Canadian cannabis industry adds CA$9.1 billion to nation’s GDP

The Canadian cannabis industry added 9.1 billion Canadian dollars ($6.7 billion) to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) during the first quarter of 2025, up from CA$8.3 billion in 2024.

Licensed marijuana production in Canada increased by 10.6% from March 2024 to March 2025 and by 1.2% from February 2025 to March 2025, cannabis news outlet StratCann reported, citing Statistics Canada data.

Sales at licensed cannabis stores rose by 4.7% year-over-year but declined 0.2% from February to March.

As regulated cannabis businesses experienced increases in production and sales, unlicensed operators experienced declines, according StratCann.

Unlicensed cannabis production dropped 4.5% year-over-year and 0.1% between February and March.

Unlicensed stores experienced declines of 4.4% and 0.1% during the same periods.

According to the Statistics Canada data, Canadian households spent:

• CA$11.7 billion on recreational cannabis in the first quarter, down slightly from the previous quarter but up year over year.
• CA$116 billion in the first quarter, about the same as in the fourth quarter of 2024 and up slightly from the first quarter of 2024.