Medical and non-medical cannabis use in Canada, 2019/2020

Release date: October 17, 2022
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Infographic: Medical and non-medical cannabis use in Canada – 2019/2020
Description: Medical and non-medical cannabis use in Canada – 2019/2020

“An analysis of cannabis consumption among the population aged 15 or older in the previous 12 months based on data from the 2019/2020 Canadian Community Health Survey”

Medical and Non-Medical Cannabis Use

In 2019/2020, 21% of people aged 15 and older reported consuming cannabis in the past 12 months.

More specifically, 13% used cannabis exclusively for non-medical purposes, 5% used cannabis for both medical and non-medical purposes, and 4% for medical purposes only.


Table 1
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 1. The information is grouped by Province/Territory (appearing as row headers), Non-medical only users, Medical/non-medical users and Medical only users (appearing as column headers).
Province/Territory Non-medical only users Medical/non-medical users Medical only users
N.L. 13% 5%Note E: Use with caution 4%
P.E.I. 11% 9% 5%Note E: Use with caution
N.S. 14% 8% 7%
N.B. 12% 5% 6%
Que. 13% 2% 1%
Ont. 12% 5% 4%
Man. 11% 6% 4%
Sask. 11% 6% 3%
Alta. 13% 8% 4%
B.C. 12% 7% 5%
Y.T./N.W.T./Nvt. 21% 10% 4%Note E: Use with caution

Top reasons for medical useNote 1

Among people who reported consuming cannabis for medical reasons, a higher proportion of 15 to 19 year olds reported using cannabis to treat symptoms of anxiety or depression


Table 2
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 2. The information is grouped by Age Group (appearing as row headers), Pain, Anxiety or depression and Problems sleeping (appearing as column headers).
Age Group Pain Anxiety or depression Problems sleeping
Total- aged 15 or older 59% 36% 37%
15-19 39% 63% 28%Note E: Use with caution
20-24 47% 48% 43%
25-44 54% 43% 38%
45-64 67% 26% 36%
65+ 72% 12% 29%

The method chosen to consume cannabis varies by reasons for use. Relative to non-medical users, a lower proportion of medical users chose smoking as the main consumption method.


Table 3
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 3. The information is grouped by Method used most often (appearing as row headers), Non-Medical only Users, Medical/non-medical users and Medical only users (appearing as column headers).
Method used most often Non-Medical only Users Medical/non-medical users Medical only users
Smoked 73% 70% 38%
Vaporized 10% 13% 9%
Consumed in food or drink 15% 14% 28%
Other 2% 3% 25%

E use with caution.

Note: Respondents who reported consuming cannabis once in their life, occurring in the previous 12 months, were excluded from the analysis.

Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey, 2019/2020

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Copyright

Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2022

Use of this publication is governed by the Statistics Canada Open Licence Agreement.

Catalogue no. 11-627-M

Frequency: Occasional

Ottawa

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