WELCOME TO CANNABIS

Take a minute and please write down:

What you know about cannabis.

&

What you hope to find out about cannabis.

Indica strains are believed to be

physically sedating, perfect for relaxing with

a movie or as a nightcap before bed.

Sativas tend to provide more

invigorating, uplifting cerebral effects that

pair well with physical activity, social

gatherings, and creative projects.

Hybrids are thought to fall

somewhere in between the indica-sativa

spectrum, depending on the traits they

inherit from their parent strains.

THC (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol) makes us feel

hungry and high, and relieves symptoms like pain and

nausea.

CBD (cannabidiol) is a non-intoxicating

compound known to alleviate anxiety, pain,

inflammation, and many other medical ailments.

Cannabis 101

ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM

• Your body has it’s own endocannabinoid system

• The Endocannabinoid system consists of numerous cannabinoid receptors and plays a pivotal role in physiological processes such as mood, memory, pain, immune system and appetite.

• This system does not rely on the presence of Cannabis

• Your body makes it’s own endocannabinoids (endo

meaning internal or within), which bind to cannabinoid receptors.

• Cannabinoids are a class of molecules characterized by their ability to activate cannabinoid receptors like CB1 and CB2.

• Anandamide and 2-AG are the two major endocannabinoids produced naturally in the body.

HOW DOES CANNABIS WORK…

Your Brain on Marijuana

• THC’s chemical structure is similar to the brain

chemical anandamide

• Because of this similarity, THC is able to attach

to cannabinoid receptors (Cb1 and CB2) on neurons

in these brain areas and activate them, disrupting

various mental and physical functions.

• These CB1 receptors are densely located in the parts

of the brain that regulate movement, coordination,

learning, memory and higher cognitive functions such

as Judgement and pleasure.

CANNABIS AND THE DEVELOPING BRAIN

• Brains of young people do not fully develop until mid-twenties.

• Cannabis effects various parts of our brain

Amygdala = fight or flight centre

Basal Ganglia= Movement

Nucleus Accumbens= reward centre

Hippocampus= memory/ spatial navigation

• Prefrontal Cortex is the last part of the brain to develop. It is responsible for our executive functioning.

• CB1 receptors are heavily concentrated in the PFC.

• More studies are linking age of use, frequency of use and concentration of THC to permanent adverse effects on the brain.

CANADIAN YOUTH AND CANNABIS

Perceived Harm Decreases

Rate of use increases

• Canadian youth are the highest Cannabis users out of 43 countries surveyed. (Canadian

Pediatric Society)

• Youth 16-24 yrs are 2x more likely to use Cannabis than any other group.

• Males (26%) > Female (18%)

• According to the Canadian cannabis survey 2017 average age of initiation is 18.2 yrs.

• The CSTADS states that out of gr 7 -12 students surveyed 16% said they had consumed cannabis in the past 12 months, and out of those 17% average age of first use was 14.2 yrs.

5 FORMS OF CANNABIS

Dried Cannabis Hash / Hashish Hash oil

5 FORMS OF CANNABIS (CONT.)

THC Concentrates

WAX

Shatter

Butter

Synthetic Cannabinoids

Spice

K2

WAYS TO CONSUME CANNABIS

Absorption Edibles Smoking/Vaping

CANNABIS & THE LAW IN QUEBEC

Possession of …

Prohibited for minors (under 18 years old)

Adults over the age of 18 are able to be in possession of 30 grams in a public space.

150 grams are permitted per private residence (no matter how many adults reside)

***For more information please see the Cannabis Regulation Act ***

Cultivation of…

It is prohibited to be in possession of a cannabis plant for personal / recreational use.

It is prohibited to cultivate cannabis for personal / recreational use.

Use of…

The public use of cannabis consumption follows the same laws outlined in the Quebec tobacco act.

To highlight restricted areas:

On the grounds of health and social services institutions

On the grounds of Cegeps and Universities

On bicycle paths

Within bus and shared public transportation waiting areas.

***Quebec Tobacco Act ***

CANNABIS & THE LAW IN QUEBEC

Highway safety….

Completely prohibited for ANYONE to drive a road vehicle if there is a presence of cannabis, alcohol or any other drug in the persons saliva.

Sale of Cannabis…

Legal purchase of recreational cannabis is limited and exclusive to the Societe qubeccoise du cannabis (SQDC)

2 SIDES OF CANNABIS IN CANADA

Medicinal (legal in Canada since 2001)

The use of cannabis to treat numerous different types of medical conditions, according to Health Canada these are the specific ailments to which Cannabis is / can be prescribed.

Recreational (legal in Canada since 2018)

This use of cannabis is simply put to get high and change the way the user thinks, acts or feels.

WHAT IS A DRUG?

The simplest way to define a drug is to identify any substance or action that changes the way a person

Thinks

Acts

Feels

SPECTRUM

There is always a beginning and an end to everything, addiction is no different.

Experimenter – User – Abuser

Each one of these also has a spectrum within themselves.

WHAT IS YOUR MORAL COMPASS ABOUT DRUG USE?

Can make a difference in how you help.

CANNABIS RESOURCES

Canadian Center on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) –http://www.ccdus.ca/Eng/topics/Cannabis/Pages/default.aspx

Parent Action on Drugs -https://parentactionondrugs.org/alcohol-drugs/cannabis/

Drug Free Kids –https://www.drugfreekidscanada.org/secureyourmeds/

Kids Help Phone – https://kidshelpphone.ca/

Government of Canada –https://www.canada.ca/en/services/health/campaigns/cannabis.html?utm_source=cannabis-in-canada&utm_medium=email-en&utm_content=july&utm_campaign=outreach-emails-2018

MADD Canada - https://madd.ca/pages/impaired-driving/overview/cannabis-and-driving/

National Cannabis Prevention & Information Center-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvszaF4vcNY

Drugs Over Dinner - http://drugsoverdinner.org/

What is your HighQ? - http://testyourhighq.drugsafe.ca/

TeenMentalHealth.org – 10 Questions about cannabis use and your students -http://teenmentalhealth.org/cannabis/

Poratge – https://portage.ca/en/quebec/

SQDC - https://www.sqdc.ca/en-CA/

Government of Quebec -https://encadrementcannabis.gouv.qc.ca/