October 10, 2023
Five years after Canada decriminalized the recreational use of cannabis, the prevalence of cannabis use, cannabis-related ER visits and admissions to hospital mostly increased or remained steady. While the daily use of cannabis among users remained stable since legalization, Statistics Canada reported an overall increase of cannabis use from 22% to 27% among Canadians aged 16 and older. Use among Canadian youth, meanwhile, remained at similar levels as 37% of 16- to 19-year-olds reported using cannabis in 2022 compared to 36% in 2018. Researchers say continued monitoring of key policy outcome indicators - such as the prevalence of adult, youth and high-risk use and major acute and long-term health harms is essential.
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