There has been a decline in the general use of cannabis among Quebecers, but vaping of this drug is on the rise, especially among young people, according to the latest results of the Quebec Cannabis Survey of the Institut de la statistique du Québec (ISQ).
In 2026, about 14 per cent of the Quebec population had used cannabis in the 12 months preceding the survey, slightly less than the 17 per cent recorded in 2025 and about the same proportion as in 2018, just before the legalization of cannabis.
Consumption varies according to age. It increased among those aged 35 and over, from 8 per cent who used it in 2018 to 11 per cent in 2026. However, this has decreased among 15- to 34-year-olds, but they are more likely than older age groups to use it: 18 per cent of 15- to 20-year-olds and 25 per cent of 21- to 34-year-olds.
Cannabis vaping is popular with young customers, ISQ data released Wednesday show. About one-third of people who used cannabis in the past year vaped it. It is also the second most popular mode of consumption, after joints (81 per cent smoked cannabis among people who used it in 2026).
Vaping is gaining popularity among young cannabis users. Among 15- to 20-year-olds in particular, the proportion of youth in this age group who vaped cannabis in 2019 to 60 per cent in 2026 increased from 24 per cent in 2026.
There is also an increase for people aged 21 to 34. The proportion has increased from 33 per cent in 2025 to 38 per cent in 2026. For those aged 35 and over, this increased by 8 percentage points to 26 per cent in 2026.
However, few cannabis users vape on a daily basis. About 44 per cent of people who vape cannabis do so less than one day per month and nearly 24 per cent do so 1-3 days per month.
As far as vaping is concerned more generally, that is to say not only cannabis, we observe that it remains popular with young people. In 2026, 7 per cent of the population aged 15 years and older vaped in the 30 days preceding the survey. About one in five people between the ages of 18 and 24 have vaped. This drops significantly among those aged 55 and over. Only 2.4 per cent of this age group vaped.
Of those who reported vaping, more than half did so daily. In addition, 63 per cent used fruit-flavoured liquid most often and 11 per cent used tobacco-flavoured liquid.
The Quebec Cannabis Survey was conducted among 17,369 people between February and July 2026.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
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