Canadian Cannabis Week: Sales Climb, Prices Stabilize Amidst Policy Debates and Retail Expansion
The cannabis industry continues its dynamic evolution. Retail sales are climbing. Prices are stabilizing. Health Canada reported significant sales growth. This week also brought regulatory discussions and company financial updates. Let’s break down the key news.
Canadian Cannabis Sales Surge
Health Canada released new figures. Total cannabis sales rose 20% in Q2 2025. This growth outpaced June 2024 numbers. Dried cannabis remains the top seller. It holds a 50% share of medical and recreational sales. Edibles and extracts follow. They each capture 25% of the market. Packaged inventory also increased. It grew 10% from June 2024. Provincial distributors and retailers held nearly 39 million units of inventory. Total sales in June 2025 reached over 25.8 million units. The destruction rate for unpackaged cannabis decreased significantly. It fell to 10.4% in Q2 2025.
Retail Market Trends
Canadian retail cannabis sales showed resilience. November 2025 sales reached $477.9 million. This was a nearly 5% increase year-over-year. Ontario led sales. It reported $177.8 million. Alberta followed with $81.3 million. British Columbia recorded $78.2 million. Quebec’s sales were $67.6 million. Atlantic Canada’s total sales were $30.1 million in November 2025. Prices across Canada saw a slight decline. December 2025 prices dropped 0.1% from the previous month. Year-over-year, most provinces saw price decreases. Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador remained stable. Saskatchewan prices increased slightly. Atlantic Canada experienced the largest annual price declines.
Company Financials and Performance
Several companies released financial reports. High Tide reported its Q2 2026 results. Revenue was $137.8 million. It reported a net loss of $2.8 million. However, same-store sales at its Canna Cabana locations increased 5.5% year-over-year in Q4 2025. High Tide now operates 218 Canna Cabana stores. It aims for over 350 locations long-term. Cannara Biotech announced its Q1 2026 earnings. The company reported $41.8 million in revenue. It holds a 4.1% national retail share. Ayurcann filed for creditor protection. This move was due to rising CRA fees. Nextleaf Solutions also shared its 2025 fiscal report. Village Farms International received a BC Export Award. This recognized its export performance.
Regulatory and Policy Discussions
A petition has gained attention. It seeks to raise Canada’s legal cannabis age to 25. It also proposes banning edibles and revoking licenses for odor issues. The petition also questions the industry’s use of temporary foreign workers. In Alberta, an Appeals Commission denied a worker’s claim. The claim was for medical cannabis exceeding WCB limits. The worker’s prescription exceeded daily dosage and THC content limits. The CBSA reported a significant increase in seizures. They intercepted over 46,608 kg of cannabis in 2025. This is a 162% jump from the prior year. Separately, eight men faced drug trafficking charges. These charges were dropped due to a prosecutor-defense attorney affair. Health Canada updated information for medical cannabis users. This aligns with recommendations from the Cannabis Act legislative review.
Retail Expansion and Events
New retail locations are planned. Cap-Pelé, New Brunswick, will soon see a new CannabisXpress store. Williams Lake, British Columbia, is slated for a One Plant Cannabis location. The District of Kent, BC, is seeking public comments on a proposed store. White Rock, BC, approved a permanent license for a cannabis store. PEI Cannabis celebrated its O’Leary store’s seventh anniversary. Cannabis NB announced its next expo. It will be held on March 7th in Moncton. The Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) released new products for February 2026.
Broader Economic Context
An IMF report suggested a significant economic boost. Eliminating internal trade barriers could raise Canada’s GDP by nearly 7%. This could translate to roughly $210 billion. The report highlights how such barriers impact various industries. This includes sectors like finance and transport. The cannabis sector could also benefit from reduced inter-provincial trade friction.
The cannabis industry shows consistent growth. Sales figures remain strong. However, companies face financial challenges and regulatory scrutiny. The market continues to evolve. New trends and policy discussions will shape its future.
