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.
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
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.
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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