Legal sourcing of cannabis products in Canada varied widely by product type and province
Among 15,311 Canadian cannabis consumers surveyed 2019-2021, legal sourcing rates differed substantially across product types, provinces, and frequency of use, with dried flower more commonly sourced legally than edibles or concentrates.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Legal sourcing varied by product type (dried flower sourced legally more often than edibles or concentrates), by province, and by use frequency. Frequent users were less likely to source legally than occasional users.
Key Numbers
15,311 consumers surveyed. 10 cannabis product categories examined. Dried flower had higher legal sourcing rates than edibles or concentrates. Frequent users sourced less legally than occasional users.
How They Did This
Repeat cross-sectional survey of 15,311 past-12-month cannabis consumers in Canada from the International Cannabis Policy Study (2019-2021). Examined legal sourcing across 10 cannabis product categories.
Why This Research Matters
Canada's legalization aimed to move consumers to the legal market, but the transition is uneven across products. Understanding which products lag in legal sourcing helps regulators target interventions.
The Bigger Picture
Edibles and concentrates were legalized later in Canada (October 2019, one year after dried flower). Supply chain maturation, pricing, and product variety in the legal market all affect whether consumers make the switch from illegal sources.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Self-reported purchasing sources. Cannot verify legal vs. illegal classification. Online panel may not represent all cannabis consumers. Market conditions evolved rapidly during the study period.
Questions This Raises
- ?Why are frequent users less likely to buy legally?
- ?Is it price, quantity limits, or product preferences?
- ?What interventions would increase legal sourcing for edibles and concentrates?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Dried flower sourced legally more often than edibles or concentrates
- Evidence Grade:
- Large repeat cross-sectional survey with detailed product-level analysis. Online panel and self-report are limitations.
- Study Age:
- Published 2023. Data from 2019-2021.
- Original Title:
- Legal sourcing of ten cannabis products in the Canadian cannabis market, 2019-2021: a repeat cross-sectional study.
- Published In:
- Harm reduction journal, 20(1), 19 (2023)
- Authors:
- Wadsworth, Elle(11), Rynard, Vicki(2), Driezen, Pete(7), Freeman, Tom P, Rychert, Marta, Wilkins, Chris, Hall, Wayne, Gabrys, Robert, Hammond, David
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05010
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Do Canadians buy all their cannabis legally?
No. This study found significant variation in legal sourcing across product types. Dried flower was more commonly purchased from legal sources, while edibles and concentrates lagged. Frequent users were also less likely to use legal sources, possibly due to price or quantity considerations.
Why would someone buy illegal cannabis in a legal state?
Price, product variety, convenience, and purchase quantity limits all drive consumers to illegal sources even where legal options exist. This study found that product type and use frequency were key factors, suggesting the legal market does not yet meet all consumer needs equally.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05010APA
Wadsworth, Elle; Rynard, Vicki; Driezen, Pete; Freeman, Tom P; Rychert, Marta; Wilkins, Chris; Hall, Wayne; Gabrys, Robert; Hammond, David. (2023). Legal sourcing of ten cannabis products in the Canadian cannabis market, 2019-2021: a repeat cross-sectional study.. Harm reduction journal, 20(1), 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-023-00753-6
MLA
Wadsworth, Elle, et al. "Legal sourcing of ten cannabis products in the Canadian cannabis market, 2019-2021: a repeat cross-sectional study.." Harm reduction journal, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-023-00753-6
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Legal sourcing of ten cannabis products in the Canadian cann..." RTHC-05010. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/wadsworth-2023-legal-sourcing-of-ten
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.