A summary of ten recommendations for lower-risk cannabis use:
Full paper is available here:
As of October 17, 2019, cannabis extracts, topical cannabis products, and cannabis edibles are legal in Canada. They will be available for sale in licenced dispensaries and online through the Ontario Cannabis Store in December 2019.
For more information about the newly legal forms of Cannabis in Canada, see the Primer on New Cannabis Products from the Canadian Centre for Substance Use and Addiction (CCSUA).
THC, the primary psychoactive component in cannabis, is metabolized differently when it is ingested vs. inhaled. It takes longer to feel the effects of edibles, and the effects typically last longer.
Because of the delayed effects, inexperienced users can be inclined to dose-stack edible cannabis products, which poses a risk for unintentional over-intoxication. Users should give special consideration with respect to driving after consuming edibles (because of the delayed and prolonged effect), and to storing edibles safely to avoid accidental ingestion by children and others.
For more information on edible cannabis and its risks, see the following resources:
Cannabis may not be suitable for all patients. Several publications from Health Canada, the CFPC, and others have identified a set of special risk populations in the context of both medical and recreational cannabis use:
Information to help you understand the new laws around cannabis-impaired driving, discuss the risks with patients, and understand your responsibilities.
Toxicologist and Emergency Medicine physician Dr. Kennon Heard draws from the experience of emergency departments in Colorado to comment on the factors that have contributed to the rise of cannabis-related visits to the ER.
He addresses the pharmacology of cannabis and offers practical advice to help Ontario’s Emergency Medicine physicians better prepare for and manage the following cannabis-related presentations:
Organization | Title | Description | |
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Canadian Public Health Association |
Fact sheets for health and social service providers that give an overview of cannabis plants and products, methods of consumption, and information to better understand harm reduction. |
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Centre for Effective Practice |
Printable resource designed to help providers discuss non-medical cannabis use with their patients in a safe and non-judgmental environment. |
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Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) |
Handout for healthcare professionals summarizing the ten recommendations from the Lower Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines. |
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Ontario Medical Association |
Overview of health risks associated with recreational cannabis use and considerations to guide a conversation with patients about recreational cannabis. |
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Ontario Medical Association |
What You Should Know About Recreational Cannabis - Infographic |
Infographic that reviews the basics of cannabis and the risks and harms associated with cannabis use. |
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Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction |
Edible Cannabis, Cannabis Extracts and Cannabis Topicals: A Primer on the New Cannabis Products |
Overview of edible cannabis products, cannabis extracts, and topical cannabis products including their uses and effects. |
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Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction |
Infographic that outlines the key differences between inhaling and ingesting cannabis and offers tips for lower-risk cannabis use. |
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Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction |
Tip sheet that offers seven strategies to reduce harms associated with edible cannabis products. |
Updated: October 15, 2019