In 2024, Canada's legal cannabis industry contributed over $16 billion to the national GDP, generating almost $29 billion in total economic output.

The direct contribution of $8.4 billion surpassed traditional sectors such as forestry and logging ($3.4 billion), breweries ($2.6 billion), and wineries and distilleries ($975 million).

The sector also supported over 227,000 jobs nationwide, with 168,000 direct jobs in cultivation and retail, and 59,000 in supply, logistics, and professional services. The results demonstrate that cannabis already holds a strategic position among Canada's main industries.

The data is part of the national report 'High Impact, Green Growth: The Economic Footprint of Canada's Cannabis Industry,' produced in partnership between the Canadian Chamber of Commerce's Business Data Lab and Organigram Global, the country's largest cannabis company by market share.

'The legal cannabis sector is already realizing the vision of a Unique Canadian Economy: an integrated industry, built in Canada, employing Canadians, and competing globally. With bold national leadership, we can ensure the country becomes a global reference in cannabis,' stated Beena Goldenberg, CEO of Organigram Global, in a release.

Cannabis surpasses traditional agricultural sectors

Cannabis has also emerged as a standout in agricultural production. In New Brunswick, in 2022, it generated $269.4 million in agricultural revenues, surpassing potatoes and dairy.

Between 2020 and 2024, the average was $232 million annually, according to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Nationally, the crop reached $2.7 billion in 2024, surpassing greenhouse vegetables ($2.63 billion) and field vegetables ($2.44 billion).

Regulatory challenges and outlook

Despite the economic impact, experts point out that outdated political and tax structures limit the sector's growth. The current model of excise taxes is considered obsolete, and the lack of a national export strategy hinders Canada's entry into a global cannabis market that could exceed CAD$140 billion by 2026.

If Canada aims to be the strongest economy in the G7, strategic sectors like cannabis must be pillars of this development. It is time to modernize the rules, eliminate barriers, and give the industry the opportunity to thrive like other strategic segments,' Goldenberg concluded.