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Cannabis

Cannabis

What is cannabis?

Cannabis is a drug that comes from the dried flowers and leaves of the cannabis plant. Cannabis can act as a hallucinogen that alters perceptions, thoughts, and feelings. Cannabis is known by many names, including marijuana, weed, hash, and others.

Cannabis contains many chemical substances. The most common are:

THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) causes the psychological effects known as feeling high and can affect your mood and behaviour.

CBD (cannabidiol) is a non-psychoactive substance that may affect the brain but is not intoxicating like THC.

How is cannabis used?

The cannabis plant is used for its effect on the mind. It is also used for medical, social, or religious purposes.

Cannabis can be taken in different ways, by:

Smoking as a joint, spliff, or blunt. The main difference is the type of paper used to roll it, and it is sometimes mixed with tobacco. It can also be smoked using pipes and bongs.

Vaping refers to breathing in dried or liquid cannabis through a vaping device.

Drinking or eating it, such as mixing it into teas, sodas, baked goods, gummies, and candies. These are called edibles.

Dabbing it by breathing in very hot vapours from heating cannabis concentrates.

Cannabis tincture refers to cannabis being consumed as an alcohol-based extract on its own or added to food or drinks.

Other types of cannabis products include:

Cannabis extracts hash, kief, wax, or shatter. These contain a high concentration of THC.

Oils cannabis extracts that are diluted in a food-grade oil. They can be used to make edibles.

Topicals cannabis cream is put on the skin. Cannabis cream is usually higher in CBD and lower in THC and is generally used for medicinal purposes.

Synthetic Cannabis synthetic cannabis (K2 and Spice) are illegal products that are stronger and more dangerous than natural cannabis products. Synthetic cannabis can cause seizures, irregular heartbeat, hallucinations and in rare cases, death.

How cannabis affects you

Short-term effects

Everyone reacts to cannabis differently. Some of the possible short-term effects can include:

  • Sleepiness
  • Altered perception of time, distance, and space
  • Impaired judgment
  • Loss of coordination
  • Disorientation
  • Red eyes
  • Dry mouth and throat
  • Increased appetite
  • Racing heart rate
  • Panic attacks or feeling paranoid

Long-term effects

Long-term effects develop gradually over time with frequent (daily or almost daily) use that continues over weeks, months, and/or years. Long term effects can include:

  • difficulty concentrating
  • reduced memory and attention span
  • problems with school and work
  • Inability to think and make decisions
  • psychological dependence and possible physical dependence
  • worsening of mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety

Long-term effects appear to be worse for youth who start using frequently and early because the effects may not be fully reversible when cannabis use stops.

Other effects:

  • Cannabis use impairs your ability to drive safely.
  • Burning cannabis produces smoke that has the same harmful chemicals and carcinogens as cigarette smoke.
  • Just like with tobacco and alcohol, a pregnant woman or new mother’s use of cannabis can affect her fetus or newborn child. Cannabis use during pregnancy can lead to lower birth weight of the baby.

Second-hand smoke from tobacco or cannabis can be harmful, especially for children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with respiratory problems. If you use cannabis in public, be mindful of others. If possible, keep your home smoke and vapour-free.

Cannabis in Canada: Get the facts - Canada.ca (external link)

How to reduce your risk?

If you are planning to use cannabis, follow the lower-risk cannabis use guidelines. These guidelines are a tool for anyone who has made the choice to use or is considering using, as well as their family, friends and peers.

If you are looking to reduce your risk, consider the following lower-risk tips:

  • Use products with low THC and an equal or higher amount of CBD.
  • Smoking is harmful to the lungs. Ingesting or vaping cannabis is less harmful.
  • Do not mix cannabis with other substances like tobacco or alcohol.
  • Do not drive a motor vehicle after using cannabis. Cannabis impairs coordination, attention, judgement, and reaction time.
  • Limit your cannabis use to one day a week at most.

Medical cannabis use

The evidence of the effectiveness and safety of cannabis for medical use continues to emerge. People taking cannabis for medical reasons require medical documentation from a health care provider

Visit Health Canada for information on:

What is the law around cannabis?

The Cannabis Act (external link) came into effect on . This is the legislation that governs the possession, consumption, sale and cultivation of cannabis. The Cannabis Act protects public health by creating strict safety and quality regulations. In addition, public education efforts continue to focus on awareness, safety measures, and any potential health risks.

The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 (external link) (SFOA, 2017) regulates the sale, supply, display, and promotion of tobacco and cannabis, as well as the vaping of any substance. Since second-hand smoke from tobacco or cannabis can be harmful, the Act also regulates where people can use these products. Learn how the Smoke-Free Ontario Act affects you (external link).

Halton Region By-Law No.40-20 (external link), prohibits smoking and vaping in public places within the Regional Municipality of Halton. This means smoking tobacco or cannabis, and the use of electronic cigarettes. For more information, visit the Halton Region Smoking and Vaping By-Laws.

Resources, support, and services

Mental health & substance use information

  • Access CAMH (external link)
    Provides patients, families, friends, and health care professionals with general information about services and eligibility requirements and instructions on how to make a referral to CAMH.
  • Access MHA (external link)
    Access MHA is a program that assists people in accessing services for mental health, substance use, and addictions issues.
  • Breaking Free Online (external link)
    A free online evidence-based well-being and recovery program for alcohol and drugs for those 16 years and older.
  • Connex Ontario (external link)
    Free and confidential service offering support through phone, chat, text, and email for people in Ontario. It provides information about mental health, gambling, and addiction services available both within and outside their community.
  • HaltonParents (external link)
    Connect with HaltonParents team of public health nurses by phone, email, or social media.
  • Health811 (external link)
    Free 24/7 confidential service you can call to get health advice or information. Call 811 or Toll Free: 1-866-797-0007.
  • Good2Talk (external link)
    Provides free, confidential support services for post-secondary students.

Youth resources

  • ADAPT (external link)
    Halton Alcohol, Drug, and Gambling Assessment Prevention and Treatment offers various programs for youths aged 24 and under who are affected by substance or alcohol use.
  • Kids Help Phone (external link)
    Offers free 24/7 mental health services to young people in Canada.
  • Youth-VAST (external link)
    A collaborative initiative involving multiple services at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health that offers targeted support to help youth ages 12 to 21 across Ontario develop healthy coping strategies, access specialized treatment, and foster resilience in managing nicotine and vaping use, substance use, and problem technology use.

Additional resources

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