Just because cannabis is a plant doesn’t mean it’s harmless.

Here are some tips for safer use:

Don’t let accidents happen. Keep cannabis stored safely away from kids. If a child eats cannabis call the poison control hotline.

Cannabis affects everyone differently. Different products can have varying doses of THC (the chemical that causes the ‘high’). If you are unsure of how the drug will affect you, start with a small amount.

Go slow with edibles. They take longer to have an effect, so it is easy to take too much.

Mixing cannabis with alcohol or other drugs can have unpredictable results and is more risky.

Cannabis smoke contains many of the same harmful chemicals as tobacco smoke. Be mindful of those around you and keep it away from children and pregnant women.

Cannabis affects your ability to react and doubles your chances of being in a vehicle crash.

• About cannabis (Government of Canada)
• Drug-Impaired Driving (Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction)
• Safe storage (Drug Free Kids Canada)
• Smoking and secondhand smoke (State of Colorado)
• Mixing marijuana with other substances (State of Colorado)
• Poison And Drug Information Service (PADIS Alberta) - 1-800-332-1414