With cannabis set to become legal in two weeks, the Huron County Health Unit plans to work to protect the public from the harms of using the recreational drug.
Health Unit Public Health Promoter Jacqueline Uprichard said cannabis comes with risks and harms. She added the health unit wants to get the message out that it is not safe to use cannabis and drive or operate machinery.
Uprichard suggested people aim to limit and reduce the use of the drug, and avoid cannabis use altogether if you are at risk for mental health problems or are pregnant.
The health unit will also work to prevent and delay youth from using cannabis.
In Ontario, anyone 19 years or older will be able to use cannabis legally.
“We have strong evidence that decreased access to cannabis is associated with decreased cannabis harm,” says Uprichard. “We will be talking with municipalities about what they can do to decrease harm from cannabis, including limiting where cannabis can be sold.”
To further decrease harm, the health unit will monitor the local situation with regards to cannabis, promote healthy coping and resiliency skills in youth, develop resources, foster community connections, support workplaces in policy development, and take other actions as needed to reduce risk to residents’ health.
