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By rdnewsNOW staff

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AHS advises on safe cannabis use this 4/20 and beyond

Apr 20, 2022 | 1:18 PM

On 4/20, Alberta Health Services says it’s important to remember how to use cannabis safely and responsibly.

Mixing cannabis with alcohol, tobacco, e-cigarettes and other drugs can increase impairment, leading to injuries and/or risky behaviour, such as operating a motor vehicle or other machinery, or risky sexual practices, the health authority points out.

“According to the 2021 Canadian Cannabis Survey, a quarter of Canadians over the age of 16 reported using cannabis for non-medical purposes in the previous 12 months. Of people who had used cannabis in the previous 12 months, about two-thirds had used cannabis and alcohol in combination, and about a third had used cannabis and tobacco in combination,” notes AHS.

“In 2017, in Alberta, those with a current smoking status were more than four times more likely to report using cannabis at least weekly than those who do not smoke.”

The survey notes too that just 56 per cent of people who used cannabis in the 12 months prior know or believe that daily or almost daily cannabis use can increase risk of mental health problems. Of people who didn’t use cannabis in the same span, 68 per cent knew or believed that.

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In 2021, 37 per cent of 16-19-year-olds who responded said they’d used cannabis. That number was 49 per cent for 20-24-year-olds, and 22 per cent for those 25+. All of those figures were down slightly from 2020.

AHS also commented on how laws have changed, but health risks have not.

“It is important that people understand the health effects of cannabis, the risks to their health and how they can reduce their risks if they choose to use,” says AHS. “There is a lot of misinformation on social media about cannabis that is not supported by peer reviewed research. AHS recommends that people use reliable sources of information such as www.drugsafe.ca when they are looking for reliable up to date information on cannabis.”

AHS says the only way to avoid all the risks is not consume cannabis at all, but if you’re going to, they recommend using these tips to lower the risk:

• Delay use. The younger you are when you start, the higher your risk of developing physical and mental health problems, such as anxiety, difficulty concentrating and, in some cases, psychosis. Some people are more likely to develop problems from cannabis use; specifically, those with a personal or family history of psychosis or substance use problems.
• Choose low-strength cannabis products with low THC (less than 10 mg or 10 per cent) and equal or higher CBD content.
• Don’t mix/combine cannabis use with tobacco/nicotine, alcohol or other drugs.
• If you are smoking cannabis, don’t inhale deeply or hold your breath, so it’s not as damaging to your lungs.
• Choose other forms of cannabis that you don’t inhale, such as edibles. Remember that they still have health risks.
• Don’t use cannabis or other substances if you’re pregnant, think you might be, or are trying to get pregnant.
• Don’t smoke or vape cannabis or tobacco in your home or around children. Second-hand smoke and vapour is harmful, especially to children or people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
  • Keep all drugs (including cannabis, alcohol, tobacco, and tobacco-like products) locked up, out of sight, and out of reach of children and pets. Keep cannabis and all drugs in their original containers. Make sure products are clearly labelled, especially for homemade products. Cannabis packaging bought from a legal source is marked with the universal symbol for THC.
  • Do not drive or operate machinery while under the influence of cannabis and/or other substances.

AHS notes that the standard of practice for physicians who prescribe cannabis for medical purposes is unchanged since it was initially issued in 2014. Those standards were reissued in 2017 and 2021.

If you are concerned about your own or someone else’s use of cannabis, alcohol, or another drug, please contact Health Link at 811 or the Addiction Helpline at 1-866-332-2322.