weighted by province and territories, age groups, and sex at birth. Survey results are based on responses from 11,690 respondents aged 16 years and older across all provinces and territories. For additional details refer to the Methodological report published on the Library and Archives Canada website.

The CCS was designed to obtain a sufficient number of respondents from key sub-populations. To ensure statistical relevance of results and representativeness, minimum sample sizes were determined and met for these sub-populations. Of the responses received, approximately 3,160 were from people who indicated that they had used cannabis in the past 12 months for either non-medical or medical purposes. Table 1 summarizes the sample size represented by the survey.

**Table 1: Description of the sample size represented, by age group, sex and province or territories, Canada, 2023**
Province	Females	Males	16-19 years	20-24 years	25 years or older	Total
Canada	6,010	5,680	732	1,401	9,557	11,690
Newfoundland and Labrador	235	177	23	31	358	412
Prince Edward Island	217	191	17	30	361	408
Nova Scotia	246	242	30	48	410	488
New Brunswick	244	233	18	46	413	477
Quebec	1,323	1,118	108	317	2,016	2,441
Ontario	1,586	1,616	262	562	2,378	3,202
Manitoba	249	243	27	35	430	492
Saskatchewan	291	268	37	50	472	559
Alberta	706	697	91	135	1,177	1,403
British Columbia	782	781	108	138	1,317	1,563
Territories^{Table 1 footnote 1}	131	114	11	9	225	245
Table 1 footnote 1 Territories include Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. Return to Table 1 footnote 1 referrer

Considerations

When recruited, respondents were informed that the survey was about cannabis. This information may have created a participation bias in that those who use cannabis may have been more likely to complete the survey. For this and other methodological reasons, the CCS may provide prevalence estimates for cannabis use that are higher than other Canadian population-level surveys.

In 2023, the phrases 'for non-medical purposes' and 'for medical purposes' were removed from several survey questions; people who had used cannabis for any purpose in the past 12 months were asked the same questions. This served to significantly shorten the survey while still allowing responses to be disaggregated by cannabis use.

Health Canada monitors the prevalence of cannabis use among Canadians using several population surveys, including the Canadian Alcohol and Drugs Survey (CADS), the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), and the Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey (CSTADS). CADS 2019 indicates that 21% of Canadians age 15 and older (or 6.4 million) had used cannabis in the previous 12 months (22% among age 15 to 19 years; 45% among age 20 to 24 years; and 19% among age 25 years and older). CCHS 2021 similarly indicates that 22% of Canadians aged 15 and older (or 6.8 million) had reported cannabis use in the previous 12 months. CSTADS 2021/22 indicates that 18% of students in grades 7 to 12 (approximately 383,000) had used cannabis in the previous 12 months.

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Date modified:: 2024-01-18