Canada’s legal cannabis sector has come a long way since federal legalization in late 2018. As of early 2025, the industry contributes roughly CA $9.1 billion to national GDP per quarter, with production increasing over 10 percent year‑on‑year from March 2024 to March 2025. Against a backdrop of rising costs and tightening margins, a new generation of top licensed producers (LPs) has emerged. The following profiles highlight the top ten Canadian growers by footprint, revenue, and market impact:
1. Tilray Brands Inc.
Based in British Columbia and now a global cannabis powerhouse following its merger with Aphria in 2021, Tilray remains Canada’s largest LP by revenue and market capitalization. Leveraging craft‑grow facilities in Leamington and scaling its international presence, the company continues to lead production and brand innovation.
2. Cronos Group
Headquartered in Toronto, Cronos Group has shaped its identity through brands like Spinach, Peace Naturals, and Lord Jones. In Canada, Spinach ranks among the top three in both retail flower and edible categories. Its expansion into Germany and Israel further cements Cronos as a rising global operator.
3. Canopy Growth Corporation
From its origins as Tweed in Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canopy Growth was Canada’s first cannabis “unicorn.” With diversified brands such as Tweed, Tokyo Smoke, and Spectrum Cannabis, and strong global reach in Europe and Latin America, Canopy remains a trailblazer, despite recent restructuring to focus on core cannabis operations.
4. Sundial Growers
Sundial — owner of Spiritleaf, Value Buds, and Superette retail banners — operates over 200 stores across Canada and is one of the country’s most vertically integrated players. With ambitions of retail dominance and edited margin strategies, Sundial remains a standout among the LPs.
5. TerrAscend
Vertically integrated across cultivation, manufacturing, and retail in Canada and the U.S., TerrAscend offers both medical and recreational cannabis lines including Cage Cannabis and Prism. Its scale across borders makes it one of Canada’s most diversified LPs.
6. Aurora Cannabis
Once boasting licensed capacity exceeding 625,000 kg/year, Aurora remains a major Canadian LP headquartered in Edmonton. While the company has endured challenging operating results, its global footprint in Europe, Australia, and Latin America keeps it among the top producers by scale.
7. OrganiGram Holdings
OrganiGram has recently made headlines with a transformative C$79 million acquisition of Motif Labs, propelling it to Canada’s largest cannabis company by market share. Supported by strategic investment from British American Tobacco, OrganiGram now commands a leading position across flower, vape, and pre‑roll categories.
8. Canopy‑affiliated Aphria (now part of Tilray)
Before its integration into Tilray, Aphria was a shining LP focused on greenhouse production in Leamington and acquisitions like Broken Coast Cannabis. Its legacy remains visible within Tilray’s robust Canadian operations.
9. HEXO Corporation
Founded in Quebec, HEXO was among the first licensed medical producers in Canada. It offers value pricing through its Original Stash product line and remains competitive in flower and oil segments despite past volatility in valuation.
10. Village Farms International / Pure Sunfarms
Operating extensive greenhouse cultivation in British Columbia under Pure Sunfarms, Village Farms brings EU‑GMP certification and export credentials. The company blends fresh produce expertise with cannabis scale and delivers consistent performance and reliability in dried flower production.
Industry Overview: Growth and Challenges
By December 2024, Canadians consumed some 24.6 million packaged units, split roughly 50% in dried flower, 24% edibles, and 25% extracts. Licensed cultivation area now totals over 1.45 million m² indoors and nearly 600 hectares outdoors, with expanded processing zones across provinces.
While demand remains robust, operators face serious headwinds: 80% of Canadian cannabis companies cite rising costs as their top challenge in 2025. Maintaining profitability has meant rationalizing operations, pivoting to international markets, and consolidating portfolios.
Why These LPs Matter
- Scale and capacity: These ten producers control the lion’s share of licensed cultivation land, processing, and distribution across Canada.
- Brand leadership: Consumer favorites like Tweed, Spinach, Spiritleaf, Pure Sunfarms, and HEXO provide critical shelf visibility.
- Global outreach: Many have extended operations into Europe, Israel, Australia, and Latin America.
- Investor backing: Investments like British American Tobacco’s in OrganiGram or Constellation Brands’ support for Canopy have enabled consolidation and innovation.
Looking Ahead
As the legal cannabis market continues to expand—modeled to grow at a 12% CAGR from 2025 to 2030, reaching well over US $3 billion in Canada alone—these producers are well‑positioned for leadership. At the same time, competition, regulatory evolution, and cost pressures will shape the next phase of consolidation and innovation.
Consumers can expect product evolution, sustainability initiatives, and investment in cannabis wellness lines. Meanwhile, the top ten listed LPs remain at the center of Canada’s cannabis economy, building brand loyalty and scale through a mix of heritage, ingenuity, and global ambition.