Despite Quebec’s ban on cannabis vapes, a quarter of cannabis users in the province are still puffing away on them, according to fresh stats from the Institut de la statistique du Québec (ISQ).
Yep, you heard it right. Twenty-five percent of Quebecers who’ve indulged in cannabis over the past year have been hitting the vapes.
And get this – most of these cannabis consumers are tapping into legal sources right here in Quebec. Around 73% of Quebecers aged 15 to 17 who’ve toked up in the past year admit to vaping, along with 55% of the 18 to 20 crowd, 14% of the 21 to 24 range, 9% of the 25 to 34 age bracket, and even 3% of those aged 35 to 54. It’s a mixed bag though, as only about 1% of Quebecers aged 55 and up have been vaping cannabis.
But wait, there’s more. Nearly half of the younger crowd, aged 15 to 20, who’ve dabbled in cannabis vapes say they’re doing it less than once a month, while roughly a quarter puff away one to three days a month.
Now, here’s the kicker. Quebec put the kibosh on cannabis vape pens back in 2019. So where are folks getting their hands on these forbidden fruit? Well, according to the ISQ, it’s all about connections – family and friends, legal sources in other provinces, sketchy street deals, and of course, the ever-present online market. Newfoundland and Labrador had a similar ban in place, but they jumped ship and started allowing vapes in 2022.
Here’s the real shocker though – only about 4% of the entire Quebec population copped to vaping cannabis in the past year. And get this, almost half of them had no clue about the THC levels in their vape juice. Younger folks seem to be a bit more clued in though.
When it comes to health concerns, around 46% of Quebecers over 15 believe vaping cannabis is a major health risk, with another 43% saying it’s moderately risky. But hey, there’s always that daring 11% who think it’s no biggie or just a tiny risk. Interestingly, the older crowd is more likely to see vaping as harmful compared to the young guns.
Now, all these insights are courtesy of the 2023 Quebec Cannabis Survey, where they grilled over 13,000 people between February and July 2023. First dibs on the results came out in October that year.
Oh, and one more tidbit for you – there’s been a slight dip in Quebecers admitting to cannabis use over the past year, from 19% in 2022 to 17% in 2023. Most still prefer the classic method of smoking it up (81%), with 31% diving into edibles and 23% sipping on cannabis oils.
Here’s the kicker though – a whopping 71% of Quebecers over 15 who’ve indulged in cannabis over the past year got at least some of their stash from legal stores right here in Quebec. Only a tiny fraction ventured into the illegal market, with just 6% admitting to buying from an illicit supplier.
And check this out – almost half of the 21 and older crowd swear by the SQDC for their cannabis needs, while another fifth look elsewhere exclusively.
But here’s where it gets dicey – about 21% of cannabis consumers in the past year copped their goods from the wild west of online suppliers, not exactly the most kosher move.
