Most Canadians Say Marijuana Is An Important Part Of The Economy And Want Government To Help The Industry, Poll Shows

A majority of Canadians consider the marijuana industry to be an important part of the country’s economy—and they also expect to see the market play an even greater role in the future—according to a new survey.

The poll from Abacus Data, which was commissioned by the Canadian cannabis company Organigram Global, examined attitudes toward the industry just over 10 years after the country enacted adult-use legalization.

Asked about their perception of the significance of Canada’s marijuana marketplace in the broader economy, 57 percent said it’s currently an important contributor, with only 14 percent disagreeing.

What’s more, with an upcoming federal election, 64 percent said they’d like to see the next administration takes steps to support the cannabis sector’s growth.

The polling firm noted that the “warmth toward government support of the cannabis industry also spans the political spectrum,” as majorities of every major party in the country—from Liberals (68 percent) to Conservatives (64 percent)—said they were open to having the government bolster the cannabis industry.

“Canadians want their country to thrive through innovative, homegrown industries—and cannabis is firmly on that list,” Beena Goldenberg, CEO of Organigram, said in a press release. “The message from Canadians is clear: Canada’s next Prime Minister must remove barriers and support sectors that deliver jobs, growth, and economic resilience.”

To that point, another recent survey that looked at the legacy of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau found that his role in facilitating marijuana legalization, which he signed into law in 2018, was his most popular achievement. Fifty-two percent of respondents described the reform as a success of the administration.

For the latest poll, 1,915 Canadian adults were interviewed from April 3-8. The margin of error is +/-2.34 percentage points.

“What does all of this mean as Canadians head to the polls to choose a federal government? First, it underscores the remarkably broad-based support—and, in fact, more intense support than opposition—for efforts to strengthen the legal cannabis sector,” Abacus Data said.

“Given ongoing challenges with global trade and the unpredictability of the current U.S. administration, building up a high-growth industry like cannabis could be a prudent strategy for insulating our economy from external shocks,” it said.

The survey analysis also described ways the administration could proactively support the cannabis market. For example, it could seek to further “remove interprovincial barriers on cannabis sales, reform the excise taxation framework, standardize regulations, and encourage investment in research and development.”

“Governments can offer competitive tax or financing programs aimed at cannabis entrepreneurs—particularly in areas hard hit by economic downturns in traditional sectors,” it said. “Doing so would help expand cultivation, processing, retail, and spinoff opportunities in communities seeking to diversify their economic base.”

Meanwhile, despite its historic alliance, the U.S. and Canada have had a frayed relationship since the start of President Donald Trump’s current term in office. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney of the Liberal Party hasn’t been shy about criticizing the U.S. president amid the imposition of major tariffs on Canadian goods.

An industry-led political action committee (PAC) recently seized upon Trump’s apparent hostility toward Canada, releasing an ad emphasizing that American cannabis businesses are losing out to the neighboring country due to prohibition.

“Canada is attacking American cannabis companies, and Democrats aren’t helping,” it claimed. “Medical cannabis is legal in 40 states, but Washington treats it the same as heroin. That means American companies can’t conduct research and are barred from the stock exchange while Canadian companies cash in.”

Meanwhile, although the implementation of Canada’s cannabis program didn’t come without its hitches, studies and surveys have indicated that it’s been generally successful, achieving many of the goals advocates argued it would such as giving Canadian adults a safer and regulated alternative to the illicit market, without driving youth consumption as prohibitionists claimed it would.

According to a government report released in December, the vast majority of Canadian consumers now say they obtain cannabis legally, with only 3 percent of respondents reporting purchasing from illicit sources.

Observers have also been watching how broader adult-use legalization impacts medical marijuana in Canada, noting, for example, patient enrollment rates declining after legalization was enacted but before retailers opened for business.

A study earlier this year, meanwhile, found similar marijuana use rates and support for legalization in both the U.S. and Canada despite the countries’ different national approaches to regulating the drug.

Another report out of Canada this year found marijuana legalization was “associated with a decline in beer sales,” suggesting a substitution effect where consumers shift from one product to the other.

A separate study last year found that the proportion of high-school students who said marijuana was easy to obtain has fallen in recent years.

Bipartisan Pennsylvania Lawmakers Announce New Plan To Legalize Marijuana This Year

Photo courtesy of WeedPornDaily.

The post Most Canadians Say Marijuana Is An Important Part Of The Economy And Want Government To Help The Industry, Poll Shows appeared first on Marijuana Moment.