What is cannabis?
- Cannabis is a drug, consisting of dried flowers, fruiting tops and leaves, and acts as a hallucinogen that alters perceptions, thoughts, and feelings.
- Cannabis resin (or hashish) is a brown or black secretion from the plant that can be further processed to produce hash oil.
- THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is one of the main active ingredients in cannabis.
What is the new cannabis law?
The Cannabis Act (external link) came into effect on October 17, 2018. This is the legislation that governs the possession, consumption, sale and cultivation of cannabis.
Amendments to the Cannabis Regulations (external link) for governing the legal production and sale of edible cannabis, cannabis extracts and cannabis topicals came into effect on October 17, 2019. It is expected that a limited selection of products will be available for sale as of mid-December, 2019.
What is Halton Region’s role in enforcing the new cannabis law?
Halton Region will enforce requirements of the amended Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 (external link), which came into force on October 17, 2018.
The Act prohibits the smoking and vaping of cannabis in the same places where the smoking of tobacco is prohibited. These places include enclosed workplaces, enclosed public places and other specified places such as school property, recreational facilities, sports fields, children’s playgrounds, hospital grounds and restaurant patios.
What are the effects of using cannabis?
Short-term effects can include:
- altered perception of time, distance and space
- impaired judgment
- loss of coordination
- disorientation
- red eye
- dry mouth and throat
- increased appetite
- sleepiness
- racing heart rate
- panic attacks or feeling paranoid
Long-term effects can include:
- difficulty concentrating
- reduced memory and attention span
- problems with school and work
- psychological dependence and possible physical dependence
- worsening of mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety
How can you reduce the associated risks?
Medical cannabis use
Cannabis has some medicinal properties which could be helpful for certain conditions such as pain. People taking cannabis for medical reasons require medical documentation from a doctor or nurse practitioner.
Additional resources