Cannabis popularity in Quebec dips after pandemic peak: survey

Cannabis consumption in Quebec has declined slightly, returning to pre-pandemic levels, according to a new survey published on Wednesday by the l’Institut de la statistique du Québec.

This year, 16.9 per cent of Quebecers aged 15 and over reported using cannabis, down from 18.1 per cent in 2024.

The survey shows that the drop is most noticeable among the younger population where use among 15 to 20-year-olds fell from 21.9 per cent to 19.4 per cent.

As for consumption among 21 to 34-year-olds, it went from 32 per cent to 30.3 per cent.

For those 35 and older, the change was minimal, going from 13.4 per cent in 2024 to 12.5 per cent this year.

The data comes from the Quebec Cannabis Survey conducted between February and July 2025, involving over 15,000 participants.

The survey shows that after rising steadily from 2018 to a peak in 2021 — with the pandemic considered a factor, usage was at 19.7 per cent — it has now settled near 2019 levels at 16.4 per cent.

In terms of usage habits, 41 per cent of users consume cannabis less than once a month.

Daily use, the survey showed, is at 15.9 per cent, while occasional use at 20.2 per cent.

Smoking cannabis in Quebec remains the most popular method — that number at 79 per cent. This is followed by edibles (33 per cent) and vaping (28 per cent).

The Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC), the province’s legal retailer, remains the main source for 70 per cent of users.

According to the crown corporation’s annual report, despite lower overall consumption, SQDC sales grew 12 per cent to $741.5 million, driven by new store openings and higher demand for concentrates.