Across 10 Canadian provinces from 2019-2023, falling cannabis prices were associated with increased use among women and older adults and a shift from dried flower to edibles, while rising store numbers showed no significant effect.
Cannabis regulators, public health economists, legalization policy designers
Price predicted use changes; store count did not
What the researchers found
Panel data analysis of 50 province-year observations found no significant changes in prevalence among males or those aged 16-24, and no change in daily use proportions. Prevalence among females and people aged 25+ increased, with negative associations with prices but not store counts. Dried cannabis use decreased while edibles use increased, also associated with prices but not stores. Mean initial age of use increased and was negatively associated with prices but positively with stores.
Why it matters
Policymakers often focus on limiting store numbers to control cannabis use, but this Canadian data suggests price is the more influential lever. Store proliferation had surprisingly little association with use changes, while falling prices drove both who uses and how they consume.
The numbers in context
10 provinces, 5 years, 50 observations; female and 25+ prevalence increased; edibles use increased; dried use decreased; price was significant predictor; store count was not; mean initiation age increased
How the study worked
Government data on store counts, retail pricing, and cannabis use across 10 Canadian provinces over 5 years (2019-2023). Panel data linear regressions analyzed 50 province-year aggregated observations.
What this study cannot tell us
Ecological study using aggregated province-year data cannot capture individual-level relationships. Five-year window may not capture full maturation of the legal market. Self-reported use data may underestimate actual consumption. Cannot separate price effects from product quality improvements.
How to read the evidence
Five-year panel data across all Canadian provinces provides moderate evidence of market dynamics, limited by ecological design and self-reported use data.
When this study was published
2025 publication analyzing 2019-2023 data
The bigger picture
Canada's experience with a massive legal cannabis retail expansion (accompanied by falling prices and diversifying products) provides a real-world test of how market dynamics shape use patterns. The finding that price matters more than access points has implications for taxation and pricing policy globally.
Questions still open
- Would cannabis minimum pricing policies be more effective than store count limits at controlling use? Does the shift to edibles represent harm reduction (away from smoking) or risk escalation (delayed onset, overconsumption)?
Common questions
Did more stores lead to more cannabis use?
How did use patterns change?
Read the original research
Exploring Associations between Cannabis Prices, Stores, and Usage after Recreational Legalization.
European addiction research, 31(2), 125-132
Citation
Armstrong, Michael J. (2025). Exploring Associations between Cannabis Prices, Stores, and Usage after Recreational Legalization.. European addiction research, 31(2), 125-132. https://doi.org/10.1159/000544104