Cannabis 101
Which part of the body is also a nickname for cannabis?
Hint: lift both of your arms above your head. What is the area between your arm and your upper chest called?
Joint
True or False: The majority of Ontario youth use cannabis.
False. 1 in 5 (19%) of students in grades 7-12 in an Ontario Study reported using cannabis in the 2016/2017 school year.
Source: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health "2017 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS) Drug Use Report Summary"
TRUE OR FALSE: Using cannabis can lead to problems with concentrating, paying attention, learning, remembering, handling emotions, decision making, and thinking clearly.
TRUE: Cannabis can also create problems in your relationships with your friends and family.
It can also affect how well you do at school, at work, doing sports, playing games, and doing other things you enjoy.
Source: Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse "The Effects of Cannabis Use During Adolescence"
TRUE OR FALSE: It is legal for 18 year olds to use or possess cannabis
FALSE: You need to be 19 years of age and older to buy, use, possess and grow recreational cannabis. This is the same as the minimum age for the sale of tobacco and alcohol in Ontario.
Source: Government of Ontario "Cannabis Legalization"
TRUE OR FALSE: Cannabis is addictive
TRUE: The risk of becoming addicted is 1 in 6 (17%) among those who start using cannabis as a youth. The youth brain is still developing which makes it easier to become addicted to cannabis and other drugs.
Source: Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse "The Effects of Cannabis Use During Adolescence"
What is a nickname for cannabis that is also a name for a gardener's enemy?
Weed
TRUE OR FALSE: Canadian youth use less cannabis than youth from any other country in the world.
False. Canadian youth are the second highest in the world when it comes to using cannabis
In 2016 WHO (World Health Organization) compared 15 year old youth from 40 countries who had used cannabis in the past 30 days and found that the use among Canadian youth was 13% (the second highest)
Source: DrugFreeKidsCanada "Cannabis in Canada"
TRUE OR FALSE: Using cannabis at a young age, using it every day for a long period of time may cause harm which may not go away when you stop using
TRUE: Using cannabis when you're younger (and by young we mean teenagers, and definitely younger than 16) can increase the risk of problems with your health, education and social life.
If you use often, try to limit your use, such as using only on weekends or once a week.
Sources: Centre for Addiction and
Mental Health "The Blunt Truth" and Health Canada "Cannabis in Canada Get the Facts: Cannabis Health Effects"
List 3 places where it is illegal to use cannabis
On school property, child care centres, near sports fields or playgrounds, on hospital grounds, at work, vehicles and boats, in restaurants, in bus shelters
You can use cannabis in your home or on your property, (if allowed in your lease), and sidewalks.
Source: Government of Ontario "Cannabis Legalization"
TRUE OR FALSE: Canadian youth use less cannabis than youth from any other country in the world.
FALSE: Canadian youth are the second highest in the world when it comes to using cannabis
In 2016 WHO ( World Health Organization) compared past 30-day use among youth aged 15 across 40 countries and found that the use among Canadian youth was 13% (the second highest)
Source: DrugFreeKidsCanada "Cannabis in Canada"
What is an item for cooking that is also a nickname for cannabis?
Pot
TRUE OR FALSE: Smoking cannabis is safe
FALSE: Cannabis has over 400 chemicals in it. Some of these chemicals are linked to causing cancer.
Using cannabis can have the following effects on your body:
may decrease your memory, ability to pay attention and concentrate, and your ability to learn
can affect your mental health
can affect your moods and feelings
can damage your lungs
give you more coughs, colds, and chest infections
Source: Health Canada "Cannabis in Canada Get the Facts: Health Effects"
Name 2 groups of people that may be easily harmed by cannabis
Youth 25 years of age and under
Children and babies exposed to second-hand cannabis smoke may have damage to their developing brain and lungs
Pregnant and breastfeeding women may pass the harmful chemicals in cannabis to their babies through the placenta and through their breast milk. There is no known safe amount or time for cannabis use in pregnancy and when breastfeeding
Those with a mental health issue or those with a parent or sibling with a mental health issue are at a greater risk for harms
Those with a substance use problem or those with a parent or sibling with a substance use problem are at a greater risk for harms
Sources: Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada "Cannabis Factsheet", Health Canada "Cannabis in Canada Get the Facts: Cannabis Health Effects", and Centre for Addiction and Mental Health "Canada's Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines" and "The Blunt Truth"
TRUE OR FALSE:
You are not allowed to have any cannabis in your system (as detected by a federally approved oral fluid screening device) if you are driving a motor vehicle and:
TRUE: Drivers age 21 or under and novice drivers of any age (with G1, G2, M1, or M2 licenses) must not have any presence of alcohol in their blood when behind the wheel. This is commonly referred to as the “zero BAC” or “zero tolerance” rule.
As of July 1, 2018, young and novice drivers are prohibited from having any presence of cannabis in their system as well as other drugs that can be detected by an oral fluid screening device. That means that Ontario has a zero tolerance approach to both alcohol and drugs for all young and novice drivers.
If police determine that youth have the presence of cannabis or alcohol in your system and/or that youth are impaired by any substance including illegal drugs, prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications, youth will face severe consequences and potential criminal charges.
Sources: Government of Ontario "Cannabis Legalization" and Ontario Ministry of Transportation "Impaired Driving"
What is the chemical in cannabis that makes you feel like you're "high"?
THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is the main chemical and is most responsible for the “high”. It also affects your coordination and balance, and may cause you to feel anxiety, panic, and trouble knowing what's real and what's not real.
Cannabis comes in many different strains, with many different percentages of THC. The more THC in the cannabis, the more likely you are to experience negative effects from the cannabis.
Source: Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse "The Effects of Cannabis Use During Adolescence"
What is it called when you take a quick puff?
Hint: baseball players always want to get one of these
A hit
TRUE OR FALSE: Eating or drinking products that have cannabis in them are safer than smoking or vaping cannabis
TRUE: Smoking cannabis (in joints, bongs, etc) is the most harmful way of using cannabis because it affects your lungs. Eating or drinking products that have cannabis in them is safer as it doesn't affect your lungs. But you need to be careful. When you eat edibles, your high is delayed. Pacing yourself can help you avoid what some might call a "bad high". Remember that no method is entirely risk-free.
Source: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health "The Blunt Truth"
List 4 possible long-term effects of using cannabis
Problems with memory, paying attention, concentration, & learning
Increased risk of psychosis (hearing, seeing, or feeling things that aren't real), anxiety, breathing problems (ie worsening asthma)
Addiction
Using during pregnancy or breastfeeding can harm a fetus or a newborn
Source: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health "The Blunt Truth" and Health Canada "Cannabis in Canada Get the Facts: Cannabis Health Effects"
Where can you legally buy cannabis?
The Ontario Cannabis Store website is the only place those 19 years of age and older can purchase it. By April of 2019 Ontario will have retail stores where you can purchase cannabis.
Purchasing cannabis from a legal, regulated source means that individuals will not be exposed to cannabis that has been contaminated with unknown, harmful chemicals or other drugs, which can happen when it is purchased illegally. It also means that users can choose the percentage of THC and CBD in the cannabis they use.
Source: Government of Ontario "Cannabis Legalization"
What is the chemical in cannabis that can be used to help people with health problems?
Cannabidiol (CBD). CBD does not make you feel "high". It has been shown to help with some forms of chronic pain, nausea and vomiting.
Source: Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse "The Effects of Cannabis Use During Adolescence"
What is a plant which requires careful maintenance and is also another name for cannabis?
Grass
TRUE OR FALSE: More Ontario youth drive after using cannabis than after drinking alcohol
TRUE: In 2017, more youth drove high than drunk.
Make sure you are aware if your driver has used cannabis, and if they have, find another safe way home.
There are significant risks of being hurt when driving high or drunk or being a passenger in a car driven by someone who is high or has had some alcohol.
Sources: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health "2017 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS) Drug Use Report Summary" and Health Canada "Drug-Impaired Driving"
Each and every time you use cannabis your body and mind may be affected. List 5 possible short-term effects
Feelings of intense happiness, relaxation, paranoia, anxiety, feeling like time is moving slowly, psychosis (hearing, seeing, and feeling things that aren't real), difficulty paying attention, difficulty remembering, shaking, poorer coordination and balance, slower reaction time
Increased heart rate, increased hunger, increased blood pressure, dilated pupils, red eyes, dry mouth, and throat.
Sources: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health "Cannabis" and Health Canada "Cannabis in Canada Get the Facts: Cannabis Health Effects"
TRUE OR FALSE: A 19 year old student can use cannabis on school property.
FALSE: Although recreational cannabis is legal for adults 19 years of age and older, no one can use cannabis at schools, on school property and at school-related activities.
In addition, smoking or vaping cannabis is prohibited at schools, on school grounds, and all public areas within 20m of these grounds.
If caught with cannabis on school property you may be suspended, or have other consequences
Source: Ontario Ministry of Education "Legalization of Recreational Cannabis"