Cannabis

Cannabis

Cannabis is Cannabis

 

Cannabis or marijuana comes in a variety of forms that can be consumed in different ways (i.e., By inhalation, ingestion, topical or oral-mucosal). The extent of risks and harms of cannabis use are not yet entirely clear, but research shows that cannabis use is not harmless. There are a variety of short-term and long-term effects including but not limited to, increased heart rate, nervousness, mental health issues, and increased risk of addiction.

Reduce your risk.

Review Canada's lower-risk cannabis use guidelines - Canada.ca to lower your risk of cannabis related harms.

Preventing Cannabis Poisonings in Children

Prevent Cannabis Poisoning in Children

Cannabis products are legal in Canada, but just because products are made from a plant doesn’t make them safe.  Many cannabis products undergo processing to make them more concentrated. For young children eating cannabis edibles can be very dangerous.

Signs of Cannabis poisoning in children:

  • vomiting
  • confusion
  • unresponsiveness
  • slurred speech
  • unsteadiness on feet
  • drowsiness/lethargy
  • slowed breathing
  • seizures, in rare cases

If you think a child in your care has consumed cannabis, don’t wait – get help right away.  If your child can’t wake up or is having a hard time breathing, call 9-1-1 right away.

Poison Control Number:  1-844-764-7669  (no cost to call)

Cannabis Use around Children:

There may be a number of reasons you might think about or decide to use cannabis.  If children are in your care, it’s important to know that using cannabis:

  • may reduce a person’s ability to pay attention
  • reduce a person’s ability to make decisions or
  • may change how someone reacts to emergencies.

These issues can affect your ability to safely parent or supervise children. If you are thinking of using cannabis while parenting review some key things to know about Cannabis Use while Parenting.  Be sure that there is always someone available who is not high to take care of your child if you decide to use it.

How to prevent cannabis poisonings 

  • To totally remove all risk, avoid bringing cannabis edibles into homes where young children live or spend a lot of time. 
  •  Avoid using substances when children are at home.
  • Remember that edibles can take a long time to wear off. Learn about inhaling compared to eating cannabis products to make sure you are aware of how soon you will feel effects and how long they can take to wear off.

Don’t take chances!  Always keep edible cannabis products, including homemade edibles, away from children by: 

  • Storing them out of reach
  • Storing them in a locked container AND in a cupboard or closet with a strong childproof safety lock or latch. 
  • Keeping them separate from regular food and drinks 
  • Lock them back up right away after using.
  • If your child is spending time in someone else’s home, make sure anyone using cannabis in the home stores it safely.  

Choose cannabis that is available from an authorized, licenced seller. These products:

  • contain no more than 10 mg of THC per package. THC is the main psychoactive substance in cannabis and is a serious risk to children.   Copycat products that look like candy can have extremely high amounts of THC and the packaging is appealing to kids.
  • must be in plain, child resistant packaging . 

Learn more about the difference between legal and unregulated cannabis products at Cannabis and Kids

Watch this video to learn key ways to keep cannabis away from kids:

How to help prevent cannabis poisoning in children - YouTube

 

For more information, visit:

Poison Control Centre:  Cannabis and Kids

Safe Storage of Cannabis: www.Canada.ca/Cannabis

Thinking of Using Cannabis while Parenting?   Learn some safety information:  Health Canada - Cannabis while parenting (pdf)

Teens & Cannabis

Research shows that earlier initiation of cannabis use is associated with an increased risk of adverse health outcomes. Talk to your kids about cannabis use - Drug Free Kids Canada.org

Resources for Parents, Educators and Adult Allies

Municipalities

Cannabis Edibles, Extracts and Topicals

Start low, go slow

If you choose to consume cannabis, how much you consume and how quickly you consume can influence whether or not you experience adverse effects. Take your time to understand how your body reacts to cannabis as everyone’s response is different. Until then, start low and go slow to minimize health risks and the risks of overconsumption.

Start with a low amount of THC and wait to feel the effects before taking more.

Edible cannabis:

  • Look for products that contain 2.5 mg of THC or less
  • Effects felt within 30 minutes to 2 hours
  • It can take up to 4 hours to feel the full effects

 

Final Regulations: Edible Cannabis, Cannabis Extracts, Cannabis Topicals

 

LINKS

  1. New cannabis products: What Canadians need to know - YouTube
  2. What You Need To Know If You Choose to Consume Cannabis

 

Resources

Start Low, Go Slow | Government of Canada

Cannabis: What Parents/Guardians and Caregivers Need to Know

Cannabis: Inhaling vs Ingesting

Edible Cannabis, Cannabis  and Cannabis Topicals: A Primer on the New Cannabis Products

7 Things You Need to Know about Edible Cannabis

Always Read the Label | Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction

 

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