The Canada Cannabis Spot Index was assessed at C$5.39 per gram this week, down 2.2% from last week’s C$5.51 per gram. This week’s price equates to US$1,953 per pound at the current exchange rate.
Each week, Business of Cannabis delivers a series of insights from our partners at Cannabis Benchmarks®.
This week Cannabis Benchmarks reviews Canada’s recreational cannabis store count.
The number of stores continues to climb steadily across the country, making the legal cannabis system more accessible to consumers. Cannabis Benchmarks’ latest count shows the number of stores open for business reached 2,277 as of the end of July. This is up by 1,255 stores, or a jump of 123%, compared to July 2020. As can be seen in the chart above, they expect that trend to continue throughout this year.
- Cannabis Benchmarks does not expect additional new store growth in Alberta and anticipate some stores will close before the end of the year due to strong competition with other closely-located stores in major cities.
- British Columbia has increased its store count at a steady pace in 2021 so far and Cannabis Benchmarks expect that growth to continue through the end of the year.
- Quebec currently has 89 cannabis retail locations, which is a 106% increase from last year, and Cannabis Benchmarks expects the store count there will expand to 104 retail locations by the end of the year.
- Ontario continues to be the biggest driving force for new cannabis retail stores. Cannabis Benchmarks estimate that 891 stores are currently open in Ontario, a figure they expect to increase to 1,241 by the end of the year.
Source: Canada Cannabis Spot Index, Cannabis Benchmarks