01/20/2023

With societyʼs view of Cannabis becoming more and more normalized, here are some tips to make using cannabis safer.

While many state programs are less than perfect, buying cannabis through the legal market generally offers some advantages and protections:

Product is tracked throughout its lifecycle and is tested for potency and safety.
Labeled so the buyer knows exactly what kind of strain they are consuming.
If a contaminated product is discovered, there can be a recall.

Things to watch out for:

Safety and monitoring are by no means foolproof.

Do not rely on dispensary employees to make medical suggestions when purchasing. A Healthcare professional should be answering these questions.

Cannabis flower is more potent than it was back in the 70s. People who havenʼtused cannabis recently could overconsume, assuming it is the same weed as before.
Start low, go slow, and stay low is good advice, especially if youʼrenew to (or newly back to) using cannabis. Be
careful with all edibles, especially any you make yourself.

Teens due to concerns about the effects it can have on brain development.
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding due to safety concerns about its effects on a newly developing brain.
People with certain psychiatric conditions, such as psychosis, can worsen their condition.

Other safety tips:

Instead of smoking cannabis, which can in§ame your lungs, use a tincture, edible, topical product, or a dry herb vaporizer.
If you smoke cannabis, donʼt hold it in your lungs for more than a second or two; holding it in longer doesnʼt give you more effectiveness; it just irritates your lungs.
Donʼt drive for at least 4 hours after smoking cannabis. After an edible wait 8 – 12 hours before driving.