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May 27, 2019PROVINCIAL CANNABIS ACCOUNTS, 2018 Statistics Canada has released new estimates of the economic dimensions of cannabis production - both before and after legalization in October 2018. Statistics Canada notes that: "These estimates should be treated as preliminary and used with caution."
In 2018, the cannabis cultivation industry had domestic production of $4.286 billion from unlicensed sources and $1.601 billion from licensed sources. In the last 5 years, the value of Canada's production from licensed sources has risen (notably after legalization) while production from unlicensed sources is down.
In Nova Scotia, cannabis cultivation generated domestic production (2018) of $89 million from unlicensed sources and $49 million from licensed sources. Statistics Canada's estimates indicate that unlicensed production in Nova Scotia peaked in 2016 at just over $100 million and has since declined.
On a per capita basis, the largest unlicensed cannabis production is found in British Columbia and Quebec. Per capita licensed production is largest in Prince Edward Island (though this is based on a smaller population). Nova Scotia's licensed cannabis production is somewhat larger than the national average while production of unlicensed cannabis was lower than the national average. Cannabis production per capita is notably lower in the prairie provinces as well as in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Source: Statistics Canada. Table 36-10-0599-01 Cannabis industry production account (x 1,000,000)