Legal cannabis in Canada: the economic impact
Legalization was a big economic bet. Years in, the numbers are in too. Here is what legal cannabis is actually worth to Canada, in sales, tax revenue, jobs, and GDP. Every figure is sourced from Statistics Canada and public industry reports. Free to cite, a link back to LeafNorth is appreciated.
Last reviewed: July 2026
A market that keeps growing
Canadians bought $5.5 billion of legal cannabis in the year from April 2024 to March 2025, up 6.1% on the year before. Sales have climbed every single year since legalization, more than a third higher than just three years earlier.
Source: Statistics Canada, Alcohol and cannabis sales in Canada (annual reports, fiscal years ending March 31).
What governments collect
Legal cannabis is a real source of public money. In 2024/25, all levels of government together took in $2.5 billion from cannabis, through excise duties, provincial markups, and sales taxes, up 11.5% on the year before. Added up since legalization, federal and provincial cannabis tax revenue has passed $5.4 billion, with the provinces keeping the larger share.
| Cannabis tax revenue since 2018 | Amount |
|---|---|
| Provinces (combined) | ~$4.2B |
| Federal government | ~$1.2B |
| Total since legalization | $5.4B+ |
Source: parliamentary and Statistics Canada figures reported by CBC News (to August 2025). The $2.5B annual figure is from Statistics Canada.
Provinces with large private-retail markets have collected the most. Ontario leads by a wide margin, and Alberta, despite a much smaller population, sits second.
| Top province by cannabis revenue | Collected since 2018 |
|---|---|
| Ontario | $1.5B |
| Alberta | $1.0B+ |
Source: CBC News analysis of federal and provincial cannabis revenue.
Jobs and the wider economy
Beyond direct sales, the industry ripples out into growing, processing, retail, transport, and professional services. A Deloitte study prepared for the Ontario Cannabis Store estimated that legal cannabis added $76.5 billion to Canada's GDP between legalization in 2018 and 2024, and supported about 98,200 jobs a year on average over that period.
Source: Deloitte report for the Ontario Cannabis Store, as reported by StratCann. Economic-impact estimates vary by methodology; treat this as one credible estimate, not an official figure.
The businesses behind it
By the end of 2025, Statistics Canada counted 3,295 cannabis retail businesses with employees, from single shops to a handful of large chains, alongside the growers and makers that supply them:
| Type of cannabis business (2025) | Count |
|---|---|
| Retailers with employees | 3,295 |
| Indoor growers | 377 |
| Product manufacturers | 123 |
| Outdoor growers | 52 |
| Wholesalers | 16 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Canada's cannabis business since legalization (2025).
Want the usage numbers too?
How many Canadians use cannabis, and how fast the legal market took over.
Common questions
How much is Canada's legal cannabis industry worth?
Canadians bought about $5.5 billion of legal cannabis in 2024/25, and a Deloitte study estimated the industry added $76.5 billion to Canada's GDP between 2018 and 2024.
How much tax has legal cannabis generated for governments?
Federal and provincial cannabis tax revenue has passed $5.4 billion since legalization, and all levels of government collected about $2.5 billion in 2024/25 alone.
How many jobs does legal cannabis support in Canada?
A Deloitte report prepared for the Ontario Cannabis Store estimated the industry supported roughly 98,200 jobs a year on average between 2018 and 2024.
Sources & notes
Every figure above comes from the sources below. Where a statistic has a reference period, we've kept it. We update this page as new official data is released; always check the original source for the latest.
- Statistics Canada, Canada's cannabis business since legalization $5.5B in sales, $2.5B in government revenue (2024/25), and the count of retailers, growers, and manufacturers.
- Statistics Canada, Alcohol and cannabis sales in Canada, April 2024 to March 2025 Legal cannabis sales by fiscal year and year-over-year growth.
- CBC News, Canada collected over $5.4B in cannabis tax revenue since legalization Cumulative federal and provincial cannabis tax revenue, and the provincial breakdown.
- StratCann, on the Deloitte report for the Ontario Cannabis Store $76.5B contribution to GDP and about 98,200 jobs a year, 2018 to 2024.
Know the rules where you live
Legal age, retail, and home-growing all change at the provincial border.