Few Quebecers use cannabis, survey shows

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The proportion of Quebecers aged 15 and over who used cannabis decreased from 2022 to 2023, according to data from the Quebec Statistics Institute (ISQ) released Thursday.

Last year, about 17 percent of the population aged 15 and over used cannabis in the past 12 months, down from 19 percent in 2022.

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The decrease was observed in all analyzed age groups:

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• 15-20 years: decreased from 25 percent to 23 percent
• 21-34 years: 34 percent, down from 38 percent
• 35 and over: 12 percent, down from 14 percent

The 2023 Quebec Cannabis Survey was conducted between February and July among 13,200 people. Canada legalized the recreational use of cannabis on October 17, 2018.

According to reports, nearly half of people aged 15 and over have used cannabis in their lifetime. The share among men (51 percent) is higher than among women (43 percent).

The 21-24 age group had the largest share of users in 2023 (38%). 52 percent of this group first used cannabis before age 21.

ISQ said in its report that controlling cannabis use among under-21s is a public health priority. “We must not forget that people in this age group are not of legal age to possess cannabis or obtain it in Quebec.”

Quebec raised the minimum cannabis possession age to 21 in 2019.

Vaping

The data collected also shows that about 73 percent of 15- to 17-year-olds who have used cannabis have done so through vaping. This figure is 55 percent of 18-20 year olds who used cannabis in the past year.

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About half of 15-20 year olds used cannabis one day a month, and a quarter used cannabis one to three days a month.

The ISQ statement noted that even at low rates, “cannabis vaping can be dangerous for young people because they are less likely than their older counterparts to know how much THC is in the products they vape.”

Additionally, 28 percent of cannabis users are unaware of the cannabinoids in their smoking products. Most people who use cannabis primarily use cannabis products that contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, or products that contain more THC than cannabidiol (CBD), a non-THC chemical.

Cannabis vaping products are not on the legal market in Quebec. Survey data showed that 67 percent of people who used cannabis obtained the product from a family member, friend or acquaintance. A quarter turned to a legal source in another province, while 11 percent got their supplies on the illegal market and 23 percent online.

In addition, SQDC branches have several cannabis products such as fruit juices, crackers, sausages or dried fruits. Despite the emergence of such products on the legal market in recent years, 81 percent of Quebecers aged 15 and over smoke it. Food products account for 31% of consumption and oral drops for 23%.

Federal data on cannabis-related economic activity shows what ISQ found in its report. In Quebec, as in the rest of the country, the cannabis market grew gradually over the years after legalization, reaching a plateau in 2022 and seeing a decline in 2023.

The next ISQ survey on this issue will allow us to determine whether consumption will decrease in the long term.

Canadian Press Health receives funding through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content.

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