Features

Yukoners are big fans of cannabis, consuming most weed

Published on November 8, 2024 by Pat Bulmer

Yukoners consume more weed than most Canadians, continuing a tradition that pre-dates legalization, a new report says.

“Pre-legalization, Yukoners were known to consume cannabis at higher per capita rates (21%) than the national average (14%). Five years into legalization, Yukoners still use cannabis at a higher rate (41%) but the difference compared to Canadian provinces (35%) is similar to pre-legalization,” says a report commissioned to review the territory’s Cannabis Control and Regulation Act after five years of legalization.

“Since the legalization of cannabis in 2018, the Yukon’s cannabis industry has demonstrated consistent growth year-over-year,” writes Sandy Silver, minister responsible for the Yukon Liquor Corp., in an introduction to the report, released in October.

“Sales in the legal cannabis market have grown significantly from $2 million in 2018/19 to $13 million in 2023/24.”

Yukon’s first government-run cannabis store opened on Oct. 17, 2018—the day of legalization—with a commitment to transfer retail cannabis sales to the private sector, said the report.

In April 2019, the first private-sector cannabis store opened in Whitehorse, leading to the closure of the government store. In May 2022, private retailers were authorized to offer online sales and delivery. The government e-commerce site shut down shortly after.

Yukon now has six licensed retailers, in Whitehorse (4), Dawson City (1) and Watson Lake (1) and one federally licensed producer, located in Whitehorse. Jointly, the six retailers employ approximately 44 employees, the report says.

Table from the report.

Among the report’s findings

— Sourcing from legal retail sources by Yukon consumers increased to 79% in 2022 and 82% in 2023.

— The most popular cannabis product categories are dried cannabis (flower and pre-rolls), edibles, vape cartridges and inhaled extracts.

— There has been a reduction in alcohol consumption since cannabis legalization. In 2023, 25% of Yukon respondents who used cannabis and alcohol in the past 12 months reported drinking less alcohol, while 66% drank the same amount.

— Based on World Health Organization methodology, 6% of Yukon respondents were considered at ‘high risk’ of problematic cannabis use, while 30% were ‘moderate risk’ and 64% at ‘low risk’ in 2023.

— The Yukon version of the Cannabis Policy Study in the Territories asked respondents if they had used cannabis at work or within two hours of starting work in the past 30 days. Nine per cent of cannabis-using respondents answered yes in 2023, unchanged from 2022. For workers engaged in hazardous/safety-sensitive or care-related tasks, these rates were 8% in 2022 and 13% in 2023.

— In 2023, 11% of Yukon respondents who used cannabis in the past 12 months indicated they had driven a vehicle within two hours of cannabis use, down from 15% in 2022.

— Criminal charges are down with reduced illicit market activity. Data shows most charges laid are related to impaired driving or possession of cannabis in a vehicle.

— Emergency department visits related to cannabis use are up. In the years preceding legalization (2013-18), the territory saw 275 emergency room visits related to cannabis use. Between 2018-23, there were 471 emergency visits.

— Coroner data shows more than five cannabis related motor-vehicle fatalities annually in 2018 and 2019 and less than five in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

— The territorial government receives 75% of the federal government’s excise tax on cannabis sold in the Yukon. For the 2022-23 fiscal year, the total amount was $952,639.

— The majority of cannabis users in Canada use cannabis three days per month or less. Daily cannabis use has not increased since legalization.

— Across Canada, smoking remains the most common consumption method. Smoking among cannabis users decreased from 89% in 2018, to 70% in 2022 and 63% in 2023, the report said. Eating/drinking cannabis increased from 43% in 2018 to 55% in 2023. 

The report also asked for public input

— “Public engagement showed concerns from some stakeholders regarding access to edible cannabis by youth, especially gummies and other edibles that look like candy. While there have been media reports around accidental consumption of edibles by children, these products were in general sourced from the illegal market and had colourful packaging made to look like regular candy. It is important to note that legal edibles — such as gummies — must meet Health Canada’s packaging requirements.”

— “The attitude of ‘it’s legal so it’s harmless’ is of concern to many stakeholders and the public in general. Ongoing high rates of consumption among youth in the Yukon despite the protective measures are concerning to engagement respondents.”

— “There seems to be public misunderstanding and confusion around which online sites are legal versus illicit.”

Cannabis retailers said they want

— To offer loyalty programs.

— To be allowed to sell products such as T-shirts, snacks and growing equipment.

— Direct-to-retailer sales from licensed producers to set themselves apart from other retailers, improve competition with the illicit market and lower costs.

Recommendations

— The report directed the Yukon Liquor Corporation “to research the pros and cons of direct-to-retailer sales as an alternative for licensees who choose to do so.”

— Loyalty programs and branded merchandise should be investigated as well, the report said.

— Finally, the report called on the liquor corporation “to research options” to create public consumption spaces for tourists and special events.