Canada - Number of cannabis users relatively unchanged since legalization

[S.J.B.]

Number of cannabis users relatively unchanged since legalization, StatsCan says
CBC
February 7th, 2019

Legalizing cannabis doesn't seem to have much changed how many people use the drug, according to figures released by Statistics Canada.

The Statistics Canada figures released Thursday shows about 4.6 million people, or 15 per cent of Canadians over age 15, reported using cannabis in the previous three months.

Nearly half of Canadians who reported using cannabis said they did so for non-medical reasons, while one-quarter said they used it for medicinal purposes.

The national cannabis survey also found non-medical cannabis users were less likely to buy it legally, with only 26 per cent of them saying they bought the drug from authorized retailers or online producers.

Forty-two per cent of non-medical users said they obtained cannabis illegally, such as through drug dealers, compassion clubs, unlicensed dispensaries or storefronts, and unlicensed websites, the survey said.

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[S.J.B.]

If over half of non-medical cannabis users are actually getting their cannabis through legal venues, that's pretty impressive, given that it's only been a few months since legalization and there's been a massive shortage of cannabis and outlets to buy it from.