New Data Shows 40% More Canadians Using Cannabis

February 10, 2026 (Ottawa) —  New data reveal the number of people who used cannabis at least once in the past year has increased by approximately 40% since 2017, according to Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) and the University of Victoria’s Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR).

Cannabis is the second-most used substance in Canada, after alcohol. Prevalence of cannabis use rose from just over 21% in 2017 to nearly 29% in 2023. Young males aged 15-35 reported the highest use, increasing from about 33% in 2017 to almost 43% in 2023. The trend shows the continuation of an increase that began since at least 2008, the earliest year for which this data is available.

“To address issues around alcohol and other drugs, we have to know what we’re dealing with. That is why it is so important to make information like this accessible, so every community can learn more about their own region’s needs,” says CCSA CEO Dr. Alexander Caudarella. 

For alcohol, weekly consumption per person aged 15 and older decreased from 10.4 to 9.4 standard drinks from 2008 to 2023, a 9.6% decrease. That works out to Canadians consuming 34 million fewer standard drinks every week, a substantial and impactful decline according to the researchers.

“This is the biggest change in alcohol consumption that we’ve ever recorded. On average it works out to one less drink per person per week, which may not seem like much, but it will have a big impact on related costs and harms,” says Caudarella, “Even one less drink a week can improve your health. It reduces the strain on the healthcare system and most importantly, means improved health and wellbeing for people living in Canada.”

Opioid use, both prescription and illegal, is declining but deaths are still high due to the increasing toxicity of the unregulated drug supply. This supports CCSA’s previous findings that show while deaths decreased nationally overall in 2024, declines were regional and death rates were still higher in 2024 than in 2019. 

The data comes from the new Prevalence Interactive Chart, part of the Canadian Substance Use Costs and Harms (CSUCH) project, done in partnership between CCSA and CISUR. The chart is the only national resource that counts how many people and what groups use different substances across Canada by age, sex and year. 

“Understanding substance use trends by region, demographics and across time helps direct resources for prevention, treatment and harm reduction efforts. Taking this longer lens will help make informed policies to respond to today and plan for the future,” Caudarella adds. 

"We invite anyone with an interest in patterns and trends in legal and illegal substance use in Canada to explore this unique, easy to use online resource,” says Tim Stockwell, CISUR scientist and co-lead of the project. “It should be of special interest to people in government, advocacy groups, researchers, health professionals and members of the public."
The CSUCH project will also be releasing updated estimates on costs related to substance use for healthcare, lost productivity and criminal justice in the coming months. 


About CCSA
The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) was created by Parliament to provide national leadership to address substance use in Canada. A trusted counsel, we provide national guidance to decision makers by harnessing the power of research, curating knowledge and bringing together diverse perspectives. CCSA activities and products are made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada. The views of CCSA do not necessarily represent the views of Health Canada.

About CISUR
The Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR), based at the University of Victoria, is a network of individuals and groups dedicated to the study of substance use and addiction in support of community-wide efforts to promote health and reduce harm. Their research is used to inform a broad range of projects, reports, publications and initiatives aimed at providing Canadians access to happier, healthier lives, whether they use substances or not. 



Media contacts
Christine LeBlanc, Senior Strategic Communications Advisor
Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
613-898-6343 | cleblanc@ccsa.ca

Amanda Farrell-Low, Communications Officer
Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research
250-853-3239 |  farlow@uvic.ca