Ever since recreational cannabis was legalized across Canada in 2018, researchers have been studying what that decision changed for Canadians.
Provincial governments have tried various regulatory approaches. Some initially restricted the number of stores to avoid tempting non-users. Québec still has 10 times fewer stores per capita than Ontario does as a result. Other provinces have set minimum prices to discourage people from overindulging. For example, Ontario won't let wholesale prices drop below $2.28 per gram.
These developments in business and government policy prompted research to understand what effect retail expansion had on cannabis use. To do this, consumer responses were analyzed on government surveys collected between 2019 to 2023. These were then compared to the recreational cannabis consumer price index and the numbers of licensed stores in each province.
Did Canadians consume cannabis more widely, more frequently and at younger ages as it became more accessible and affordable? The answer was mostly no.
Read more at: The Conversation