Results from a poll released late last month indicate the legal cannabis sector in Canada is generally viewed positively by the country’s residents.

The Abacus Data survey, conducted on behalf of Organigram Global, found 35% of adult Canadians said they had used cannabis in the past six months, and 32% in the last two weeks; with use particularly prevalent among younger Canadians.

Beyond its effects, 59% said the cannabis sector is an important contributor to Canada’s economy. Breaking it down along political lines, 69% of recent Liberal voters and 58% of recent Conservative voters agreed.

But Canadians appear to want more leeway in what and how much they can buy, with 59% selecting “updating the rules” to support economic growth and consumer needs, rather than continuing with strict limits.

While the black market still flourishes in the country, there is appetite for further crackdowns; with 43% wanting to see tougher enforcement against the illegal market.

57% of Canadians were open to the federal government supporting and investing in the conditions for more legal cannabis product categories.

In terms of other government priorities to support the legal sector:

• 47% wanted to see government departments such as Industry or Agriculture involved in cannabis policy decisions alongside Health Canada.
• 33% wanted lower business taxes for producers.

Commenting on the results, Abacus Data said:

“The data paints a clear picture: the legal cannabis industry has broad social license, visible economic value, and political upside for federal decision-makers. Updating cannabis policy is not a risk. It’s a low-resistance opportunity to create good jobs, expand a homegrown sector, and chart a more resilient economic path in an increasingly volatile global economy. And it’s cross-partisan.”

The survey was conducted with 2,000 Canadian adults (aged 18+) between June 25 and July 2, 2025 and the full report can be found here.

Medical cannabis was legalized in Canada on July 30, 2001, under the Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations. Recreational cannabis was legalised nationwide on October 17, 2018, with the implementation of the Cannabis Act. Edible cannabis products, topicals and extracts became legal on December 16, 2019.

On a related note, early this year we published on research into changes into cannabis use and misuse in the five years following recreational legalization in Canada.