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The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a complex network (the body system that cannabis interacts with. It includes receptors and signalling molecules called endocannabinoids. The ECS helps maintain balance (homeostasis) in nearly all physiological functions, such as sleep, digestion, mood regulation, appetite, immunity, motor activity, learning, and pain.

Cannabinoid receptors are found throughout the human body but are scarce in the brainstem, which controls vital autonomic functions like breathing and heart rates.

Each human has different levels of cannabinoid receptors and, there are even more differences between males and females in how they process cannabis. Next to the brain, a female tends to have the highest concentration of cannabinoid receptors in their pelvis. Also, the number of these receptors in females fluctuates with estrogen levels throughout their hormonal cycle, which might make them more sensitive to cannabis at specific points. 

Anyone who is experiencing mental health concerns or mood disorders should first consult with a knowledgeable health practitioner before the consumption of cannabis. This is especially important for those experiencing active psychotic disorders, such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

Cannabis does not directly cause psychosis in individuals, but it can trigger it, primarily THC. Other things like viral illnesses, stress and environmental toxins can also trigger psychosis. People with a strong family history of psychotic disorders are advised to consult health care practitioners before using cannabis, even if they don’t have current signs or symptoms of psychosis.

Some medications can interact with cannabinoids. It is vital to check all your prescription medications and discuss any symptoms with your healthcare professional.

CBD has more possible interactions with medications than THC, but the potential side effects depend on the dose. Medicines that interact with cannabinoids can also interact with grapefruit, which causes sedation, affect mood, or impact heart rate and/or blood pressure. A healthcare professional may suggest different consumption methods to reduce interactions.

Both THC and CBD can interact with medications, resulting in potential side effects. The severity of these adverse side effects depends on the medication and dosages of both the medication and the cannabinoid in question. CBD has more interactions than THC, but both can cause issues. It’s best to have all medications reviewed by a healthcare provider to check for any negative interactions for both CBD and THC.

In short, we don't know all the effects of cannabis yet. There are many things that can change how cannabis affects someone, like how much they take, their body weight, how much food and water they've had, medications they’re on and even how their body processes it.

We're still catching up on research because, for nearly 50 years, we couldn't study cannabis properly. Back in 1970, it was classified as a Schedule One drug with the Controlled Substance Act meaning it was in the same category as drugs like cocaine and heroin. It wasn't until 2018, when cannabis started becoming legal in some countries, that we could really start learning about it.

There are some biological differences between a male’s and female’s endocannabinoid systems, which means their bodies handle cannabis differently. Females make more of a substance called 11-hydroxy when THC (the chemical in cannabis that makes you feel high) enters the liver. This means it might take less cannabis for females to feel the same effects as males. This is especially true, throughout a female’s menstrual cycle. The number of endocannabinoid receptors (parts of the body that interact with cannabis) changes when their estrogen levels are fluctuating.

How cannabis affects someone can also depend on many other things, like how much they take, their body weight, their hormone levels, how much food and water they’ve had, and even if they’re taken other medications. So, it's always a good idea to "start low and go slow" to avoid any unwanted side effects.

Both recreational cannabis (used for fun) and medical cannabis (used for health reasons) are regulated and have to follow strict rules for how they are made, sold, and given to people. The differences between the two lie mainly in how cannabis is accessed and monitored for consumers.

Recreational cannabis:

• You can buy it from legal retail stores.
• There is a large variety of different products to choose from.
• Prices can vary.
• You don't need a doctor to buy it.

Medical cannabis:

• You need a medical document and prescription from a doctor to get it.
• Once you have approval from your medical practitioner you can order it online from a licensed producer.
• Medical cannabis can come in different forms, like drops you put under your tongue or products you use in other ways.
• It often has higher amounts of non-intoxicating cannabinoids (parts of the cannabis plant that don't make you feel high), like CBD.
   

THC is a biphasic molecule. This means that at a low dose (a small amount), it can cause one reaction, but at a high dose (a large amount), it can cause the opposite reaction.

For example:

• Low doses of THC can help reduce anxiety (make you feel less worried).
• High doses of THC can increase anxiety (make you feel more worried).

Most side effects (or unwanted reactions) from THC depend on the person and how much they take. This is also true for other parts of cannabis too, called cannabinoids (other parts of cannabis), like CBD, CBN, CBG, etc. It's always a good idea to talk to your doctor before using cannabis to avoid any bad reactions.

The risks from THC are the same for all products, but how you use it matters. If your preferred method is inhalation, like a joint, vape or dab pen, there’s an extra risk to your lungs. 

For those new to cannabis, it’s important to be careful with edibles. The effects are quite different than inhalation products, and inexperienced users are at a higher risk of consuming too much and experiencing unwanted side effects.

All three options come from the same plant, Cannabis Sativa L. The strains are just different types, like how there are various kinds of apples like MacIntosh, Spartan and Granny Smith. Research doesn’t show significant differences in effects based on strain, but people often say that sativas give a head high, indicas give a body high and hybrids combine both effects.

When choosing a strain, focus on the potency or strength of cannabinoids and the terpenes. For example, you wouldn’t want to select a product high in limonene (a terpene) if you don’t like citrus tastes or smells.

Your experience with cannabis may be very different than what you’ve heard or seen. Different products have different effects and different risks. Be sure to chat with the Budtender at the legal cannabis retail store to get all the non-medical info about what you’re buying. And remember, start low and go slow to avoid those nasty, unwanted side effects.

Cannabinoids are chemicals that connect with receptors in your body and brain, like those produced by the cannabis plant. There are two types of cannabinoids: Phytocannabinoids (like THC, CBD and CBG) from the cannabis plant and endocannabinoids (like AEA, 2-AG) made by your body and interact with your endocannabinoid system. 

Cannabinoids work by interacting with specific receptors in your central nervous system. Basically, they help regulate how cells communicate—how they send, receive, or process messages.

Among all the chemicals in cannabis and cannabinoids, delta-9-THC is by far the most studied and is responsible for many, if not most, of the physical and mental effects of cannabis.

It really depends on your experience with cannabis and the product you’re interested in. Flower products show THC as a percentage (%), while edible products list THC in milligrams (mg). For more info, check out our reading the label page. 

If you’re new or coming back to cannabis, it is advised to start with 2.5 mg for edibles and be patient with the effect -sometimes, the effects won’t be apparent until one-two hours after taking the edible. For inhaled products, choose ones with less than 20% THC.

When it comes to cannabis, think about how often you use it (frequency), how you consume it (method of consumption) and the THC strength (potency). There are products out there, and the strongest THC isn’t always the best.

• Make sure you aren’t using too often - recreational use is considered three-four times a month.
• Mix up how you use it - if you always smoke or vape, give your lungs a break and explore edibles or drinkables.
• Maybe try putting away that high-potency vape or dab pen for a bit and trying a lower-potency product for fewer health risks.

Remember, you don’t have to change everything at once. Moderation is a journey, and good habits take time to develop. 

Legal: Have excise stamp, yellow health warning label in English and French, a standardized Canadian THC symbol, and a plain solid colour child-resistant container. 

Legal products also have listed potencies that adhere to the Cannabis Act; each edible has a maximum of 10mg of THC and concentrates have a maximum of 1000mg. 

Illegal stores will have no purchase limit, ask for payment by e-transfer or crypto, ship anywhere in Canada or internationally and sell products with no THC limits and easy-to-open packaging, increasing risks for children, teens and pets. 

Legal online stores will have the CannabisSense banner located on the homepage, they will only ship to Alberta and the retailer is listed on aglc.ca as a legal licensee.

The Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) is conducted by specially trained police officers at the roadside when the driver of a motor vehicle is suspected of having a drug in their body. The SFST consists of preliminary questions, an eye exam and movement tests. If the SFST indicates impairment by drug, the driver will then be arrested and taken to a police station to be evaluated by a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE).

According to federal legislation, the legal limit is less than 2 nanograms (ng) of THC per millilitre of blood. The penalties for amounts of cannabis between 2 and 5 ng, over 5 ng and a combination of 2.5 ng/50 mg per 100 mL vary.

You can face both federal penalties and provincial sanctions. Federal penalties vary depending on the amount of THC found in your body, as well as the number of times you have committed the offence, but they include fines or imprisonment. Provincial sanctions also vary depending on the number of times you have committed the offence, but they can also include fines, licence suspensions, vehicle seizures and various reinstatement conditions.

The truth is that even when you don’t feel the immediate effects of a drug (cannabis, alcohol, any drug), your brain is still operating under the influence of that drug until it is all eliminated from your body. Elimination takes time and lasts longer than the feeling of being high. 

The current recommendation is to wait 8 hours after inhalation (smoking) and 12 hours after ingestion (edibles). Your reaction to cannabis may be different than someone else’s--make sure you arrange for safe transportation if you choose to use.