Statistics Canada released new data on Nov. 21, revealing an increase in cannabis consumption in the third quarter of the year.
“Canadian household expenditure on cannabis (for medical and non-medical use) was up 1.1% in the third quarter, following a 1.8% increase in the second quarter. Household expenditure on cannabis has increased for six consecutive quarters, averaging a growth rate of 1.5%,” Stats Can noted.
Statistics Canada has also revealed that Canadians spent $5.9 billion on cannabis products in the third quarter.
Of this, 83.9% or $4.9 billion was purchased illegally for non-medical use. This proportion has fallen from 98.0% in the second quarter of 2014, reflecting increases in cannabis consumption for medical use.
An estimated 1.9% of this consumption was from home production for own non-medical use.
Spending on cannabis for medical purposes totalled $836 million, representing 14.2% of the total. This includes $88 million of home production of cannabis for own medical use.
Overall cannabis consumption has increased 73% since the second quarter of 2001, according to Statistcs Canada, when the Canadian government passed legislation legalizing the consumption of cannabis for medical purposes.
Household final consumption expenditure on cannabis, seasonally adjusted
