Canadian Cannabis Sales Ascended in August to Record Level

Statistics Canada released August retail sales for the country, with cannabis sales increasing from the July levels, up 1.4% to C$498.7 million.  This sequential growth was also up on a per-day basis due to the same number of days as the prior month. July, originally reported at C$485.0million, was revised slightly higher to C$491.8 million. The sales in August were up 0.9% from a year ago, down from the level in May at 8.3% and from 7.5% in June. This was also down from the 20.3% August 2023 growth rate and above the prior lowest annual  growth rate since legalization commenced  of -0.9% in September 2024, and it was down substantially from the December growth of 9.1%.  In 2024, total sales increased 4.5% to C$5.39 billion, and they are up 4.5% so far in 2025.

An increase in the number of stores as well as falling flower prices that bring consumers from the illicit market have been boosting sales. In Ontario, the largest province in population, sales were up 4.8% from July and down 2% from a year ago. Alberta was down less than 0.1% from July and up 4% from a year ago. British Columbia rose 8.7% from July as it increased 9% from a year ago, while Quebec was down 10.2% from July and down 5% from a year ago.

The September sales data will be released on November 21st.