With cannabis now legalized across Canada, the legalization of edible and drinkable marijuana products is on the horizon: the government has committed to making edibles legal by next year. But in the meantime, edible cannabis products are already available out there in abundance—without any official information or guidelines as to how much is safe to consume.
The CBC invited our Medical Director, Dr. Michael Szabo, to join them in the studio as a guest on the Ontario Today podcast and discuss Canadians’ experiences with edible cannabis.
Dr. Szabo explained that, despite that there is virtually no danger of death from cannabis, it is still possible to have a cannabis overdose. In the emergency room, the symptoms he most often sees from those who have ingested too much cannabis are light-headedness, occasional euphoria, anxiety, and an increased heart rate. And it seems the experience of cannabis overdose is not an uncommon one.
The podcast saw numerous listeners phoning in with their experiences of cannabis overdose. In several cases, a seemingly normal treat had frightening consequences when it turned out to have been made with cannabis, unbeknownst to the person eating it.
One caller shared a story of winding up in the emergency room with a suspected stroke before he realized what had been in the cookie he’d eaten. Another caller warned others to be careful with their pets, as he shared a story of his dog getting into some baked goods and needing emergency vet care.
Dr. Szabo noted that the pleasing package of a cookie or a candy can make marijuana edibles seem less serious than they are. It also makes accidental ingestion much easier, as cookies can be passed around and eventually wind up in the hands of someone who has no idea they even contain cannabis.
At the end of the day, however, Dr. Szabo cautions that marijuana edibles should be treated the same way you would treat any medications: keep them locked away and in a childproof container.
For more stories, and to hear more of Dr. Szabo’s advice, you can listen to the whole episode here.
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