More Canadians buying cannabis only from legal sources, citing safety: StatCan – National | 24CA News
Nearly six years since hashish turned authorized on the market in Canada, new information exhibits a majority of these utilizing the merchandise obtainable are completely shopping for from authorized sources.
The information launched Monday discovered virtually 72 per cent of Canadians who used hashish within the 12 months earlier than the nationwide hashish survey of 2023 was carried out purchased solely from a authorized vendor.
When requested why they did so, product security was the most important purpose for 38 per cent or respondents. About 17 per cent mentioned the comfort of shopping for from the authorized market was behind their decision-making. Approximately 13 per cent mentioned they purchased from a authorized supply due to their want to comply with the legislation.
Retail Cannabis Council of British Columbia board member Matthew Greenwood, who additionally owns hashish retailer Up in Smoke within the province, mentioned the numbers are “exciting.”
“It’s just nice to see that, you know, our work and the work of our peers is paying off,” he mentioned in an interview with Global News.
The information discovered the kind of product utilized by Canadians varies, with dried leaf or flower hashish and edibles being among the many most used.
Greenwood mentioned in B.C., one factor he’s been in a position to provide clients is “full transparency” due to the place he buys his merchandise.
“I can look every consumer in the eye and say I know where the best weed in Up in Smoke comes from, “I’ve met the farmer, I’ve been to the farm and I buy it farm fresh every week.’”
He additionally famous that after six years into legalization, hashish is “beating beer and wine.”
Earlier this month, Statistics Canada gross sales information confirmed alcohol gross sales primarily based on quantity fell by 1.1 per cent, or 3,106 million litres within the 2022-23 fiscal yr. At the identical time, leisure hashish gross sales by provincial authorities elevated by 15.8 per cent year-over-year, to the tune of about $4.7 billion spent.
But whereas Canadians level to product security as a foremost purpose behind their hashish purchases being achieved from authorized sources, some health-care advocates say they’ve considerations.
Licensed pharmacist and well being advisor Ken Weisbrod mentioned there are professionals and cons to “normalizing a drug,” however he mentioned with 38 per cent of hashish customers in 2023 being 18-24, extra work is required.
“There are guide rails to the legal source, which is great. There needs to be a lot more,” he mentioned in an interview. “What you called safety is confusing for especially a young consumer. And you can see it’s concerning for all consumers of the drug.”
Weisbrod mentioned he believes extra examine is required into hashish’ influence on the physique, together with long-term, however with greater than 3,000 authorized hashish shops in Canada, he’s involved about what Canadians might assume.
“I mean, you see some streets you got a cannabis store on every turn, right, more cannabis stores than we have coffee shops now,” he mentioned. “And so that you stroll by and (say), ‘man, it must be safe because the government approved it.’”
He said he is not necessarily opposed to people buying from legal sources, or for Canadians who may need it for therapeutic reasons, such as going through chemotherapy, but there needs to be more work done on the “guide rails” around cannabis.
“I tell my children all the time, I’ve acquired a 26-year-old and 23-year-old, ‘If you’re going to smoke hashish, guys, purchase it from a authorized supply for certain, however at all times speak to me about it,’” he mentioned.
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