Less is More When it Comes to Edibles

Friday, 18 October 2019 at 14:51

Southwestern Public Health is putting out a few safety tips and reminders with the legalization of edible cannabis.

OXFORD COUNTY - The Local health unit is preaching caution today as edible cannabis products are now legal for purchase in Ontario.

While the edible cannabis and other products may not be as harmful on your lungs, they do have impacts on other areas of your body. For example people under the age of 25, edible cannabis will have an impact on your brain development and that is true if you are smoking it or eating it.

Public Health Nurse with Southwestern Public Health Jacqueline Deroo says if you are using edibles, it's important to start with small doses.

"We are very concerned about the immediate risks to people's health, so some things that may cause you to injure yourself. With edible cannabis, the intoxicating effects or high do not kick in for about 2 hours and they peak after 4 hours, because it can take up to 4 hours to feel the full effects, consuming more cannabis within this time period can result in over intoxication and that can cause people to have severe anxiety, panic, nausea, vomiting and symptoms of psychosis and paranoia."

Deroo says the effects of edibles can be more intense than inhaling it. She also notes that the effects of edibles can last for a long time.

"The effects can last up to 12 hours and the residual effects can last up to 24 hours, so this timing differs from smoking or vaping and if someone is more experienced with that type of cannabis, than this might come as a surprise to them. You shouldn't be driving or parenting or anything like that, while you are impaired from the effects of cannabis and if it is lasting that long, you might be surprised by that."

Deroo says less is more when doing edible cannabis, especially if you have never tried it before. The Health Unit advises people to ingest cannabis at less than 2.5 mg of THC at a time.

Even though edibles are technically legal in Ontario, it will likely be at least another month or so before you can buy them.

You can find more information about the effects of cannabis on your health online here.