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Understanding cannabis health effects: How to reduce your risk

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Tips to reduce your risk

The best way to avoid the risks of cannabis is to not to use it. If you choose to use cannabis, it's important to understand the health effects and risks, and how you can reduce them. This page provides practical, evidence-based tips to help you make informed choices and help lower your risk of harm.

Avoid using cannabis for as long as possible

Your brain is still developing through your 20s and extending into your 30s. This includes areas of the brain responsible for emotions, memory, and thinking ability. Frequent cannabis use during adolescence and young adulthood can:

  • interfere with brain development
  • increase your risk of attention and memory problems
Reduce how often you use cannabis

Using cannabis every day or most days can lead to dependence and other mental health challenges like anxiety and depression over time. If you use cannabis this often, consider reducing your use. The less often you use, the lower the risk to your health.

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Avoid products with higher levels of THC, like vapes and concentrates

Using products with higher THC levels increases your risk of psychotic symptoms like severe paranoia and anxiety. Over time, it can lead to cannabis dependence, as well as mood, anxiety, and psychotic disorders.

Avoid cannabis if you or your family have a history of psychosis, schizophrenia or substance use disorder

Some people are more likely to experience mental health harms from cannabis due to their genes or family history. Cannabis use may worsen symptoms or make them harder to manage over time.

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Safely store your cannabis out of reach and locked away

Children are at risk of accidental poisonings from improperly stored edible cannabis and other cannabis products. These poisonings are a serious risk and can lead to severe and life-threatening effects. Many cases involve children under 12 years old, with most of these cases occurring in children under the age of 5.

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Avoid smoking cannabis to reduce your risk of heart and lung disease

Cannabis smoke has many of the same harmful chemicals as cigarette smoke, which are known to increase your risk of heart and lung disease. Consider not smoking cannabis. Vaping cannabis may be less harmful than smoking on your lungs. However, the long-term health effects of vaping are still unknown.

Avoid using cannabis if you're pregnant or breastfeeding

There is no safe amount of cannabis use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Using cannabis can harm your baby's growth and development.

Don't drive impaired

Cannabis-impaired driving is illegal. It puts your life and other people's lives at risk. Cannabis reduces your ability to react quickly, interferes with your attention, and impairs your coordination. Arrange ahead for a safe way home instead of driving.

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Avoid mixing cannabis with alcohol or other substances

Combining cannabis with other substances, such as alcohol, can increase your risk of severe impairment, including disorientation, anxiety, nausea, and vomiting.

Choose legal cannabis

Adults of legal age may purchase legal cannabis products from authorized retailers in Canada. If you choose to consume cannabis, you can reduce your risk further by choosing legal cannabis products. Legal cannabis products must meet the requirements of the Cannabis Act and its regulations, which set out rules for product quality, promotion, packaging, and labelling.

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References

Using cannabis while your brain is developing

Using cannabis every day or most days

Using products with higher THC levels

Personal and family history of psychosis, schizophrenia or substance use disorder

Improperly storing cannabis

Smoking cannabis

Using cannabis while pregnant or breastfeeding

Cannabis-impaired driving

Mixing cannabis with alcohol or other substances

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2026-09-21