Canada cannabis market rivals California in monthly sales

Canada’s legal cannabis market has reached a level of maturity that allows it to rival or briefly surpass California in monthly sales. According to Statistics Canada, legal cannabis sales reached approximately C$517.8 million (US$374.5 million) in June 2026, an 8% increase from the previous year. This figure closely competes with California’s monthly sales of approximately US$372.4 million.

A primary driver for Canada’s growth is retail accessibility. Since national legalization in 2018, Canada has established an extensive network with approximately 7.9 cannabis stores per 100,000 people. In contrast, California has 3.7 stores per 100,000 people, partly because cannabis remains illegal in 53% of California’s cities and counties.

While California officials from the Department of Cannabis Control suggest that a single-month comparison does not reflect the full complexity of their market, industry experts suggest the data serves as a wake-up call for the state regarding policymaking and market access.