Canadian cannabis retail sales surpassed $3 billion in 2023 this August. Sales were up 3.92% from the prior month and up 19.08% from the preceding year to $464.23 million in August. After a dip in February, Canadian sales have been steadily increasing throughout the year.
In August, all provinces saw an increase in monthly sales with the exception of Manitoba. Several major cities also saw declines, including Gatineau, Winnipeg, and Calgary.
Prairies
Alberta saw a negligible change in its monthly sales which were up 0.07% from July to $78.59 million. Sales in Calgary were down 1.27% to $21.91 million while sales in Edmonton were up 0.96% to $26.06 million.
In October, Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis announced several changes to its cannabis rules and regulations, including allowing retailers to use self-attestation as sufficient age gating procedures online. It remains to be seen if this will impact online sales.
Sales in Manitoba were down 7.55% to $15.42 million in August; Winnipeg saw a comparable drop to $9.25 million.
Elsewhere in the Prairies sales increased with Saskatchewan sales up 3.30% from the prior month to $20.50 million.
Ontario
Sales in Ontario and the province’s largest cities were up 7.03% across the board in August with province-wide sales hitting $188.46 million, Toronto sales at $62.21 million, and Ottawa sales at $16.96 million.
Quebec
Quebec’s August sales were up 2.74% from July to $55.91 million. Sales in Montreal and Quebec City were up 3.41% and 1.31% respectively while Gatineau saw a drop in sales by 3.51% to $1.32 million.
British Columbia
Sales in BC were up 4.13% from the prior month to $73.93 million. Vancouver saw a negligible change in its monthly sales with sales up 0.44% to $22.88 million.
In September, it was announced that licensed producers can now promote their cannabis in BC by providing cannabis store licensees product samples for a nominal fee. The LCRB says this change is a first step in helping federal license holders to promote cannabis with samples while meeting legislative requirements.
Maritimes
Sales increased across the board in the Maritimes. Newfoundland sales were up 5.13% from the prior month to $7.56 million, after seeing its first drop in sales in June. After a strong July, sales in PEI were up 2.25% to $2.32 million.
In Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, sales were up by 2.87% and 5.97% respectively in August. New Brunswick’s first private stores opened up this June and Cannabis NB is excitedly looking to a new era in cannabis. There are plans to open more private stores and explore non-traditional revenue streams and on-site consumption in 2024.
Provincial Sales (x1,000)
Canada: $446,225 (3.92%)
Newfoundland: $7,561 (5.13%)
Prince Edward Island: $2,318 (2.25%)
Nova Scotia: $10,618 (2.87%)
New Brunswick: $8,532 (5.97%)
Quebec: $55,911 (2.74%)
Montreal: $30,157 (3.41%)
Quebec City: $4,958 (1.31%)
Gatineau: $1,319 (-3.51%)
Ontario: $188,458 (7.03%)
Toronto: $62,211 (7.03%)
Ottawa: $16,959 (7.03%)
Manitoba: $15,418 (-7.55%)
Winnipeg: $9,251 (-7.55%)
Saskatchewan: $20,499 (3.30%)
Alberta: $78,593 (0.07%)
Calgary: $21,910 (-1.27%)
Edmonton: $26,061 (0.96%)
British Columbia: $73,929 (4.13%)
Vancouver: $22,882 (0.44%)
Yukon: $1,256 (7.35%)
Source: Statistics Canada