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The 2026 federal budget proposes to reduce the number of excise stamps applicable to cannabis, a step forward welcomed by the AQIC. However, the association notes that the goal remains the introduction of a single national stamp to simplify operations, reduce the administrative burden, and promote interprovincial trade.

According to the new 2026 Quebec Cannabis Survey by the Institut de la statistique du Québec, 14% of Quebecers aged 15 and older have used cannabis in the past year. This is essentially the same proportion as in 2018, before legalization. In other words, the data do not show a widespread increase in consumption since legalization. On the contrary, among younger people, the trend is downward. Another key finding of the study: in 2026, nearly 72% of Quebecers who had used cannabis in the past year obtained it from the SQDC, at least in part.

What if the very way we study substances contributes to perpetuating certain prejudices? As Jean-Sébastien Fallu, a professor of psychoeducation, points out, the use of a psychoactive substance is not, in and of itself, synonymous with a problem or addiction. Yet research still focuses far more on problematic use than on ordinary, functional, or non-problematic use. And this approach to substances has an impact far beyond the scientific community: it can shape funding, interventions, public policy, and even the way society views users.

According to the latest data from Statistics Canada, agricultural revenue from cannabis rose from $94.8 million in 2016 to more than $3 billion in 2025, making it the fifth-largest crop in Canada. In Quebec, its importance is even greater, as it ranks as the third-largest crop in the province in terms of agricultural revenue.

Pierre Lagacé’s column published in *La Presse* raises a question worth considering: How is it that the legal age for using cannabis is 21 in Quebec, while the legal age for alcohol is 18? Especially since “alcohol is the most harmful drug on the market. More harmful than pot. Yes, alcohol falls into this clinical category: drugs.”

For the second stop on its “AQIC on Tour” series, the Quebec Hemp and Cannabis Industry Association made a big splash by bringing together business leaders from some of the industry’s largest companies, as well as prominent elected officials and candidates, in addition to numerous local and national media outlets.  It was in Centre-du-Québec, at Groupe Chanv, in Saint-Cyrille-de-Wendover, that the AQIC’s second regional meeting took place, aimed at bringing together political and business leaders from every corner of Quebec for an event designed to foster dialogue and break down taboos and prejudices surrounding this thriving, innovative, and now major industry in Quebec.

Nous saluons les excuses présentées par la première ministre à l’entreprise Greentone et à ses employés-es. Elles étaient nécessaires et nous les accueillons respectueusement. 

Mais nous ne pouvons pas faire abstraction du contexte dans lequel elles surviennent. 

Our CEO, Pierre Leclerc, was interviewed on the show *La commission*, hosted by Luc Ferrandez and Nathalie Normandeau, following the Premier’s remarks on the hemp and cannabis industry. “It’s disgraceful. I have legitimate doubts about her genuine interest in supporting our entrepreneurs, developing our regions, and addressing economic issues.”

For its first quarter of 2026–2027, the SQDC reported sales of $197.3 million, up 9% from the same period last year. Its net income now stands at $31.9 million, an increase of more than 15% year-over-year. In total, legal cannabis sales generated $105.7 million for governments during these 12 weeks alone, including $84.8 million for the Quebec government.

Quebec is currently the only Canadian province where the legal age to purchase cannabis is set at 21. However, barring 18- to 20-year-olds from accessing the SQDC does not mean they will stop using it. As our CEO, Pierre Leclerc, pointed out during his interview with Richard Martineau: “No one is going to wait until they’re 21. ” Especially since, when comparing consumption rates across provinces, we see that consumption among young people is no lower in Quebec. In practice, this policy actually pushes these young adults toward an unregulated market.

La Presse+ reports that it is reportedly easy to obtain various cannabis products in Kanesatake, even without being of legal age. As part of an experiment conducted by the media outlet, products such as cannabis-infused jelly beans, cakes, and slushies were reportedly available despite age restrictions.

A new study published in the Journal of Cannabis Research shows that accessibility and product diversity appear to play a more significant role than price in the adoption of the legal market. According to the data analyzed, 78% of the supply came from the legal market in provinces with competitive private systems, compared with 69% in state-dominated systems, including Quebec.