Consumer perception of legal market improving, still has a way to go
Within the first three years of legalization, Canadian hashish customers have had more and more constructive views of authorized hashish merchandise when in comparison with unlawful hashish merchandise concerning high quality, comfort, security, and worth.
Regardless of this more and more constructive outlook, almost half of respondents captured within the study nonetheless reported that authorized hashish was costlier than unlawful hashish, whereas one-fifth reported there was no distinction, and solely about one in ten reported authorized hashish was inexpensive than its illicit counterpart.
Those that had been extra more likely to eat day by day or virtually day by day had been extra more likely to have adverse perceptions of the authorized market in comparison with the unlawful market when it got here to elements like worth, high quality and comfort.
This view additionally displays the declining costs documented within the authorized market, particularly with the introduction of larger-volume codecs like 14, 28, and 30-gram flower choices, in addition to lowering costs on merchandise like extracts, vape pens, and edibles.
Knowledge for the research had been analyzed from greater than 15,000 Canadian respondents to the Worldwide Hashish Coverage Research who had consumed hashish previously yr and had been of the authorized age of entry. The survey was performed in 2019–2021 and accomplished on-line.
Over time, information present that respondents tended to point out a rise within the shopper notion that authorized hashish is safer and simpler to purchase and of upper high quality, though typically costlier than the black market.
Breaking down responses by demographics reminiscent of age, gender, and placement, the survey additionally exhibits how these shifts have an effect on every group. For instance, respondents in Québec had been extra more likely to report that they felt authorized hashish was of upper high quality or no totally different (vs. decrease high quality) in comparison with all different provinces besides Prince Edward Island.
These in Nova Scotia and British Columbia had been the least more likely to say authorized hashish was of upper high quality, in addition to the least more likely to say it was inexpensive. These in Ontario and Nova Scotia had been the least more likely to say buying authorized hashish was extra handy.
Respondents in Québec had been additionally extra more likely to report that authorized hashish was inexpensive than unlawful hashish when in comparison with these in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia (vs. costlier; OR reversed). This matches market information exhibiting Quebec with some of the lowest legal cannabis prices in Canada.
Though customers mentioned that authorized hashish was more and more extra handy to purchase than unlawful hashish, this tended to fluctuate by province, given the numerous distinction every jurisdiction has in regard to shops per capita, in addition to the scale of the licit market.
Respondents in British Columbia and Ontario had been the least more likely to report that authorized hashish was extra handy to purchase, doubtless as a result of each a strong black market in these provinces and—particularly so in Ontario—an initially sluggish rollout of retail shops (Ontario went from 24 shops in 2019 to 1,042 shops in 2021).
