Constructing Historical Cannabis Consumption Volume Estimates for Canada, 1960 to 2015 - ARCHIVED

This paper discusses the process for estimating the volume of cannabis consumption in Canada by age group from 1960 to 2015. Cannabis consumption is estimated using a model that first estimates the number of cannabis consumers among 15- to 17-year-olds, 18- to 24-year-olds, 25- to 44-year-olds and 45- to 64-year-olds. This is accomplished by estimating cannabis consumption prevalence based on multiple survey data sources. For each age group, consumers are divided into categories based on annual frequency of consumption: once in the past year, less than once a month, one to three times a month, weekly (excluding daily) and daily. Each category of frequency of consumption is then associated with a quantity of cannabis consumed.