Health Canada has released its 2024 Canadian Cannabis Survey, shedding light on Canadians’ evolving attitudes, knowledge and behaviours surrounding cannabis use.
Conducted between April 4 and July 2, 2024, the survey highlights key trends, including shifts in consumption methods, purchasing habits, and public health impacts since cannabis legalization.
Key findings:
Smoking decline: While smoking remains the most common consumption method (69 per cent), its prevalence has declined. Edible cannabis products (57 per cent) and vape pens (37 per cent) continue to grow in popularity.
Shift to legal sources: In 2024, 72 per cent of respondents reported obtaining cannabis from legal sources, a sharp increase from 37 per cent in 2019. Legal storefronts have remained the primary source since 2019, with only 3 per cent of users accessing cannabis illegally.
Safer driving trends: Reports of driving after cannabis use dropped significantly, from 27 per cent in 2018 to 18 per cent in 2024.
Stable youth use rates: Cannabis use among youth aged 16 to 19 has remained steady at around 41 per cent over the past several years.
Daily use patterns: Approximately 25 per cent of cannabis users reported daily or near-daily consumption, a figure that has been stable since 2018, including among youth (20 per cent).
Public health focus
Health Canada has implemented targeted educational campaigns to address cannabis-related risks, particularly for youth and young adults whose brains are still developing. These efforts include youth education programs and community outreach.
This year’s survey added new topics, including the ease of access to cannabis from legal and illegal sources, usage of pre-rolled and infused joints, and consumption patterns for edibles.
The 2024 CCS collected responses from 11,666 Canadians aged 16 and older across all provinces and territories.
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