Canada’s Legal Cannabis Industry Continues To Gain Market Share
Canada’s legal cannabis industry remains the best national legalization model on the planet, as evidenced by recent market data that demonstrates how the North American country’s industry continues to displace the unregulated market and provide an economic boost.
“The gross domestic product (GDP) at basic prices for the legal cannabis industry in Canada in April 2025 was $9.2 billion. The figures are up from $9.1 billion in March.” reported StratCann in its local coverage. “While licensed cannabis producers’ contribution to Canada’s GDP ($8.2 billion) increased 9.8% from April 2024, unlicensed cannabis production’s contribution ($1.7 billion) declined 4%, adding to the ongoing trend of market share shifting from the illicit sector since legalization in 2018.”
“Licensed cannabis stores contributed just under $1 billion to Canada’s GDP as of April 2025, a 6.4% year-over-year increase from April 2024. Unlicensed cannabis stores contributed another $839 million, representing a 4.1% decline.” the outlet also reported.
Canada became the second country to pass a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure in 2018. The only other country to adopt a national recreational cannabis legalization measure before Canada was Uruguay, which legalized cannabis in 2013.
However, Canada was the first G7 nation to adopt a national legalization measure, and unlike Uruguay, Canada permits legal recreational cannabis sales to anyone of legal age. Uruguay limits legal recreational cannabis sales to residents only.
Legal cannabis sales in Canada set a new record in April 2025, with the legal industry reaching roughly $470 million in total sales for the month. The previous record was set in August 2024 when Canada’s legal industry sold roughly $462.4 million in legal products. The August 2024 figure was recently adjusted from a previously reported $476 million total.
Ontario continues to be Canada’s largest legal cannabis market, with a reported 38% of all legal cannabis sales being made in the province.