Some statistics Here are some estimates of cannabis usage in Canada. Clearly these may not be accurate; they were taken from several sources, including the 2002 Report of the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs (which includes some remarkably innovative thinking); the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse; the Marijuana Party of Canada
- Estimated number of marijuana users in Canada: 2.3 million
- Average age of introduction to marijuana: 15 years old
- Number of people aged 12 - 17 who use daily: 225,0005
- 10% of regular users develop dependency
- Annual Canadian consumption: 770,000 kg.
- Annual production: 2.6 million kg.
- Amount of domestic production consumed in Canada: 30%
- Number of grow operations: 215,000
- Number of people employed in grow operations: 500,000
- Price of 1 ounce of top grade product (enough to produce 20-50 joints: $250
- Annual number of arrests for all offences concerning illegal drugs: 90,000
- Number of reported marijuana offences (1999): 35,000
- Number of reported marijuana offences in 2001: 71,600 (70% for possession)
- Annual cost of enforcing marijuana laws (police and courts): $500 million
- Estimated annual costs associated with substance abuse in Canada: $1.4 billion for illegal drugs; $7.5 billion for alcohol and $9.6 billion for tobacco.