Number and percentage of people reporting cannabis use in the past three months by quarter, geography, gender, age, household population aged 15 years or older, Canada.

Consuming population of cannabis and volume consumed of cannabis by age group and frequency of use, Canada, annual.

Consuming population of cannabis and volume consumed of cannabis by age group and frequency of use, Canada, annual.

Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in Canada. In 2015, the new Liberal government of Canada announced their plan to legalize cannabis and in June of 2016 a federal task force on cannabis was announced. Guided by this task force, cannabis legislation is expected to be introduced in 2017. To inform Alberta’s response to the federal decision to legalize cannabis, the University of Calgary Health Technology Assessment Unit developed a series of evidence syntheses to support policy development by the Government of Alberta. This resource consists of five reports that address: the Canadian Context for cannabis use and legalization; the health effects and harms of cannabis; medical cannabis; advertisement and communication regulations; and experience with legalization among jurisdictions who have legalized cannabis use.

Licensed cannabis industry statistics, revenue, sales, expenses, inventories, investment, production, number of cannabis for medical use licenses issued, number of registered clients, shipments to registered clients, average amount of dried cannabis for medical use authorized per client, average amount of dried cannabis for medical use per client shipment, producer price, Canada, annual.

Household final consumption expenditure of cannabis by type of use, licensed and unlicensed sources, Canada, quarterly.

These are the source data used to create Figures 2 - 7 of the forthcoming publication: Shim MS, Nguyen HV, Grootendorst P. Lessons from 20 years of medical cannabis use in Canada. PLOS One, forthcoming. Figures 8 and 9 of the paper rely on public use versions of the Statistics Canada and Health Canada survey data which were obtained from ODESI. Licensing restrictions prevent reposting the source data.

"Cannabis use is now legal for adults, but it does have health risks. If you use non-medically, you can make informed choices for safer use."

With the medical use of cannabis permitted in Canada since 2001, patients seek to use this botanical drug to treat a range of medical conditions. However, many healthcare practitioners express the need for further scientific evidence around the use of medical cannabis. This real-world evidence study aimed to address the paucity of scientific data by surveying newly registered medical cannabis patients, before beginning medical cannabis treatment, and at one follow up 6 weeks after beginning medical cannabis treatment. The goal was to collect data on efficacy, safety and cannabis product type information to capture the potential impact medical cannabis had on patient-reported quality of life (QOL) and several medical conditions over a 6-week period using validated questionnaires. The 214 participants were mainly male (58%) and 57% of the population was older than 50. The most frequently reported medical conditions were recurrent pain, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, sleep disorders [including restless leg syndrome (RLS)], and arthritis and other rheumatic disorders. Here we report that over 60% of our medical cannabis cohort self-reported improvements in their medical conditions. With the use of validated surveys, we found significant improvements in recurrent pain, PTSD, and sleep disorders after 6 weeks of medical cannabis treatment. Our findings from patients who reported arthritis and other rheumatic disorders are complex, showing improvements in pain and global activity sub-scores, but not overall changes in validated survey scores. We also report that patients who stated anxiety as their main medical condition did not experience significant changes in their anxiety after 6 weeks of cannabis treatment, though there were QOL improvements. While these results show that patients find cannabis treatment effective for a broad range of medical conditions, cannabis was not a remedy for all the conditions investigated. Thus, there is a need for future clinical research to support the findings we have reported. Additionally, while real-world evidence has not historically been utilized by regulatory bodies, we suggest changes in public policy surrounding cannabis should occur to reflect patient reported efficacy of cannabis from real-world studies due to the uniqueness of medical cannabis's path to legalization.

This document has been prepared by the Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Branch at Health Canada to provide information on the use of cannabis (marihuana) and cannabinoids for medical purposes. This document is a summary of peer-reviewed literature and international reviews concerning potential therapeutic uses and harmful effects of cannabis and cannabinoids.

While a known link between prenatal cannabis exposure and anencephaly exists, the relationship of prenatal cannabis exposure with neural tube defects (NTDs) generally has not been defined. Published data from Canada Health and Statistics Canada were used to assess this relationship. Both cannabis use and NTDs were shown to follow an east-west and north-south gradient. Last year cannabis consumption was significantly associated (P < .0001; cannabis use–time interaction P < .0001). These results were confirmed when estimates of termination for anomaly were used. Canada Health population data allowed the calculation of an NTD odds ratio) of 1.27 (95% confidence interval = 1.19-1.37; P < 10−11) for high-risk provinces versus the remainder with an attributable fraction in exposed populations of 16.52% (95% confidence interval = 12.22-20.62). Data show a robust positive statistical association between cannabis consumption as both a qualitative and quantitative variable and NTDs on a background of declining NTD incidence. In the context of multiple mechanistic pathways these strong statistical findings implicate causal mechanisms.

Mock Cannabis Product Dataset - ChatGPT creation process and prompt generated

This provides a detailed synthetic dataset of 500 cannabis products with realistic lab attributes and consumer metrics. We derived value ranges from publicly available Certificates of Analysis (COAs), Leafly strain data, and Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) listings to ensure the data reflects real market norms. The dataset includes cannabinoid potency, terpene profile, physical quality measures, price, and a simulated consumer rating. Noise and randomness are incorporated to mimic variability in cultivation and customer perception.

Cannabinoid Content (THC, CBD, CBG, CBN, Total)

THC (%): The psychoactive potency of products is high on average, reflecting Ontario market trends. According to an OCS analysis, 94% of dried flower products have ≥20% THC, with an average around 22% (iasic1.org). Our dataset mirrors this: most products fall in 15–30% THC, with a mean ~22%. A few rare entries dip to ~10% THC or lower, typically those bred for CBD. The maximum THC is capped near ~30%, aligning with upper bounds seen in top-shelf strains.

CBD (%): CBD content is generally low (under 1%) in high-THC products, as in real dispensaries. Only about 6% of Ontario flowers had CBD ≥5% (iasic1.org), so we include 5-6% of products that are CBD-rich (e.g. 5–15% CBD) with low THC. A handful are balanced hybrids (~5–10% of each). This captures CBD-dominant offerings which are less common on the market.

Minor Cannabinoids (CBG, CBN): We include small amounts of CBG and CBN to reflect COA results. CBG often appears in trace amounts (0–0.5%) in many strains, occasionally up to ~1–2%. CBN, usually a product of THC degradation over time, is kept very low (<0.2% for most fresh products). Only a few older or highly processed samples show CBN approaching ~0.5%.

Total Cannabinoids (%): Calculated as the sum of THC, CBD, CBG, CBN and a minor fraction for other cannabinoids, typically ending up slightly above the THC% for high-THC samples.

Terpene Profile (Myrcene, Limonene, Caryophyllene, Pinene, Linalool, Humulene, Terpinolene)

Total Terpenes (%): Averages around 2% by weight, consistent with industry data (true-blue.co). Most products fall in a 1–3% terpenes range. High-quality craft cultivars can reach 3–5% total terpenes, so we include some outliers. A few low-terpene cases (<1%) are included to represent stale or low-aroma batches.

Individual Terpenes: Each product has breakdowns for Myrcene, Limonene, Caryophyllene, Pinene, Linalool, Humulene, and Terpinolene – seven of the most common terpenes in cannabis. The distribution is skewed with one dominant terpene and others in smaller quantities.

Terpene Diversity: Count of how many of the seven listed terpenes exceed 0.1% in each product. This number ranges from 1 to 7. Most products have 3–5 terpenes above 0.1%.

Physical Quality Measures (Moisture, Water Activity, Ash)

Moisture Content (%): Modeled mostly in the 8–14% range, with a dataset average of ~10–11%. Aligns with truelabscannabis.com and Canadian guidelines which recommend 6–15%, optimal around 10–12%.

Water Activity (aw): Ranges from 0.55–0.65, in line with microbial growth limits set by Health Canada (aresscientific.com). Values >0.70 were excluded.

Ash Content (%): Ranges from 1–3%, with a few entries near 0.5% or up to 4–5%. Intended to reflect burn quality.

Retail Price (CAD per gram)

Prices range from CAD4 to CAD14/g. The average is CAD9. Most products fall in a $7–$12 band. Data is aligned with OCS averages and real pricing from Canadian cannabis retailers.

• Higher terpene and THC products tend to be priced higher.
• Low-potency or low-terpene strains often priced lower.
• Simulates how potency and aroma influence retail pricing in practice.

Consumer Rating (1–10) and High Rating Flag

A Consumer Rating score was generated based on:

• THC (%)
• Total Terpenes (%)
• Moisture Content (%)
• Price (CAD/g)
• Random noise (±0.5 to ±1.0)

Rating logic:

• Each +5% THC adds ~+0.5
• Each +1% terpene adds ~+1.0
• Lower price = higher score
• Penalty for low moisture
• Rating is clipped between 1–10

Result: - Range: ~2.5 to 9.9 - Avg: ~ 6.3 - High Rating Flag: 1 if rating > 7 (about 30% of dataset)

⚠️ Disclaimer

This dataset is fully synthetic and built for research and modeling purposes only. It does not reflect real products but mirrors the cannabinoid, terpene, and pricing trends in Canadian legal cannabis.

Sources referenced: - OCS.ca - Leafly.ca - TrueBlue.co - IASIC1.org - Cannacon.org - PMC: Cannabis consumer studies

Canadians want the facts. Their question to experts: Are there any risks of cannabis use?

Consumer and purchaser price, by price per gram and price index, Canada, provinces and territories, annual.

Cannabis production by industry and medical and non-medical use, Canada, provinces and territories, annual.

Cannabis production by industry and medical and non-medical use, Canada, provinces and territories, annual.

Background. Whilst cannabis commercialization is occurring rapidly guided by highly individualistic public narratives, evidence that all congenital anomalies (CA) increase alongside cannabis use in Canada, a link with 21 CA’s in Hawaii, and rising CA’s in Colorado indicate that transgenerational effects can be significant and impact public health. It was therefore important to study Northern New South Wales (NNSW) a known cannabis use centre.

Methods. Design: Cohort. 2008-2015. Setting: NNSW and Queensland (QLD), Australia. Participants. Whole populations. Exposures. Tobacco, Risky Alcohol, Annual cannabis. Source: National Drug Strategy Household Surveys 2010, 2013. Main Outcomes. CA Rates. NNSW-QLD comparisons. Geospatial and causal regression.

Results. Cardiovascular, respiratory and gastrointestinal anomalies rose with falling tobacco and alcohol but rising cannabis use rates across Queensland. Maternal age NNSW-QLD was not different (2008-2015: 4,265/22,084 v. 96,473/490,514 >35 years, Chi.Sq.=1.687, P=0.194). A higher rate of NNSW cannabis-related than cannabis-unrelated defects occurred (prevalence ratio (PR)=2.13, 95%C.I. 1.80-2.52, P=3.24x10-19). CA’s rose more potently with rising cannabis than with rising tobacco or alcohol use. Exomphalos and gastroschisis had the highest NNSW:QLD PR (6.29(2.94-13.48) and 5.85(3.54-9.67)) and attributable fraction in the exposed (84.11%(65.95-92.58%) and 82.91%(71.75-89.66%), P=2.83x10-8 and P=5.62x10-15). In multivariable geospatial models cannabis was significantly linked with cardiovascular (atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, tetralogy of Fallot, patent ductus arteriosus), genetic (chromosomal defects, Downs syndrome), gastrointestinal (small intestinal atresia), body wall (gastroschisis, diaphragmatic hernia) and other (hypospadias) (AVTPCDSGDH) CA’s. In linear modelling cannabis use was significantly linked with anal stenosis, congenital hydrocephalus and Turner syndrome (ACT) and was significantly linked in borderline significant models (model P1.3 ranging up to 3.8x1030 making uncontrolled confounding unlikley.

Conclusions. These results suggest that population level CA’s react more strongly to small rises in cannabis use than tobacco or alcohol; cardiovascular, chromosomal, body wall and gastrointestinal CA’s rise significantly with small increases in cannabis use; and that cannabis is a bivariate correlate of AVTPCDSGDH and ACT anomalies and is robust to adjustment for other substances.

The aim of the CCS is to obtain detailed information about the habits of people who use cannabis and behaviours relative to cannabis use.

Supply, use, and gross domestic product by medical and non-medical use, Canada, annual.

Cannabis contains substances that affect the brain and body, including delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC causes the intoxicating effects of cannabis. CBD is not intoxicating but can still have effects on the brain.