Canadian Cannabis Sales Move Higher in March

Statistics Canada released March retail sales for the country, with cannabis sales rising from the February levels, up 11.3% to C$405.5 million. February was revised slightly lower to C$364.3 million. The sales, which rose 0.6% on a per-day basis, were up 12.9% from a year ago, up from the 12.4% February growth rate. In 2022, total sales increased 17.9% to C$4.52 billion, and they have increased 13.2% thus far in 2023.

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 up 12.0% from February and up 10% from a year ago. Alberta, which is the second-largest province, was up 11.2% from February and up 15% from a year ago. Quebec was up 12.6% from February and up 19% from a year ago, while British Columbia was up 11.5% from February as it advanced 13% from a year ago.

Hifyre IQ had forecast March sales at C$410.7 million based upon its data. The data analytics provider has been estimating April sales to be slightly lower, which would be 1.1% above the actual actual March level and up 9.8% from a year ago, based upon its data. Hifyre estimates sales outside of flower and pre-rolls at 31.4% in February March and 30.6% in April.

The April sales data will be released on June 21st.

Exclusive article by Alan Brochstein, CFA
Alan Brochstein, CFA
Based in Houston, Alan leverages his experience as founder of online community 420 Investor, the first and still largest due diligence platform focused on the publicly-traded stocks in the cannabis industry. With his extensive network in the cannabis community, Alan continues to find new ways to connect the industry and facilitate its sustainable growth. At New Cannabis Ventures, he is responsible for content development and strategic alliances. Before shifting his focus to the cannabis industry in early 2013, Alan, who began his career on Wall Street in 1986, worked as an independent research analyst following over two decades in research and portfolio management. A prolific writer, with over 650 articles published since 2007 at Seeking Alpha, where he has 70,000 followers, Alan is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and a frequent source to the media, including the NY Times, the Wall Street Journal, Fox Business, and Bloomberg TV. Contact Alan: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Email

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