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Youth and cannabis

Is it safe for youth to use cannabis?

No, cannabis is not safe for young people. Ideally, youth should avoid and/or limit cannabis use until the age of 25 or older1,2. Cannabis use can affect brain development and functioning. Even occasional cannabis use has risks including decreased memory, attention, and executive function3. When cannabis is inhaled, it can also damage the lungs1,2. The higher the frequency and amount of cannabis use, the higher the risks. Using cannabis before the age of 16 increases the risk of developing mental health issues or a cannabis use disorder1,2,3.

The short-term effects of edible cannabis can last for up to 24 hours depending on dose2, so plan ahead! It is illegal to drive with any cannabis in your system. Don’t ride in a car with a driver who is under the influence of cannabis4.

If you choose to use cannabis, there are ways to use it that reduces your risks of damaging your physical and mental health. For more information on how to reduce your risks, consider following the Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines (LRCUG) (PDF) and the Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines for Youth (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health).

I am a teen and I am looking for information about cannabis. Where can I go?

GetSensible.org is a fact-based, judgement-free cannabis information website written by young people, for young people. It includes information about cannabis, ways to use and ways to reduce risks, how to avoid “greening-out”, and tips for keeping cannabis equipment clean. You can also visit the Kids Help Phone’s webpage called Cannabis: Important Things to Know

If you would like to speak to someone about cannabis or have concerns about your use or how it is affecting your health:

If you are ever feeling overwhelmed or find yourself in a crisis you can:

How does cannabis affect the teenage brain?

The impacts of cannabis on the teenage brain have not yet been thoroughly researched, so the full long-term effects are unknown. It is not yet clear how much cannabis plays a role in the development of mental health issues. However, certain patterns of use may produce greater negative impacts on the brain3:

These factors also contribute to the risk of developing a cannabis use disorder (CUD). Research has estimated that 1 in 6 people who began using cannabis as a teen will develop a CUD, compared to 1 in 11 people who use begin using cannabis in adulthood5.

For more information on how cannabis affects the teen brain, GetSensible.org has a pdf booklet titled Cannabis in Context to download that explores the research on the impact of cannabis on the entire body.

  1. Fischer, B., Russell, C., Sabioni, P., van den Brink, W., Le Foll, B., Hall, W., Rehm, J. & Room, R. (2017). Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines (LRCUG): An evidence-based update. American Journal of Public Health, 107(8). DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2017.303818.
  2. Health Canada. (2020, January 11). Canada’s lower-risk cannabis use guidelines. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication/cannabis/resources/lower-risk-cannabis-use-guidelines.html
  3. Get Sensible. (2021). Cannabis in context. Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy. https://getsensible.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Sensible-Cannabis-Education-Booklet-3.pdf
  4. Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA). (2022). Clearing the smoke on cannabis: Cannabis use and driving—An update. https://www.ccsa.ca/clearing-smoke-cannabis-cannabis-use-and-driving-update-0
  5. Health Canada. (2023, March 14). Addiction to cannabis. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication/cannabis/health-effects/addiction.html

This item was last modified on September 10, 2024