Ouellet, M., Macdonald, M., Bouchard, M., Morselli, C., & Frank, R. (2017). The Price of Cannabis in Canada (005). Public Safety Canada

The report provides estimates of: 1) cannabis prices from 2011 to 2015; and 2) the price elasticity of cannabis demand in Canada. Estimates rely on approximately 9,000 self-reported cannabis transactions from 2011 to 2015, as reported to the Price of Weed website, an online platform for cannabis users to anonymously submit the price, size, perceived quality, and location of their most recent transaction. Across this period, the average national price of high quality cannabis was $7.69 per gram, medium quality cannabis $7.14 per gram, and low quality cannabis $7.26 per gram. Prices varied by geographical location, with regions associated with higher cannabis production reporting lower prices. Price also varied according to the size of the transaction, with larger transactions fetching a lower price per gram. Estimates of the price elasticity of cannabis demand ranged from -0.42 to -0.60, suggesting that a 10 percent drop in prices could lead to a 4 to 6 percent increase in the total amount of cannabis consumed. However, these estimates should be interpreted with caution, given the limitations of the data. To conclude, findings from the analyses are used to discuss ways forward for measuring cannabis prices, potential implications of transitions from prohibition to legalization for the cannabis market, and research and policy recommendations. 


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