Cannabis: Is it really safe? 

In 2018, the Canadian government took a comprehensive public health approach to legalize cannabis for individuals 18 years or older. But does this mean that cannabis is “safe”? 

Understanding Cannabis and its Cannabinoids

Cannabis contains hundreds of chemical substances called cannabinoids, which interact with cell receptors in the brain and body, altering how these cells communicate with one another.  

THC: One of the most researched (and well-known) cannabinoids, THC is responsible for the “high” feeling experienced while using cannabis and can have both therapeutic and harmful effects.  

CBD: CBD is another well-known cannabinoid, which does not cause intoxication and may have therapeutic effects, though research is still ongoing.  

Safety and Cannabis

Cannabis is sometimes perceived to be a “safe” drug; however, there are both short-term (immediate) and long-term health risks. 

Some short-term health effects of cannabis use may include: 

• Feeling high 

• Heightened sensory experiences (taste, smell, sound, and touch) 

• Relaxation 

• Anxiety, fear, or confusion 

• Impaired concentration and reaction time 

• Psychotic episode (paranoia, delusion, hallucinations) 

Some long-term health effects may include: 

• Impaired memory, concentration, and IQ 

• Difficulty making decisions. 

• Decreased lung health (if smoked) 

High-risk cannabis use, such as driving under the influence, is a public health concern and a major safety risk. If you choose to use cannabis, it’s important to implement harm reduction techniques to stay as safe as possible. 

Harm Reduction Tips 

If you choose to use cannabis, consider these 10 tips to reduce your risks: 

Delay the onset of cannabis use as long as possible. 

• Since brain development continues into your 20s, using cannabis at a younger age can negatively impact your brain’s growth and development. If you can, try to delay cannabis use until later into adulthood to reduce potential development impacts.  

Choose cannabis products with lower THC content. 

• Look for cannabis products with lower THC and/or higher CBD content. THC is the ingredient that causes intoxication and the sensation of being “high”, whereas CBD is the ingredient linked to feelings of relaxation.  

Avoid synthetic cannabis products. 

• Synthetic products like K2 or Spice are unregulated and can be more harmful than natural cannabis.  

Limit usage to one day per week or fewer.  

• Regular cannabis use can lead to harmful health effects. You can minimize these by reducing the frequency of usage. 

Don’t drive while under the influence. 

• Using cannabis will cause you to be impaired, even if you feel fine. Never drive while under the influence of any substances. 

Avoid using cannabis if you have a family history of psychosis or are pregnant. 

• If you have a family history of psychosis, using cannabis could increase your risk of developing cannabis-related psychosis.  
• It is also recommended to refrain from using cannabis while pregnant to protect your baby from any unwanted health effects. 

Use cannabis in ways other than smoking. 

• Smoking is the riskiest way of using cannabis. Safer alternatives, such as ingesting or vaping, can help reduce potential health risks.  

If you smoke cannabis, avoid deep inhalation and breath holding. 

• Deep inhalation and breath-holding techniques increase your risk for lung-related ailments. 

Avoid combining risky cannabis behaviours. 

• The more risks you take with cannabis, the more adverse health effects can occur.  

Check out the following link for more info about safer cannabis practices: https://www.camh.ca/-/media/files/pdfs—reports-and-books—research/canadas-lower-risk-guidelines-cannabis-pdf.pdf