Cannabis Education

What you need to know about playing safe with your favourite buds

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Inhaling Cannabis

It is important to note that inhaling cannabis can damage your lungs. Cannabis smoke contains tar and other toxins similar to tobacco. For this reason, it is recommended to take short inhales opposed to deep inhales and holding your breath. This will decrease the chances of long-term lung problems. It has been found that the higher the THC potency, the more at risk you are for long-term serious problems. Another important thing to know is that the second-hand smoke from cannabis is harmful and users should be mindful of this. In terms of vaping, the long-term effects are still unknown.

Ingesting Cannabis

If you ingest too much cannabis in a short period of time, you may increase the risk of having adverse side effects. These side effects can include:

Nausea or vomiting
Anxiety or paranoia
In extreme cases, psychosis

You should contact your doctor before ingesting any form of cannabis. Users should never mix alcohol with cannabis because it worsens not only the effects of both substances, but also your body’s abilities to respond to a potential overdose.

Cannabis Effects in Brain Development for People Under 25

The average brain takes 25 years to fully develop so it is recommended that you wait until this time before you use cannabis products. It has been proven that the earlier you start using cannabis, the higher the risk for mental health problems as well as addiction. Cannabis can affect your attention, judgement, decision-making, as well as learning ability, depending on how early you start, how much you take, and how often you use cannabis.

High Potency THC

Cannabis extracts, otherwise known as concentrates, have higher levels of THC, meaning that they are more potent. High potency THC products can come in many forms such as shatter, rosin, and hash. Regular use of high THC cannabis can include over- consumption, mental health problems, an increased chance of addiction, and in extreme cases, psychosis.

Storage

Cannabis products should always be stored in a locked area that is out of sight and reach. You also should not leave cannabis products in easily accessed areas. These safe practices will decrease the chances of children or pets getting into the products.

Carrying Cannabis Within Canada

If you are a visitor to Alberta, you are able to legally purchase and consume cannabis products. However, whether it is medical cannabis or not, you are not able to take cannabis across federal borders as it is a federal crime.

Carrying Cannabis Outside Canada

While traveling within Canada, you are allowed to transport your legally purchased cannabis in a vehicle. With this in mind, your cannabis must be out of reach of both the driver and the passenger. It is recommended to store your cannabis in the trunk of your vehicle.

Impaired Driving

Impaired driving is not only dangerous, it is against the law. Cannabis impairment effects your depth perception, concentration, and attention-span. It also slows your reaction time and decreases your muscle strength as well as hand steadiness. Cannabis intoxication inhibits your ability to react and respond to hazards and also makes you a hazard to everyone else.

Legality

Legal cannabis is thoroughly tested and regulated for consumer safety and security. During these tests, cannabis is tested for harmful pesticides and other harmful substances. There are also regulations in place for legal cannabis that requires recalls if there are issues with cannabis products. Testing also confirms that the potency is verified and that the labels have accurate product information. There are also safeguards in place with legal cannabis. One safeguard is plain packaging so that kids and pets are not tempted with packaging. All legal products must also be child-resistant so that it is more difficult for children to get into. Another safeguard is a limit on THC. This is for if a child does get into a cannabis product, there is much less of a chance of overdose or poisoning. Another benefit of buying legal cannabis is security. You can be assured that every cannabis transaction is secure and protected. Other benefits of purchasing legal cannabis products include quality control, strain selection, giving back to local communities, and education of budtenders.