Your Cannabis Questions, Answered: Are there risks to using cannabis?
Transcript - Your Cannabis Questions, Answered: Are there risks to using cannabis?
Video description: A panel of experts respond to questions from individual Canadians.
Text on screen: Canadians have questions about cannabis use.
Are there any risks of cannabis use?
Dr. Elaine Hyshka, Assistant Professor, Health Policy: We know that people who tend to smoke every day or very frequently are at more risk for experiencing negative health outcomes. And some of those health outcomes include things like respiratory effects such as chronic bronchitis. You're at increased risk for developing cannabis use problems or cannabis use disorder. Smoking tobacco for example, certainly increases your risk of cancer but the signs and evidence related to the risk of cancer with cannabis is less clear.
Dr. Phil Tibbo, Professor, Psychiatry: Definitely if someone has been using for a long period of time with a high amount of cannabis use, it can have negative consequences psychologically as well as in other areas as well such as mental health and cognition.
Dr. Elaine Hyshka, Assistant Professor, Health Policy: There's a number of strategies you can take to reduce your risk while you're using cannabis. It's best to avoid mixing it with alcohol, or with other drugs. You should never drive after consuming cannabis.
Text on screen: Your cannabis questions, answered.
A message from the Government of Canada.