Canada’s adult-use cannabis sales jumped 14% in May on the back of new store openings in British Columbia and Ontario as well as longer store hours in Quebec – three markets that account for about three-quarters of the country’s consumers.
Across the country, sales improved to 85 million Canadian dollars ($65 million) in May, up from CA$74 million in April and CA$60 million in March, according to the newest figures by Statistics Canada.
British Columbia led all provinces with 37% growth in May, getting a major boost from more store openings. Sales in the province in the previous month dropped to CA$2.5 million.
Quebec’s 16 stores started opening seven days a week in May on easing supply concerns, prompting a 25% jump in sales to CA$17 million.
In Ontario, sales growth fell back to Earth in May after doubling in April, as the province continued the slow rollout of its first 25 regulated locations. Receipts from adult-use cannabis products there rose about 15% from the previous month to almost CA$23 million.
Alberta remains the leader in brick-and-mortar stores, and its adult population of roughly 3 million people made cannabis purchases worth CA$17.5 million in May – the second-highest in Canada.
Provinces with the lowest growth – Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia – opened no new stores in the month.
Canada’s retail sales by province are updated monthly by Statistics Canada and can be found here.
