Statistics Canada released February retail sales for the country, with cannabis sales decreasing from the January levels, down 7.9% to C$440.5 million from the prior month. The sequential decrease was up 2.0% on a per-day basis more due to the fewer days than in the prior month. January, originally reported at C$466.1 million, was revised higher to C$478.2 million. The sales in February were up 7.9% from a year ago, down from the level last month at 9.4% and in May at 8.3% and 7.5% in June but better than the prior lowest annual growth rate since legalization commenced of -0.9% in September 2024 due to the BC strike. In 2024, total sales increased 4.5% to C$5.39 billion, and they were up 4.1% in 2025 to C$5.62 billion. So far in 2026, sales are up 8.6%.
An increase in the number of stores as well as falling flower prices that bring consumers from the illicit market have been boosting sales. In Ontario, the largest province in population, sales were down 11.4% from January and down 3% from a year ago. Alberta was down 10.2% from January but up 1% from a year ago. British Columbia inecreased by 3.7% from January and soared 33% from a year ago, while Quebec was down 9.6% from January but up 30% from a year ago.
The March sales data will be released on May 22nd.
