WITH 1-YEAR UNTIL LEGALIZATION, EXPERTS OFFER 10 TIPS ON MINIMIZING POT HARM
Jun 23, 2017
By Bob Komsic
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Age, frequency of use, and method of consumption can all affect risks associated with marijuana use.
(David Horemans / CBC)
Just some of the findings of a study published in June’s issue of the American Journal of Public Health.
Experts in Canada have reviewed the scientific evidence and put together 10 guidelines aimed at minimizing the risks of pot use.
Dr. Benedikt Fischer with Toronto’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and a psychiatry professor at the U of T, says there’s just one way to completely avoid harm – don’t use it at all.
Other recommendations include, avoiding cannabis if pregnant or at risk of mental health problems, as well as delaying using it until later in life.
Federal Health Minister Jane Philpott says she welcomes the guidelines, saying her department considers them important to help users reduce health and safety risks.
In April, the Trudeau government introduced legislation designed to legalize, regulate and restrict access to marijuana.
Philpott adds the government intends to make recreational pot use legal no later than July 2018.