Understanding Cannabis
Resources
Contents provided by: Community Health Promotion Services (CHPS) Child & Adolescent Addiction, Mental Health & Psychiatry Program
Information on this page can be downloaded as a handout.

What is Cannabis?
- Cannabis is a plant
- Can be used in many forms
THC : Tetrahydrocannabinol is the main psychoactive chemical
CBD : Cannabidiol is another chemical that may have some medical benefits
Medical Cannabis
- Chronic nerve pain, palliative care, nausea/vomiting form chemotherapy and spasticity from multiple sclerosis
- Do not need to feel high
- Do not help for anxiety, other nausea/vomiting or pain conditions


How is Cannabis used?
by smoking

by eating

topical


How does it make you feel?
- Time distortion
- Calm/relaxed feeling
- Increased appetite and heart rate
- Cognitive impairment
- You may say or do things you wouldn’t normally
- Increased senses
- Followed by depressant period
- May experience anxiety or paranoia

Who use Cannabis?

What are the health effect of Cannabis?

Effects on the Body
- Damage to lungs
- Second-hand smoke can be harmful
- Use while pregnant and breastfeeding can cause harm to the baby

Effects on the Brain
Short Term
- Confusion, slower reaction time, anxiety, fear or panic
- Can affect memory, learning and attention
Long Term
- Can affect ability to make decisions, personality and ability to achieve goals


For people under 25
- Brain is still developing
- Can have lasting impacts for life
Developing Brain
- Can affect attention, judgment, decision making and ability to learn
- Changes the way one think, act and feel can have impacts on major life areas
- Can lead to poor performance in school and drop out

Effects – Mental Health
- Increased risk for mental illness, depression or anxiety
- If there is family history, avoid using



Side effects
Very Common (10-30%) | Common (1-10%) | Uncommon but serious (<1%) |
Intensely happy or uneasy | Impaired memory | Intense vomiting |
Sedation or relaxation | Confusion | Loss of motivation |
Difficulty speaking | Blurred vision | |
Numbness | Visual hallucination | |
Disconnected thoughts | Loss of touch with reality or self | |
Muscle twitching | Problematic use | |
Changes in heart rate | ||
Changes in blood pressure |

Overdose
- Can cause toxic effects
- If combined, the risk increases
- Signs of poisoning include:
- Change in heart rate
- Extreme nausea or vomiting
- Anxiety
- Extreme confusion
- Panic attacks or paranoia
- Seizures


Cannabis Laws





So why youth use substances?
- Curiosity
- Fun seeking
- Peers – fitting in
- To look more mature
- To assert their independence
- To escape problems or fill gaps or cover feelings
- Lack of alternative coping skills
- Family or community norm

Talk to your child – early and openly about cannabis


What can we do?
- Stay connected
- Talk about it
- Be positive
- Focus on safety
- Be informed
- Be supportive
- Be an example
Keep the conversation going

- Connect and encourage
- Remind and repeat
- Share facts and resources


Reduce your Risk
- Start using later in life
- Choose low-strength product, lower THC or higher CBD
- Do not use synthetic cannabis
- Smoking is the most harmful way
- Avoid inhaling deeply
- Try to limit your use

Resources

Information on this page can be downloaded as a handout. If you have any questions, please contact us.
Disclaimer: This material is not a substitute for the advice of a qualified health professional. This material is intended for general information only and is provided on an “as is”, “where is” basis. Although reasonable efforts were made to confirm the accuracy of the information, Alberta Health Services does not make any representation or warranty, express, implied or statutory, as to the accuracy, reliability, completeness, applicability or fitness for a particular purpose of such information. Alberta Health Services expressly disclaims all liability for the use of these materials, and for any claims, actions, demands or suits arising from such use. Last updated October 2022.