Three-quarters of Canadians would set minimum age for cannabis above 18 years

One-in-four Canadians shopped for, purchased, or used cannabis during first two weeks of legalization

TORONTO – Less than a month since Canada became just the second country in the world to legalize the sale and consumption of recreational cannabis a new study from the Angus Reid Institute finds three-quarters of Canadians believe the minimum age to purchase and consume cannabis should be raised.

While just over one-in-four (27%) say that 18, the number set by the federal government as the minimum in any jurisdiction, is the right age, nearly the same number (26%) believe that 21 would be more appropriate. Another 23 per cent would like to see the age raised even higher.

Differences of opinion on this, and issues of satisfaction post-legalization, are driven largely by age. Those respondents between the ages of 18 and 34 are twice as likely to say that they are pleased (44%) rather than disappointed (22%) to see marijuana available for recreational use, while the opinions of those over the age of 55 are inverted, with 23 per cent pleased and 43 per cent disappointed.

More Key Findings:

• Albertans and Atlantic Canadians are most likely to say their province chose the correct minimum age for cannabis use and purchase.

• The age of 21 appears to be a dividing point for Canada. Half of respondents (51%) say the minimum age should be 20 or under, while half (49%) say 21 or over.

• Canadians are much more likely to have visited an online cannabis store in October than to have visited a physical store (16% to 6%) but equally as likely to have purchased from each – 4 per cent said they made a purchase online or in person.

Click here for the full report including tables and methodology