Canada. "It brings in a lot of money for the state": in Quebec, cannabis has found its legal model

The shop is discreet, with opaque windows. The plain, slogan-free facade gives no indication of what's being sold inside. The profile of the customers who walk through the door is very diverse: young people, old people, executives in suits coming out of the office, very few "rastas" with their dreadlocks. Only the austere, very stripped-down sign lets you know that this is a branch of the SQDC (Société québécoise du cannabis). That is, one of more than 100 public stores where Quebecers aged 21 and over can legally purchase up to 30 grams of cannabis for personal use.

In 2018, Canada became the second country in the world after Uruguay to legalize recreational cannabis. This reform will remain one of the main political legacies of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau . Quebec adopted the most restrictive model, relying notably on a public monopoly and a maximum level of 30% THC, the main psychoactive component of cannabis. "We sell recreational products with a view to protection," explains Chu Anh Pham, spokesperson for the SQDC. "Quebec is the only province where the sale of cannabis is prohibited to those under 21, compared to 18 elsewhere."

The sobriety of the facade is the same inside the stores, and employees are instructed to address customers formally. "We provide advice, and employees don't receive commissions. The SQDC doesn't recruit former dealers who have turned to drugs," says Francis Lussier, the manager of the Mile End branch in Montreal. "We don't sell attractive products like cannabis candy or chocolate that might encourage more consumption. Everything is done for responsible consumption," assures Chu Anh Pham.

The Quebec model is often held up as an example . A delegation of French parliamentarians recently traveled to La Belle Province to see how France could draw inspiration from it. "The Quebec experience shows that a model centered on public health can prevent certain excesses observed elsewhere," comment researchers Roula Haddad and Jean-Sébastien Fallu of the University of Montreal in an article in The Conversation .

Cannabis legalization has not led to an explosion in the number of users, as opponents of the reform feared. However, the proportion of Quebecers aged 15 and over who used cannabis in the previous 12 months has increased slightly since legalization, rising from 14% to 18% between 2018 and 2024, according to the Institut national de santé publique du Québec. However, sales restricted to those aged 21 and over have led to a decline in consumption among younger people. Only 21.9% of 15-20 year-olds will consume cannabis in 2024, compared to 28% in 2018.

Quebec's state monopoly has drastically reduced illegal trafficking, to the same extent as the province of Ontario, which opened cannabis sales to the private sector. "The SQDC captured the same market share—around 63%—with 10 times fewer points of sale. The illegal market retains around 37%. Legalization has reduced crime and the quantities of cannabis seized," emphasizes Chu Anh Pham.

With an average price of six Canadian dollars (3.75 euros) per gram, SQDC stores remain competitive, while guaranteeing quality controlled by Health Canada, the public health agency, and 100% Canadian cannabis. "I no longer have to frequent potentially dangerous dealers who also sell cocaine, and that brings in a lot of money for the government," says Françoise, a 50-year-old French engineer who has lived in Montreal for 30 years.

In addition to reducing spending on combating drug trafficking, legalization brings economic and fiscal benefits. In the 2024-2025 fiscal year, the SDQC legally sold 149 tons of cannabis and returned CAD 295.9 million (€185 million) to the Quebec government.

"I'm happy to no longer fund organized crime," comments Séverine, a 53-year-old French-Canadian teacher who has lived in Montreal for 18 years. "We should debate legalization in France, even though there's less social pressure in Canada and a society that was ready for this reform. Total repression isn't a solution," adds this customer, who smokes a joint a day. Other users, like Kamil, go back and forth between the SQDC and their dealer. "I continue to buy cannabis on the illegal market because it's sometimes cheaper, but the money goes to the Hells Angels, and the quality is less guaranteed. The other advantage of legalization is the decrease in consumption among young people under 21 because there are fewer dealers on the street," notes this 35-year-old Montrealer who works in logistics.