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Ottawa (AFP)

About 4.9 million Canadians spent a whopping Can$5.7 billion (US$4.6 billion) on cannabis last year, the government's statistical agency said Thursday.

Its production in terms of value is now "on par with the beer industry and larger than the tobacco industry," according to Statistics Canada's estimates.

Canada is expected to pass legislation to legalize recreational marijuana effective July 1, but complications in setting up distribution and effective controls could delay the launch. Medical marijuana was legalized nearly two decades ago.

According to Statistics Canada, 90 percent of cannabis purchases last year were for recreational use, while only 10 percent were backed by a doctor's prescription for medical reasons.

Spending on pot, the agency said, has increased an average of six percent annually since 1961.

The largest buyers of cannabis in 2017 remained 18- to 24-year-olds, according to projections.

However, consumption among 45- to 64-year-olds -- the oldest age group studied -- has been increasing in recent years. They accounted for 23 percent of pot smokers last year, up from four percent in 1975.

Teens aged 15-17, meanwhile, represented less than five percent of cannabis users, indicating a decline over the years. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has touted legalization as a means of keeping it out of the hands of youths.

Most of the cannabis consumed was produced in Canada, with only about Can$300 million worth of illegal pot smuggled into the country.

Illegal sales of Canadian cannabis abroad, meanwhile, were estimated to be worth around Can$1.2 billion.

© 2018 AFP