Cannabis

What is cannabis?

Cannabis (Health Canada) comes from the dried tops (buds) of the cannabis plant and contains more than 100 chemicals called “cannabinoids”. THC (delta-9-tetrahydro-cannabinol) is the active, psychoactive (mind-altering) compound in cannabis. Another cannabinoid found in cannabis is cannabidiol or CBD. CBD has little to no mind-altering effects compared to THC.

The scientific name “cannabis” is the preferred term rather than the slang term “marijuana”, which is often associated with racial discrimination and injustice. Other common terms used for cannabis may include “weed”, “pot”, “dope”, “grass”, or “Mary Jane” (MJ).

Forms of cannabis¹

Form	Description	THC potency
Fresh or dried herbal material	Flowers and leaves from the cannabis plant	Up to 30%
Cannabis oil	Cannabis extract dissolved in oil. Can be used to make other forms (for example, edibles).	Up to 3%
Chemically concentrated extracts (for example, hash oil, shatter, budder, wax)	Highly concentrated cannabis extract dissolved in petroleum-based solvent (for example, butane). Shatter, budder and wax most highly concentrated.	Up to 90%
Physically concentrated extracts (for example, hash, kief)	Loose trichomes or pressed resin from the cannabis plant.	Up to 60%
Edibles	Foods and drinks containing extracts of cannabis	Depends on the amount of extract added
Tinctures or sprays	Cannabis extract dissolved in a solvent, often alcohol. Can be used to make other products (for example, edibles).	Varies
Creams, salves, liniments	Cannabis extract preparation prepared with alcohol, oil, or wax and applied to the skin.	Varies

Source: Health Canada. (2023). The different forms of cannabis [Table 1]. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication/cannabis/about.html#a4

Methods of use²

Inhalation
Oral-mucosal
Ingestion
Topical

Inhalation

Inhalation is the most common way that cannabis is consumed. Effects are often felt quickly after inhalation.

There are two different forms of cannabis that can be inhaled, dried cannabis and cannabis concentrates.

Dried cannabis may be rolled into a joint and smoked, or smoked using a pipe, water bong, or dry herb vaporizer.
Cannabis concentrates can be smoked/vaporized by using a specialized bong called a dab-rig, using a vape pen, rolled into a joint and smoked (with or without dried cannabis), or used in a pipe or bong (with or without dried cannabis).

Oral-mucosal

Oral-mucosal use involves spraying or applying the cannabis product into the mouth under the tongue or on the inside of the cheek for it to be absorbed through the oral-mucosal lining. Common oral-mucosal products are tinctures and sprays. Effects are often felt rapidly from cannabis products consumed this way.

Ingestion

Cannabis can be ingested by either eating or drinking products infused with THC and/or CBD. These edibles may be home-made or professionally produced. Professionally produced edibles contain a set and measured amount of THC and CBD whereas homemade edibles can have varying or unclear concentrations of THC. To avoid overdosing on cannabis it is recommended that you start low and go slow. Effects of edibles can take from 45 minutes to 2 hours to be felt.

Topical

Topical cannabis products are applied onto and absorbed through the skin. Most topical products contain more CBD than THC but may also contain THC. They are usually non-intoxicating. Topical cannabis products include creams, lotions, balms, salves, and personal lubricants.

The endocannabinoid system²

The endocannabinoid system is a network of receptors, CB1 and CB2, that are located mainly in the brain. The endocannabinoid system helps to regulate multiple systems and functions in the body like sleep, hunger, energy level, the immune system, and pain perception.

Your body’s own naturally produced cannabinoids can activate the endocannabinoid system, but cannabinoids such as THC and CBD from cannabis can also activate the system.

What are the effects of cannabis?

Effects can be different for everyone depending on their experience with cannabis, how it is ingested/taken, the mood of the person using it, and if it is used in combination with other drugs or alcohol.

Short-term effects^1,2:

feeling high, ‘stoned’, or a sense of euphoria
relaxation
feeling giggly or happy
having the munchies (increased appetite and cravings)
feeling drowsy or sleepy
dry mouth (also known as ‘pasties’)
dry/red eyes
feeling anxious, tense or paranoid
confusion
impaired sense of time
delayed reaction times and decreased coordination
difficulties with concentration and memory
changes in blood pressure
increased heart rate

Long-term effects^1,2:

Long-term cannabis use can lead to different physical, mental and psychosocial effects. These effects can develop over weeks, months, or years of use. Some of the long-term effects of cannabis use include:

impaired memory
difficulty concentrating
effects on the developing brain (up to the age of 25)
negative impact on mental health
chronic cough, lung infections
developing a dependency to cannabis

How long does it take for cannabis to take effect and how long does it last? ^1,2:

When cannabis is smoked you may feel the effects begin immediately or within a few minutes, these effects can last up to 12 hours or longer, depending on the person.
If cannabis is eaten/ingested, it may take 30 minutes up to 2 hours to feel the effects, these effects can last longer than the effects felt from smoking.
Although it may feel that the effects of cannabis have worn off, some residual effects may last for up to 24 hours.

What factors impact the effects experienced by alcohol/cannabis consumption?

There are many factors that can influence the impact that cannabis can have on your physical and mental health:

how often cannabis is used
how much cannabis is used
personal history of mental illness or trauma
other pre-existing health conditions
family history of mental illness or substance use disorders
age

For more detailed information about the effects of cannabis on your health and other risks, visit our webpage on Cannabis and your health.

Synthetic cannabinoids: Know the risks

Synthetic cannabinoids are man-made chemicals that activate the cannabinoid receptors in the brain and mimic the effects of THC. Synthetic cannabinoids are not legal and are not the same as cannabis. Some common names for these substances include ‘K2’ and ‘Spice’.

Synthetic cannabinoids are often much stronger than real cannabis and because synthetic cannabinoids are not regulated, they can vary in their chemical composition, strength/potency, and quality.^3,4,5:

These products can be extremely toxic with serious side effects. Some side effects of synthetic cannabinoids include³:

irregular or fast heart rate
seizures
nausea and vomiting
kidney injury
confusion
agitation, hallucinations, and psychosis
dependence and/or withdrawal with long-term use

Cannabis legislation

Since being legalized by the federal government under the Cannabis Act (Government of Canada) in 2018, it is legal to buy, grow and sell regulated cannabis products under certain exemptions and regulations of the Cannabis Act (Government of Canada) and the Ontario Cannabis Control Act (Government of Ontario).

Under Division 2, Subdivision B of the Cannabis Act(Government of Canada) there are strict regulations in place for the labelling of cannabis products sold in authorized retail locations.
Under Section 7 of the Ontario Cannabis Control Act (Government of Ontario), in Ontario it is illegal to sell cannabis to anyone under the age of 19; and under Section 10 of the Ontario Cannabis Control Act(Government of Ontario) it is illegal for anyone under the age of 19 to possess, consume, buy, or sell cannabis.

For more information about cannabis and the law, see our webpage on cannabis law, legislation, and by-laws.

Learn more about cannabis:

Are you concerned about your use or someone else’s cannabis use?

If you have concerns about your cannabis use, or that of a loved one, you’re not alone. Help is available.

Visit our resource on community programs, supports.
Visit mental health and addictions services Ontario (ConnexOntario). It offers services by phone, online chat, and email, and provides a directory of support services.
Learn more about cannabis (Health Canada).
Reach out to your health care provider.
Call Health Sciences North Crisis Services at 1.877.841.1101 (toll-free) or visit crisishelp.ca. Crisis services are available 24/7.
Call or text the National Suicide Crisis Helpline at 9-8-8, services are available 24/7.
Call 9-1-1 immediately in an emergency situation.

Want information on how to reduce your risks and use wisely?

See Canada’s Lower-risk Cannabis Use Guidelines (Health Canada).

Health Canada. (2023, March 14). About cannabis. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication/cannabis/about.html
Bear, D. (2023). Cannabasics: A primer for health and social service providers. Canadian Public Health Association. https://substanceuse.ca/sites/default/files/2023-11/SURE_Cannabasics_FINAL.pdf
Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA). (2014). CCENDU bulletin: Synthetic cannabinoids in Canada. https://www.ccsa.ca/synthetic-cannabinoids-canada-ccendu-bulletin
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2024, February 15). Cannabis frequently asked questions. Cannabis and Public Health. https://www.cdc.gov/cannabis/faq/
National Instiute on Drug Abuse. (2023, October). Synthetic cannabinoids. https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/synthetic-cannabinoids

This item was last modified on September 18, 2024