As cannabis edibles start hitting store shelves around the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Coastal Health has few tips for avoiding “the unpleasant consequences that come from accidental over-consumption.”
Tip #1: Stay calm and take it one bite at a time.
“We’ve seen for many year that it’s easy for people, especially those who have less experience with cannabis, to consume more cannabis than they mean to with edibles,” medical health officer Dr. Mark Lysyshyn said in a press release.
“Because the psychoactive effects of cannabis are a little different and take longer to kick in when digested, people often make the mistake of taking additional doses. But once the effects kick in, they can find themselves dealing with unpleasant sensations and feeling more impaired than they expected to be.”
And although edibles pose less of a risk to the respiratory system, they do come with their own specific risks.
Vancouver Coastal Health has eight tips for consuming cannabis edibles safely:
- Use small amounts. It’s ideal to use as little cannabis as is necessary to reach the desired effect. Many people find a small dose to be enough. If new to eating cannabis, start with a dose of 2.5 to five milligrams of THC. Always check the amount of THC in the edible, as this might mean cutting an edible in half or into quarters.
- Wait to feel the full effects. Dosage can make a big difference between getting the desired effects and feeling uncomfortable or anxious. Wait at least an hour to feel the full effects of eating cannabis and then decide whether you want to use more.
- Avoid toxic effects. Eating too much cannabis, using strong extracts, or mixing it with alcohol can cause extreme anxiety, vomited and fainting. Avoid consuming cannabis with alcohol. Using cannabis on a full stomach can help moderate the intensity of negative effects.
- Stay safe if impaired. Don’t drive or engage in other potentially dangerous activities as it increases the risk of injury or death. Cannabis can impair coordination, reaction time and other cognitive abilities. Wait at least six hours after ingesting cannabis to drive.
- Don’t panic. If you feel too high, don’t panic, stay hydrated, eat something and find safe place where you feel comfortable. The effects will wear off within two to eight hours.
- Label and store all cannabis securely. Edibles often look like regular food such as baked goods or candy. To reduce the risk of accidental consumption label your cannabis edible and store them securely away from food products and out of the reach of children and pets.
- Obtain cannabis and cannabis products from a legal source.
- If you or someone you know has accidentally consumed cannabis, or consumed too much cannabis and is not well, seek immediate assistance:
- Call B.C. Poison Control Centre at 1-800-567-8911 or 604-682-5050
- Call 911 or go to your local hospital emergency department
For more information and tips are available in Take Care with Cannabis, a brochure developed by Vancouver Coastal Health and the University of Victoria’s Centre for Addictions Research of B.C.
@JessicaEKerr
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