What You Need to Know About Cannabis?
SOURCE: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/health/campaigns/cannabis/canadians.html
Public education resources
A number of tools and resources are available with information about cannabis.
Indigenous communities
Indigenous governments, organizations and communities have expressed interest in:
sharing the views of Indigenous peoples on legalizing and regulating cannabis
increasing awareness of the Cannabis Act
We have compiled a list of cannabis-related resources for use by Indigenous groups to lead public discussions in their communities.
The legalization and regulation of cannabis
On October 17, 2018, the Cannabis Act came into force.
It puts in place a new, strict framework for controlling the production, distribution, sale and possession of cannabis in Canada.
The purpose of the Cannabis Act is to:
prevent youth from accessing cannabis
displace the illegal cannabis market
Protecting the health and safety of youth is a top priority. Be aware that the Cannabis Act establishes serious criminal penalties for those who sell or provide cannabis to youth. It also establishes a new offence and strict penalties for those who use youth to commit a cannabis offence.
In addition, the Act prohibits:
products that are appealing to youth
packaging or labelling cannabis in a way that makes it appealing to youth
selling cannabis through self-service displays or vending machines
promoting cannabis that could entice young people to use cannabis, except in narrow circumstances where it will not be seen by a young person
Under the Act, the legal sale of edible cannabis, cannabis extracts and cannabis topicals will be permitted no later than October 17, 2019. The expert Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation recommended that the Government of Canada permit the legal sale of these products once regulatory controls are put in place. Giving adults legal access to cannabis products will help to achieve the Government’s objective of displacing the illegal market and keeping profits out of the hands of criminals and organized crime.
Health Canada has proposed a series of amendments to the Cannabis Regulations to address public health and safety risks related to these cannabis products. The Department has launched a public consultation on the proposed amendments. Canadians are invited to share their views and comments, which will be taken into consideration in the development of the final regulations.
Adult possession of cannabis
Store cannabis securely and away from children and youth.
The Cannabis Act protects public health and safety by:
setting rules for adults to access quality-controlled cannabis
creating a new, tightly regulated supply chain
Adults who are 18 years or older (depending on province or territory) are able to:
possess up to 30 grams of legal cannabis, dried or equivalent in non-dried form in public
share up to 30 grams with other adults
purchase cannabis products from a provincial or territorial retailer
grow up to 4 plants per residence (not per person) for personal use from licensed seeds or seedlings
Possession, production and distribution, and sale outside of what the law allows remain illegal and subject to criminal penalties, ranging from ticketing up to a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment.
Laws in your area
Each province and territory also has its own rules for cannabis, including:
legal minimum age
where adults can buy it
where adults can use it
how much adults can possess
You must respect the laws of the province, territory or Indigenous community you are in, whether you are a visitor or live there.
Municipalities may also pass bylaws to regulate the use of cannabis locally.
Review your provincial and territorial guidelines. Also check your municipality's website for local information.
Identifying legal cannabis products
Legal cannabis products are only sold through retailers authorized by your provincial or territorial government.
Legal cannabis products have an "excise stamp" on the package. The stamp has security features to prevent forgery, just like passports and banknotes. Each province and territory has a different coloured excise stamp.
Legal cannabis products also carry the standardized cannabis symbol and mandatory health warning messages to provide information on risks of use.
Adults are able to legally purchase fresh and dried cannabis, cannabis oils and seeds or plants for cultivation from authorized retailers.
They cannot yet legally purchase other products, including edible cannabis, cannabis extracts and cannabis topicals. These products will be available for legal sale no later than October 17, 2019.
Travelling
It's illegal to take cannabis across the Canadian border, whether you're coming into Canada, or leaving. This applies to all countries, whether cannabis is legal there or not.
Consuming cannabis
Edible cannabis, cannabis extracts and cannabis topicals are not yet legal for purchase in Canada.
If you have any health issues or have questions about the effects of cannabis on your health you should speak to your health care provider.
If you use cannabis, learn how to use it responsibly and reduce risks for yourself and others. In general, start low and go slow.
Start with small amounts
Choose products with a low amount of THC and an equal or higher amount of CBD
Avoid combining cannabis with alcohol and/or other substances as this increases impairment
Use cannabis in a safe and familiar environment and with people you trust
Avoid smoking cannabis
Avoid frequent use
Don't drive or go to work impaired
Cannabis health effects
Cannabis, like alcohol and tobacco, poses a number of health risks.
The brain does not stop developing until around age 25. The younger you are when you begin cannabis use and the more often and the longer you use it, the more likely that it will have a bigger impact on your brain.
At any age, cannabis use affects the way the brain functions. This includes impacts on:
attention
memory
learning
You should not use cannabis if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It poses a risk to the fetus or new born child. Heavy cannabis use has been linked to lower birth weight.
There may also be other health risks associated with cannabis use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Proposed amendments to the Cannabis Regulations include:
limits on THC content
restrictions on the use of harmful ingredients
new packaging and labelling rules
new production controls
Public consultation on the proposed amendments opened on December 20, 2018.
Substance use disorder
You should not use cannabis if you have a predisposition to or family history of psychosis or problematic substance use.
Cannabis can be addictive.Footnote1 Close to 1 in 3 people who use cannabis will develop a problem with their use. Close to 1 in 10 people who use cannabis will develop an addiction to it. This statistic rises to about 1 in 6 for people who started using cannabis as a teenager.Footnote2
Cannabis addiction can cause serious harm to your:
health
social life
school work
work and financial future
If you or someone you know is struggling with a substance use disorder with cannabis or other drugs, help is available.
Growing cannabis
You may not sell the cannabis you grow at home to others.
At home
The Cannabis Act permits adults to cultivate up to 4 cannabis plants per household (not per person). Provinces and territories may apply added restrictions on personal cultivation.
There are recommended safety and security measures for growing cannabis plants.
Growing for sale
You need to be authorized by Health Canada to be able to grow cannabis for sale.
In some cases, you may also need a licence from the Canada Revenue Agency to sell cannabis. Legal cannabis products must carry an excise stamp.
Access to cannabis for medical purposes
We are committed to keeping a distinct system for giving patients reasonable access to cannabis for medical purposes.
Cannabis for medical purposes will continue to be legal if you are:
authorized by a health care provider
registered with a licensed seller or with Health Canada
Funding for cannabis public education and research
We fund community-based and Indigenous public education and research initiatives. To apply for funding please see the Substance Use and Addictions Program - Call for Proposals - Guidelines for Applicants.
Drug-impaired driving
Drug-impaired driving is illegal. Do not drive high.
Law enforcement is trained to detect drug-impaired driving.
Learn more about detecting drug-impaired driving under Cannabis impairment.