Cannabis

Cannabis use is common among university students, whether for relaxation, socializing, stress relief, or just curiosity. While it may feel like a normal part of student life, it’s important to understand the effects—both short- and long-term—so you can make informed choices. If you choose to use cannabis, think about how, when, and why you’re using it, and take steps to reduce potential harms.

Cannabis and the Law in Ontario
  • You must be 19 and older to buy, use, possess and grow recreational cannabis. This is the same as the minimum age for the sale of tobacco and alcohol in Ontario.
  • You are able to have a maximum of 30 grams (about one ounce) of dried cannabis (or equivalent) in public at any time. One gram of dried cannabis is equal (equivalent) to:
    • 5 grams of fresh cannabis
    • 15 grams of edible product
    • 70 grams of liquid product
    • 0.25 grams of concentrates (solid or liquid)
    • 1 cannabis plant seed
  • Cannabis edibles are legal in Canada as of October 17, 2019. Edible cannabis products are allowed to have:
    • up to 10 milligrams of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) in a single package
      • up to 30 milligrams of caffeine, if it is naturally occurring (for example, in chocolate, coffee and tea)
      • Edible cannabis products must contain no nicotine or added alcohol.
Cannabis Use and Driving
  • Driving a vehicle while you’re impaired by cannabis is illegal and dangerous. This includes cars, trucks, boats, snowmobiles and off-road vehicles.
  • You are not a safer driver when you’re high. Cannabis affects your judgment, coordination and reaction time, and increases your chances of being in a collision. In 2016, 74 people were killed in collisions involving a driver under the influence of drugs in Ontario according to police reports.
  • Since the effects of cannabis vary, there is no way to know exactly how long to wait before it’s safe to drive. Even if you think the high has worn off, your ability to drive may still be impaired.The best way to avoid impaired driving is to not take a chance. 
  • Police have tools and tests to detect impaired drivers, including roadside drug screening equipment and sobriety tests. If a police officer finds that you are impaired by any drug or alcohol, you will face serious penalties, including:
    • an immediate licence suspension
    • financial penalties
    • possible vehicle impoundment
    • possible criminal record
    • possible jail time
Safer Use Guidelines

To reduce the health risks from using cannabis:

  • avoid smoking cannabis
  • reduce how often you use cannabis
  • delay using cannabis until later in life
  • avoid smoking or vaping cannabis products and consider edible cannabis (which is safer for your lungs than smoking cannabis), but be aware that edibles are not risk-free and that it can take longer to feel the effects of edible cannabis than other forms
  • avoid using edible cannabis from an unauthorized retailer to ensure that products are safe to consume and free of contamination
  • avoid using synthetic cannabis (for example K2 and Spice)
Greening Out

Greening out is a term used to describe the negative effects one may experience as a result of consuming too much cannabis.

Although everyone will experience a green out differently, it will generally cause individuals to experience all or some of the following side effects including feeling dizzy, nauseous, disoriented, anxious, experiencing mild hallucinations, a loss of balance, decreased mobility, low blood pressure and an increased heart rate.

New or infrequent users are more prone to greening out as they test their tolerance levels. However, all cannabis users have the potential to green out especially if they are sleep deprived, dehydrated or have not eaten.

Greening out often occurs as a result of consuming edibles and concentrates, which contain higher and more potent amounts of cannabis and thereby increases the potency of the experienced effects.

A green out typically lasts a few hours, although it is dependent on the amount of cannabis an individual consumes.

Experiencing a green out is a non-life-threatening condition, but when coupled with alcohol or other substances as it can increase the duration of negative effects and pose significant risks to one’s well-being.

To prevent a green out, it is important to start low and go slow, purchase your product from regulated retailers, do not mix with alcohol or other substances, ensure you are hydrated and have food in your system.

In the event that a green out occurs, it is crucial to stay hydrated, rest, stay with someone you trust, and stay calm as a fatal overdose cannot occur from consuming cannabis by itself.

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