The Cannabis Act came into force on October 17, 2018 and provides legal access to cannabis and controls and regulates its production, distribution and sale. To evaluate the impact of the Cannabis Act, Health Canada collects data to better understand how Canadians view and use cannabis. These data also support development of policy and program initiatives, including public education and awareness activities. Health Canada developed and implemented the Canadian Cannabis Survey (CCS), in anticipation of legalization, to obtain detailed information about the habits of people who use cannabis and behaviours relative to cannabis use over time.

The CCS started in 2017 and is conducted annually. It examines aspects of patterns of use, such as the quantities of cannabis consumed and the use of cannabis for medical purposes; The cannabis market, such as sources of cannabis and pricing; and issues of public safety, such as impaired driving. While core content remains consistent to allow for comparisons, survey content is reviewed annually and modified to address any identified gaps in the data.

The 2023 CCS included additional questions related to such issues as:

• reporting and occurrence of adverse reactions
• how people identify legal sources of cannabis
• knowledge of requirements for cannabis packaging
• assessment of problematic cannabis use