Canadians spent $5.6billion on marijuana in 2015

Canadians spent about the same amount of money on marijuana than they did on wine in 2015.

According to estimates from Canada’s bureau of statistics, which studied weed consumption from 1960 to 2015, found Canadians spent $5.6billion (C$6billion).

As the government looks to legalize marijuana next summer, they’ve been looking into just how much weed consumption effects the economy. 

In 2015, only six per cent of teens aged 15-17 were said to smoke, whereas 66 per cent of adults over 25

The report also found that more adults were using marijuana, as evident in its popularity over the last few years. 

Statistics Canada found that in the 1960s, young people were the primary users of weed. 

By 2015 however, only six per cent of teens aged 15-17 were said to smoke, whereas 66 per cent of adults over 25. 

Roughly 697.5 tonnes of weed was smoked in 2015, which equates to roughly $3.9153billion.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has advocated for the legalization of weed that allows for individual provinces to dictate how they wish to sell it.

The market value of marijuana had to be estimated in order to get the figures as it is not legal. 

So the report used an approximation of $5.59 to $6.92 (C$7.14 to C$8.84) per gram. 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has advocated for the legalization of weed that allows for individual provinces to dictate how they wish to sell it. 

Different provinces have tossed out the idea of charging $7.83 (C$10) per gram.

The federal government said in November that it planned to levy a 10 per cent excise tax of one Canadian dollar per gram of the retail price. 75 per cent of the revenue will go to the provinces. 

If the estimates prove valid, the government could make $54,8142,000 (C$700million).