This October the federal government will legalize and introduce new regulations for cannabis edibles, extracts and topicals. These products will be subject to the same laws as all other cannabis products. The Health Unit reminds residents who choose to use edibles, extracts or topicals to do so safely.
“While cannabis edibles may be less harmful than inhalable cannabis, they still have risks,” says Courtney Feeney, public health promoter with the Huron County Health Unit. “Edible cannabis users should start low and go slow to avoid overconsumption, and ensure cannabis is properly stored and labeled to prevent accidental consumption.”
If a resident chooses to use edible cannabis, the Health Unit recommends following Health Canada’s guidelines. While everyone’s response to cannabis is different, there are several steps individuals can take to lower the risk of negative outcomes. These include:
- Choose products with 2.5mg of THC or less
- To avoid overconsumption, wait 30 minutes to 2 hours after consumption to begin to feel the effects
- Ensure edibles are properly labeled and stored securely out of reach of children
- Don’t use cannabis and drive
- Limit and reduce how often you use cannabis
The Health Unit has two main goals when it comes to cannabis use: to protect the public from the harms of using cannabis and to prevent and delay youth from using cannabis. Since the 2018 legalization of cannabis, the Health Unit has been monitoring the local situation with regards to cannabis, promoting healthy coping and resiliency skills in youth, developing resources, fostering community connections, supporting workplaces in policy development, and taking other actions as needed to reduce risk to residents’ health.
For more information, visit huronhealthunit.ca.