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The vast majority of cannabis purchases in Canada continue to come from legal sources, according to Health Canada’s annual cannabis survey.

The amount commonly spent per month on cannabis decreased from $73 in 2018 to $63 in 2024 but was unchanged from 2023.

The 2024 Canadian Cannabis Survey highlights ongoing trends among cannabis consumers in the country, documenting not only sources of cannabis but also topics such as consumption habits and perceptions of cannabis risks. 

Smoking cannabis remains the most common way Canadians consume the product, but the proportion who report smoking cannabis has declined by twenty percentage points since legalization began. 

In 2018, 89% of cannabis consumers reported smoking cannabis, a number that has declined to 69% in the last two years of the federal government’s annual Canadian Cannabis Survey.

Eating cannabis products was the second most common mode of consumption (57%, up from 43% in 2018) according to data collected from April 4 to July 2, 2024, while vaporizing (including vaping dried cannabis and/or liquid or solid cannabis extracts) accounted for 37% of reported consumption. 

he number of people who reported getting their cannabis from a legal source in the first half of 2024 remained the same as the previous year at about 72%, up from just 37% in 2019. 

Only 3% of respondents in the survey reported getting their cannabis from an illegal source, while 15% said they obtained their cannabis from a social source like a friend or family member, and 2% reported getting their cannabis from a storefront located in a First Nations community. Such stores generally operate outside the scope of provincial licensing regimes and have proliferated in recent years. 

Those who reported using cannabis at least once in the previous 12 months increased from 22% in 2018 to 26% in 2024, but this number was unchanged from 26% in 2023. Similarly, those who reported using cannabis at least once in the past 30 days increased slightly from 15% in 2018 to 17% in 2024 but was unchanged from 17% in 2023.

Only 6% of the population in Canada reported using cannabis on a daily or almost daily basis, up slightly from 5% in 2018 but unchanged from 6% in 2023. These daily or nearly-daily users represented 24% of all people in Canada who reported consuming cannabis in the past 12 months, relatively unchanged from 25% in 2018 and 23% in 2023.         

The number of people who reported using cannabis before driving (18%) increased slightly from the year prior (15% in 2023) but is still lower than the 27% who reported doing so in 2018. This included 16% who reported driving within 2 hours of smoking or vapourizing cannabis and 10% who reported driving within 4 hours of ingesting cannabis.

Of those who reported using cannabis in the past 12 months, 78% said they believe that cannabis use impairs one’s ability to drive, while 13% responded that it depends, and 6% responded that it did not impair one’s ability to drive.

Recent figures from the Canadian Community Health Survey released in October showed that the population of those over 18 in Canada who reported using cannabis in the past 12 months and those who reported that they had used cannabis daily or almost daily in the past 12 months declined in 2023 after four years of annual growth.

Cannabis sales in Canada also appear to reflect these self-reported figures, with sales beginning to level out after five years of year-over-year growth. 

The Canadian Cannabis Survey was launched in 2017 and has been conducted annually since 2018 to create a better understanding of cannabis use and consumption habits in Canada in the wake of the legalization of non-medical cannabis in October 2018.

Stratcann | December 6, 2024 | David Brown

According to a new market report by Kaya Mind, Brazil’s emerging medical cannabis market is projected to increase by a projected 22% by the end of 2024. The market report estimates that Brazil’s medical cannabis market is worth roughly BRL 832 million ($142 million).

Kaya Mind estimates that Brazil is now home to about 672,000 medical cannabis patients, which is a 50% increase compared to 2023. The market researchers estimate that only one-third of those patients currently make their purchases legally through the nation’s pharmacies and another 22% access medical cannabis products through collectives.

According to leading international cannabis economist Beau Whitney, the overall region’s growing cannabis market is worth a considerable amount of money.

“Central and South America together are an $8 billion total market; however, its low-cost manufacturing and drive towards EU GMP and GAP certifications is making the region an attractive source of supply for the EU.” Whitney stated in a recent newsletter.

Whitney’s analysis was originally provided as part of his presentation at the inaugural Andean Hemp and Cannabis Trade Summit in October where he presented on the Central and South American hemp and cannabis markets.

In addition to the overall market value analysis, Whitney Economics also provided the following market information:

• Five countries in Central and South America make up 89% of the regional demand
• Brazil is home to the largest domestic market ($2.5 billion)
• Total Central and South American market demand requires 6.3 million pounds of cultivated output
• Peru is an estimated $0.8 – $2.2 billion domestic market
• Peru’s hemp industry has strong opportunities in fibers, grains, and isolated cannabinoids

Brazil’s Superior Court of Justice recently ruled that cultivating, processing, and selling industrial hemp for medical and pharmaceutical uses is legal in Brazil. The decision will eventually increase options for the nation’s suffering patients.

“While the ruling is a significant victory for the medical cannabis community, Justice Regina Helena Costa emphasized that the court’s decision was limited to health-related applications.” reported Benzinga in its initial coverage of the landmark decision.

Additionally, Brazil’s National Health Surveillance Agency recently decided to amend Ordinance SVS/MS 344/1998 to allow the regulation of medical cannabis products for animals by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.

Veterinarians who are approved by the nation’s Federal Council of Veterinary Medicine may prescribe registered cannabis-based medications to animals. A study from December 2022 conducted by researchers in Brazil found that, at the macro level, cannabis appears to be safe for pets, especially cannabidiol, as long as it’s administered in the right dosage level.

“The review was systematically performed in Medline (via Pubmed®) and Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS) databases, with period restriction (between 1990 and 2021). The qualified articles (n=19), which met the previously established inclusion criteria, were critically evaluated.” stated the researchers about their study.

“Based on the literature review, it is possible to infer safety in the administration of cannabis-based products for the treatment of dogs, especially products rich in cannabidiol (CBD), free or with low concentrations of tetrahydrocannabinol, under the conditions evaluated. In addition, CBD products potentially promote improved quality of life and reduce pain perception in animals affected by canine osteoarthritis.” the researchers also stated.

“Finally, owing to the lack of large-scale and robust clinical research studies, the performance of clinical trials, considering the individual characteristics of each cannabis-based product (composition, concentration, nature of adjuvants, dosage form, route of administration), is strongly encouraged.” the researchers concluded.

Written by Johnny Green on November 30, 2024. Posted in Business.

According to the European Union Drugs Agency, France has the highest rate of cannabis consumption on the European continent. Whereas adult-use cannabis policy modernization efforts have spread to Malta, Luxembourg, and Germany, and to a lesser extent the Netherlands and Switzerland, recreational cannabis remains illegal in France.

An escalation of violence linked to organized crime in France has led to recent calls by a parliamentary group for the European nation to legalize cannabis for adult use. La France Insoumise (LFI) has criticized the government’s current approach to cannabis policy.

“According to the unveiled “fight plan,” the government’s repressive response is not only insufficient, but it fuels insecurity, pushing citizens and officials into a cycle of violence.” stated Newsweed in its local reporting. “LFI advocates for a comprehensive, community-based approach to combating organized crime in France, including the legalization of cannabis.”

A previous study by an economic advisory board within the nation’s prime minister’s office determined that the French government spends roughly €570m annually on cannabis prohibition enforcement. The study recommended that France adopt adult-use cannabis legalization and launch a regulated recreational industry.

Emmanuelle Auriol, a professor at the Toulouse School of Economics who authored the study’s report and findings, estimated that such a policy change could create as many as 80,000 new jobs, and generate €2.8bn in taxes annually.

France does have a limited operational medical cannabis experimental program. In March 2021, France launched a limited medical cannabis experiment involving between 2,000 and 3,000 suffering patients to gain insight into crafting national medical cannabis policies and regulations.

The French medical cannabis experiment received initial approval from the federal Senate back in 2019, however, the launch of the trial was delayed until the spring of 2021 due to various reasons.

Initially slated for two years, France’s medical cannabis experiment was eventually granted a one-year extension and was set to end in 2024. The program is now expected to end in 2025.

According to a recent newsletter sent out by international cannabis economist Beau Whitney of Whitney Economics, France is home to the largest total addressable cannabis market in the European Union with a value of $11.3 billion (midpoint).

Written by Johnny Green on November 29, 2024. Posted in Policy.

Medical cannabis sales in Australia have quadrupled during the last two years, with Australians expected to spend an estimated $1 billion on medical cannabis this year. Medical cannabis was first legalized in Australia in 2016.

“The Pennington Institute’s Cannabis in Australia report has revealed spending has skyrocketed from $230 million two years ago to a predicted $1 billion by the end of this year.” 9News stated in its local coverage.

“The spending correlates with usage, which jumped from just 3.9 per cent of survey respondents in 2019 to almost 30 per cent admitting they use prescription marijuana.” the outlet also reported.

Australia’s Senate voted on an adult-use cannabis legalization measure this week. According to the Australian Greens Party, which introduced the measure, the measure was “blocked by the Labor and Coalition parties in a 13 to 24 vote against progress.”

“We took a big step today from treating cannabis as part of the failing ‘war on drugs’ and instead putting forward a model that is safer, reduces harms and delivers for the millions of Australians who just want us to legalize it!” Greens Senator and Justice Spokesperson David Shoebridge said in a media release.

“The support for this bill across the community is enormous and it’s why we know cannabis legalisation in this country is inevitable.” Shoebridge also stated. “The Labor and Coalition parties joined together to try and hold Australia back in the 1950’s by blocking this desperately needed reform.”

Currently, cannabis is legal for adult use at a national level in Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and South Africa. Cannabis is also legal for recreational use in two dozen states in the U.S., and regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials are operating in the Netherlands and Switzerland.

“Government data shows 8.8 million of adult Australians have consumed cannabis. The Labor and Liberal parties are happy to call all of these people criminals. That’s a bloody disgrace.” Senator Shoebbridge said. “My office keeps hearing from people using cannabis to deal with anxiety or pain, or just to relax. We think that adults should have the right to do just that.”

“If choosing cannabis instead of products from pharmaceutical corporations is working for you, as it does for many Australians, then you should have that choice.” Shoebridge also said. “If you’d rather have a brownie than a beer, or a gummy than a cigarette, of course you should be allowed to do that.”

Written by Johnny Green on November 27, 2024. Posted in Business.

The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) brought in $63.9 million in net revenue from $673.5 million worth of cannabis sold in the province for the year ended on March 31, 2024, reporting $10.8 million in net income after expenses. 

This is up from the $60.4 million in net revenue in the previous year but down from the $18 million in net revenue for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. This is due to higher operating expenses and significantly lower profit from operations in the most recent year. 

This figure does not include an additional $210 million in cannabis tax revenue collected by the Government of Alberta for the year ending March 31, 2024. The province’s additional 6% markup on cannabis products contributed to net revenue of $38.1 million. 

Net income for the AGLC for all the files it manages (cannabis, liquor, and gaming) was $2.3 billion in the most recent fiscal year. 

The 2022-2023 fiscal year was the AGLC’s first profitable year from cannabis sales.

The number of licensed cannabis stores at the end of March 2024 was down slightly from previous years, with 752 compared to 756 in the two previous years. 

Every product category except for dried flower, milled flower, beverages, topicals and seeds saw total dollars sold increase. 

Sales of dried flower were relatively flat at $207.4 million compared to $206.9 million in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, and down from $226.5 million in 2021-2022, likely reflecting ongoing price compression as well as a shift in the market to concentrates and vape pens. 

Despite this decline in total revenue, the volume of dried cannabis sold continued to increase, reflecting declining retail prices. The province sold 65,127 kg in the 2024 fiscal year, up from 59,121 in the previous year and 59,490 in 2022.

The number of vapes sold and total sales also increased, as did pre-rolls, extracts (significantly so), edibles, and beverages. 

Other highlights from the AGLC’s 2023-2024 fiscal report:

• The AGLC estimates it saved the cannabis industry more than $4 million through the reduction of listing fees for cannabis SKUs, among other procedural changes.
• Another nearly $3 million in estimated cost savings for the industry through the amendment of storage requirements.
• Alberta expanded access to legally regulated cannabis with temporary retail sales at events (i.e. festivals) and extended hours of operations approved, increasing revenue-generating opportunities.
• The AGLC conducted 3,442 inspections of cannabis retailers, with a 98% compliance rate. 
• The province spent $2.1 million on its Cannabis Sense education program.
• The province is currently developing a recycling plan that will allow for cannabis containers to be recycled.
• As of March 31, 2024, Alberta had 2,356 cannabis SKUs listed for sale, up from 2,085 in 2023 and 1,664 in 2022.

Chart from AGLC.ca

StratCann – November 20, 2024 | David Brown

Retail cannabis sales in Canada continue to hold relatively steady year-over-year, with the summer peak in sales in August reaching $476 million, up slightly from $469 million in August 2023.

Cannabis sales had seen significant year-over-year growth in the first four years of legalization, along with the number of new retail outlets appearing across the country. In the last two years, though, the increase in sales began to slow down, coinciding with a slowdown in new retail stores, likely representing market saturation. 

Statistics Canada reported in April 2024 that about 71% of cannabis consumers in the previous year had bought cannabis exclusively from legal sources, such as the more than 3,000 legal cannabis stores in Canada. It’s important to note that Statistics Canada’s monthly cannabis sales figures are at times adjusted as the quality of collected data improves. 

The figures below show both seasonally adjusted sales figures as well as unadjusted.

StratCann – November 22, 2024 | David Brown

Rubicon Organics brought in $13.5 million in net revenue in Q3 2024, the three months ended September 30, 2024, its highest revenue in eight consecutive quarters, but a net loss of $168,498. 

Net revenue was up compared to the same period in the previous year ($10 million) and the previous quarter ($12.1 million). Net losses have steadily declined over the last three quarters.

The BC-based certified organic cannabis producer has seen year-over-year quarterly revenue growth from Q1 2022 until Q2 2023, which the company attributes to increased demand in key provinces. In the most recent quarter, for the three months ending September 30, 2024, the company reported its highest net revenue achieved in one quarter.

Rubicon sells three flagship brands: their “super-premium” Simply Bare Organic, premium brand 1964 Supply Co, cannabis wellness brand Wildflower, and the Homestead Cannabis Supply brand. The company says it currently has over 294 unique SKUs available for sale across Canada, with over 99% coverage of the addressable market in both non-medical and medical sales channels.  

Total operating expenses increased year-over-year from $3.4 million to $3.7 million, but general and administrative expenses decreased by $19,887. The company expects to continue its year-over-year growth in net revenue, much of this from its branded products that are produced using external capacity and thereby deliver lower gross margins.

In the last two quarters of 2023, Rubicon saw a decline in net revenue, which it says is due to softened demand and price compression in Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec, as well as overall economic challenges facing consumers. 

The company incurred $4.3 million in excise taxes from $17.8 million in product sales, up from $2.9 million in excise taxes from $13 million in sales in the three months that ended September 30, 2023.

“Rubicon Organics record net revenue for both Q3 and year-to-date 2024 reflects our strength and position as Canada’s leading premium House of Brands,” said company CFO Janis Risbin. “Rubicon Organics continues to innovate and expand our product offerings, solidifying a strong market share in premium flower, pre-rolls, edibles, and more. I’m particularly proud of the success of our 2024 vape launch, which has already achieved 55% distribution in just six months. Looking ahead, we expect to drive further growth in Canada and beyond, as we intend for new market entry in 2025.”

Rubicon’s 125,000-square-foot hybrid greenhouse is certified by the Fraser Valley Organic Producers Association (FVOPA) for organic cannabis cultivation.

StratCann – November 14, 2024 | Sarah Clark

For many years, cannabis-based research was either outright prohibited in many parts of the world, or at the very least greatly hindered. Meanwhile, a false narrative was pushed by mainstream media and cannabis opponents that cannabis was ‘bad for the human brain in every instance, no exceptions.’

Of course, the truth is that as researchers continue to explore and unlock the wellness benefits of cannabinoids, we are learning that the cannabis plant can be effective at providing relief to suffering patients for a wide array of conditions, including mental health conditions.

A team of researchers recently conducted a clinical trial in the United Kingdom that explored the relationship between cannabidiol (CBD) and symptoms in patients with a high risk of psychosis. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

London, United Kingdom: The daily use of cannabidiol reduces symptom severity in patients at clinically high risk of suffering from psychosis, according to placebo-controlled clinical trial data published in the journal World Psychiatry.

Thirty-one patients completed the study. Subjects received 600 mg of CBD or a placebo daily for three weeks. None of the participants received any prescription medications during the trial. Patients were assessed at baseline, at seven days, and at 21 days.

Compared to the placebo group, those who received CBD had lower total CAARMS (Comprehensive Assessment of At‐Risk Mental States) scores following treatment. CBD dosing was associated with a “reduction in the severity of CHR [clinically high risk] symptoms and the distress associated with psychotic experiences,” investigators reported.

The study’s authors concluded: “Short‐term treatment with CBD can ameliorate the symptoms of CHR state for psychosis and is well tolerated. These results highlight the potential of CBD as a novel treatment for psychosis, and the need for large‐scale efficacy studies to further evaluate its clinical utility.”

Separate studies have demonstrated that the use of CBD reduces psychotic symptoms and the use of antipsychotic medications in patients with schizophrenia.

Full text of the study, “Effects of cannabidiol on symptoms in people at clinical; high risk of psychosis,” appears in World Psychiatry.

Written by Frank Schuler on October 8, 2024. Posted in Science.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

British Columbia, Canada — October 17, 2024.   Trichome Consulting Services (TCSI) is proud to announce that it has been awarded the prestigious title of Cannabis Consulting Compliance of the Year in Canada 2024. This award reflects the company’s exceptional reputation and the trust it has earned among its clients and industry peers.

TCSI emerged as the winner after an exhaustive evaluation process conducted by a distinguished panel of C-level executives, industry thought leaders, and an editorial board. The numerous nominations submitted by satisfied subscribers of TCSI underscored the company’s continued commitment to delivering top-tier consulting and compliance solutions in the cannabis sector. “This recognition reaffirms our dedication to providing exceptional cannabis consulting and compliance services,” said John Karroll, Founder of Trichome Consulting Services. “We are honored by the trust our clients have placed in us, and we look forward to continuing to support businesses in the cannabis industry with the highest level of service and expertise.”