Features

La belle cannabis: 8,000-plus jobs weed jobs in Quebec

Published on August 22, 2025 by Pat Bulmer

Photo: Contributed

Quebec’s cannabis and hemp industry supported around 8,163 jobs in 2024 with average annual earnings of $107,257, a new report claims.

The French-language Economic Analysis of the Hemp and Cannabis Industry was commissioned by the Association québécoise de l’industrie du chanvre et du cannabis, an industry group representing more than 100 member companies.

“This year alone, this fast-growing sector also generated nearly $1.36 billion in economic spin-offs for Quebec’s GDP, including $450 million in net government revenues,” a news release touting the report said.

Good, but could be great

“The study also concludes that ‘while current economic spin-offs are already notable, realizing the full potential of the industrial hemp and cannabis industry in Quebec will require a modernized regulatory framework, greater tax fairness, recognition of cannabis as an agricultural crop, enhanced social acceptability and a development strategy focused on diversification and innovation,’” the release said.

“This report confirms the economic importance of our industry and its essential role in creating jobs and wealth in Quebec,” said AQIC President and CEO Pierre Leclerc. “Thanks to legalization, $1.36 billion (the industry’s contribution to GDP in 2024) and $450 million (net revenue to governments in 2024) will now benefit Quebecers rather than the illicit market.

“With the help of the various players involved, including legislators, the economic spin-offs could be even greater,” he said.

Ranks fifth among crops

Exports to the international market are still in their infancy, but reached over $610 million in 2024, the report says. The hemp industry is underdeveloped, but growing.

“Since 2018, cannabis has established itself as a fully-fledged agricultural crop in Quebec. In 2024, with $337 million in farm cash receipts, it still ranks fifth among crops, behind grain corn, soybeans, maple products and field-grown vegetables,” said Martin Caron, general president of the Union des producteurs agricoles (Union of agricultural producers).

But illegal cannabis is still thriving.

“For a number of reasons, the legal market represents only about 60% of the illegal market,” the news release said.

Consulting firm AppEco put together the report using data mostly from Statistics Canada.