Do Canadians or Americans Use More Cannabis in 2026?
Oct 19, 2026
Quick answer: Canadians use cannabis at a higher rate, Americans use more of it overall. About 32 percent of Canadians 15 and older used cannabis in the past year, compared with 21.2 percent of Americans 12 and older. But the U.S. has 61.6 million past-year consumers to Canada’s 11.3 million, and American consumers use far more often.
Both countries released fresh national data in 2026, and together they settle a question that comes up constantly: did legalizing nationally in 2018 make Canada the bigger cannabis market? Here is what the numbers actually show.
Who consumes more cannabis, Canada or the United States?
It depends on what you mean by “more.” Measured as a share of the population, Canada leads clearly. Measured by headcount, by frequency of use, or by total volume, the United States leads by a wide margin.
| Measure | United States | Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Past-year use rate | 21.2% (ages 12+) | 32% (ages 15+) |
| Past-year consumers | 61.6 million | 11.3 million |
| Young adults | 33.7% (ages 18 to 25) | 45% (ages 15 to 24) |
| Older adults | 20.6% (ages 26+) | 23% (ages 25+, non-medical, 2024) |
| Heaviest use | 21.4 million used on 300+ days | 16% of consumers use daily |
| Direction | Down from 22.3% in 2024 | Flat vs. 2023 |
Sources: SAMHSA 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (released July 2026); Health Canada 2025 Canadian Substance Use Survey; Health Canada Canadian Cannabis Survey 2024.
In plain terms: roughly one in three Canadians consumed cannabis last year, against roughly one in five Americans. Canada’s population is about a ninth the size of the U.S., so its higher rate still produces a far smaller market.
What does the newest U.S. data show?
The 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, released by SAMHSA in July 2026 and based on more than 60,000 interviews, is the most authoritative U.S. snapshot available.
- Past-year use: 21.2 percent of people 12 and older, or 61.6 million, a small dip from 22.3 percent in 2024.
- Past-month use: 15.1 percent, or 43.8 million people.
- By age: 8.7 percent of 12 to 17 year olds, 33.7 percent of 18 to 25 year olds, and 20.6 percent of adults 26 and older.
- Frequency: 21.4 million people used cannabis on at least 300 days of the year. That is more than daily cigarette smokers (19.9 million) and more than daily or near-daily drinkers (17.2 million).
The frequency figure is the headline. Nearly half of Americans who used cannabis in the past month were using it almost every day. The U.S. market is not just larger, it is more intensive.
What does the newest Canadian data show?
Health Canada’s 2025 Canadian Substance Use Survey collected responses from 36,061 people between January 2025 and January 2026, weighted to represent 34.9 million Canadians aged 15 and older.
- Past-year use: 32 percent, or 11.3 million people, unchanged from 32 percent in 2023.
- Youth and young adults (15 to 24): 45 percent, down from 48 percent in 2023, a statistically significant decline.
Health Canada’s separate Canadian Cannabis Survey, which measures non-medical use among people 16 and older, adds detail. In 2024, 26 percent reported non-medical use in the past year, up from 22 percent in 2018, the year legalization took effect. By age, 41 percent of 16 to 19 year olds, 48 percent of 20 to 24 year olds, and 23 percent of adults 25 and older consumed. Among consumers, 16 percent used daily and about a quarter used five or more days a week.
Why do the two Canadian numbers differ?
The 32 percent figure counts any cannabis use, including medical. The 26 percent figure counts non-medical use only, among a slightly older population. Both point the same way: Canadian consumption rose modestly after legalization and has since leveled off.
Why is Canada’s use rate higher?
The most common explanation is access and normalization. Canada legalized adult-use cannabis nationwide on October 17, 2018, with one federal framework, licensed retail in every province, and a regulated product supply. In the U.S., cannabis remains federally illegal, and adult access depends entirely on which state you live in.
Two other factors matter:
- Age base. U.S. figures include 12 to 14 year olds, who rarely use cannabis, which pulls the national rate down. Canada starts at 15.
- Survey method. The two governments ask questions differently and collect data differently. A gap of a few points can reflect method rather than behavior.
Even allowing for those differences, the gap of roughly ten points is too large to explain away. Canadians are more likely to consume cannabis in a given year.
Why do Americans use cannabis more often?
This is the less obvious half of the story. An older head-to-head study in the Journal of Cannabis Research, which surveyed matched samples in both countries in 2021, found similar overall use (45 percent in Canada, 42 percent in the U.S.) but a clear difference in frequency: about a third of American consumers used daily, against about a quarter of Canadian consumers.
The 2025 U.S. data suggests that gap has persisted. With 21.4 million Americans using on 300 or more days a year, the U.S. has more near-daily consumers than Canada has consumers of any kind. Researchers point to a mix of factors, including higher-potency products in many state markets and a larger share of long-term users.
Entity definition: past-year prevalence
Definition
Past-year prevalence: the share of a population that reports using a substance at least once in the previous twelve months. It measures how widespread use is, not how much or how often people use. Two countries can have similar prevalence but very different consumption volumes. When comparing cannabis statistics across countries, check the age range, whether medical use is included, and the data year before drawing conclusions.
What both countries have in common: frequency makes measurement matter
Whichever side of the border you are on, the data points to the same reality. A large share of consumers use cannabis regularly, and flower remains the dominant format. Regular use is exactly where an imprecise pinch adds up, session after session.
Every DART is machined to hold a fixed amount of ground flower, so the measurement lives in the tool rather than in your judgment. The DART MD holds 0.15 grams for a deliberately small session. The DART Pro holds 0.25 grams and draws through a filter and mesh screen. The DART Plus holds 0.30 grams. Load from a DART canister with a single twist and the amount is the same every time.
For a complete everyday setup, the Core Kit pairs your choice of DART with a canister and a smell-resistant carry case.
A note for travelers: cannabis is legal in Canada and in many U.S. states, but carrying it across the Canada and U.S. border remains illegal in both directions, regardless of the laws on either side. Leave it at home and check local rules wherever you land.
Frequently asked questions
Do Canadians smoke more weed than Americans?
By rate, yes. About 32 percent of Canadians 15 and older used cannabis in the past year, compared with 21.2 percent of Americans 12 and older. By total volume and frequency, Americans consume more: 61.6 million Americans used cannabis in the past year, and 21.4 million used it on 300 or more days.
How many Americans use cannabis in 2026?
The latest federal data, the 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health released in July 2026, found 61.6 million Americans 12 and older used cannabis in the past year and 43.8 million used it in the past month.
How many Canadians use cannabis?
Health Canada’s 2025 Canadian Substance Use Survey found 11.3 million Canadians aged 15 and older, or 32 percent, used cannabis in the past twelve months, unchanged from 2023.
Did legalization increase cannabis use in Canada?
Modestly. Non-medical past-year use among Canadians 16 and older rose from 22 percent in 2018 to 26 percent in 2024, and overall use has held steady since 2023. Use among Canadians 15 to 24 declined between 2023 and 2025.
Is cannabis use going up or down in the United States?
Slightly down in the latest year. Past-year use among Americans 12 and older fell from 22.3 percent in 2024 to 21.2 percent in 2025, though it remains above 2021 levels and daily use is at historic highs.
Can I bring cannabis across the Canada and U.S. border?
No. Crossing the border with cannabis is illegal in both directions, even between places where it is legal.
Written by The DART Company editorial team. Product specifications are verified in-house by The DART hardware team. This article summarizes publicly available government survey data and makes no health, medical, or consumption claims. Cannabis laws vary by location.
Last updated: October 4, 2026.
Sources
- Results from the 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Annual National Report (July 2026). SAMHSA. samhsa.gov
- SAMHSA Releases Annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health (July 27, 2026). SAMHSA. samhsa.gov
- New Study: 21 Million Americans Now Use Cannabis Daily (August 2026). Mark S. Gold, M.D., Psychology Today. psychologytoday.com
- Canadian Substance Use Survey: Summary of Results 2025. Health Canada. health-infobase.canada.ca
- Canadian Substance Use Survey: Summary of Results for 2023. Health Canada. canada.ca
- Canadian Cannabis Survey 2024: Summary. Health Canada. canada.ca
- Comparison of perceptions in Canada and USA regarding cannabis and edibles (January 2024). Journal of Cannabis Research. link.springer.com
