Results of the 2026 Cannabis SurveyQuébec

The number of Quebecers who use cannabis has been gradually declining since 2021, to the point where there are now as many users of this drug as there were in 2018, just before it was legalized. Why the decline? Two experts explain.

Over the past year, 14.4% of Quebecers have used cannabis, according to the initial results of the 2026 Quebec Cannabis Survey, released on Wednesday. The survey assesses citizens’ usage patterns over the previous 12 months. The current figure is similar to that of 2018, before cannabis was legalized, when 14% of the population reported using it.

It is difficult to determine why cannabis use has been declining since 2021, but there are several theories, according to two experts consulted by La Presse.

After legalization in 2018, consumption gradually increased between 2018 and 2021 among Quebecers of all ages. This increase was due to “curiosity,” suggests Jean-Sébastien Fallu, a full professor at the School of Psychoeducation at the University of Montreal. There was also a “pandemic spike” in 2021, he notes.

Since that “spike,” the population has begun to use slightly less cannabis over the years.

The decline could be explained by a gradual return to normalcy following the pandemic, says Mr. Fallu.

For Carolyn Baglole, associate professor and director of the Cannabis Research Center at McGill University, education and information campaigns on cannabis use and its risks have also contributed to the decline in the number of users.En 2026, la consommation demeure rare pour 40 % des consommateurs, qui en font usage moins d’une fois par mois. À l’inverse, 18 % des consommateurs prennent du cannabis quotidiennement.

POUR LIRE LA SUITE: La Presse

POUR LIRE L'ENQUÊTE 2026: Enquête québécoise sur le cannabis 2026