Canada: Nearly Eighty Percent of Weed Purchased Legally
Canada is getting closer to where many legal markets are trying but often fail. To subdue the illegal trade and direct all purchases of cannabis to legal shops. According to a new report from the International Cannabis Policy Study (ICPS), most of the cannabis purchased in Canada currently comes from legal channels.
The ICPSÂ surveys are conducted annually in six countries. Respondents are aged 16 to 65 and reside in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand.Â
Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and additional sources from non-profit public health organizations in the group of countries mentioned, these surveys aim to evaluate how cannabis users source their green buds. The research model additionally allows the evaluation of different cannabis policies, enabling comparisons between laws and regulation implemented in the participating countries.Â
What Did the Cannabis Survey Find Out About Canada?Â
Canada became the first G8 country to legalize cannabis for recreational use back in 2018. Seven years later, there are finally some very positive results. One of the goals of legalization is to combat the black market, though it’s always a hurdle to completely push down illicit trade and activities.Â
It took several years to change the habits of Canadian cannabis users. In 2019, according to the ICPS and the Canadian Cannabis Survey (CCS), 54.3% of cannabis flower consumed in Canada came from the black market. Legal cannabis became the main source in 2021, with 53% of transactions completed at licensed vendors. In 2022, according to the same survey, legal cannabis purchases improved to 61%. According to the latest study, 78% of cannabis that Canadians purchased within the last year came from legal distributors and stores.Â
What Are the Prices of Cannabis in Canada?Â
Price is one of the most important factors in attracting consumers to the legal market. Researchers asked study participants what the price per gram was for their last purchase. The average price of a gram of cannabis flower on the legal market is $6.25. On the illegal market, it is $4.76. It’s a $1.49 difference, down from $3 in 2019. For hash, the average price per gram in legal shops, according to respondents, is $16.13. On the black market, it’s much lower, or $9.93 per gram. Lastly, a gram of concentrate bought legally costs $27.21 on average versus $23.45 sourced on the side.Â
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Stephen Andrews
