Experts offer advice for mitigating health risks of legalized marijuana
OTTAWA — Six of the country’s leading health organizations endorse 10 new cannabis recommendations designed to help reduce the risks associated with Canadians using marijuana — which is set to become legal in a year.
The guidelines, published Friday in the American Journal of Public Health, include recommendations for people to avoid cannabis if they are pregnant or at risk of mental health problems, as well as delaying marijuana use until later in life and limiting consumption.
The guidelines also say driving under the influence of cannabis can substantially increase the risk of being involved in a motor-vehicle crash resulting in injury or death, adding drivers should wait at least six hours to get behind the wheel following use.
The suggestions flow from work conducted by the Ontario arm of the Canadian Research Initiative on Substance Misuse — a national initiative funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.