Interactive Cannabis Quiz

Correct. Using cannabis when you’re young is riskier because your brain is still developing. THC, the active ingredient in cannabis, can cause changes to the system that directs brain development. This can increase the risk for problems with learning, memory and staying focused.

People who start using cannabis when they are young are also more likely to develop mental health and substance use issues, especially if they use frequently.

Correct. Regular cannabis use can impact your ability to learn, focus, make decisions and remember things. These effects can last for weeks after you stop using.

Starting young (especially before 16) increases these risks.

Correct. Using cannabis before driving increases the risk of getting into in a car crash and having driving-related injuries or deaths.

Cannabis impairs coordination, reaction time and other abilities that are needed to drive safely. Its effects can kick in fast and last up to 6 hours or more, depending on how much THC is in it and how you use it. If you eat edibles, the effects can last up to 12 hours or more.

Driving while impaired by cannabis is dangerous and illegal.

Correct. Cannabis has over 400 chemicals, including THC, that can pass through the placenta and be harmful to a baby’s development. Smoking cannabis during pregnancy reduces oxygen and nutrients to the baby, which can increase the risk for preterm birth and low birth weight.

THC is stored in fat cells, including in a baby’s brain, which can impact brain development and increase the risk of impulsivity, hyperactivity, and learning difficulties in childhood.

There is no known safe amount of cannabis during pregnancy.

Correct. Cannabis smoke contains many of the same toxins and cancer-causing chemicals as tobacco smoke. Smoking cannabis regularly can harm your lungs and lead to issues such as coughing, wheezing, lung infections and chronic bronchitis.

More research is still needed to determine whether smoking cannabis can increase the risk of lung cancer like smoking tobacco does.

Correct. Cannabis use, particularly frequent use of high-THC products, can increase the risk of developing psychosis for some people.

Psychosis means losing touch with reality, experiencing delusions (false beliefs that are firmly held) and hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there). These risks are higher if you have a personal or family history of psychosis or started using cannabis at a young age.

Correct. Regular cannabis use can lead to addiction (cannabis use disorder), especially for those who start using at a young age or use frequently.

Signs that using cannabis is becoming a problem can include:

• Interfering with daily responsibilities, like work, school, sports or hobbies.
• Using more or longer than planned.
• Difficulty cutting down or controlling use.

To find resources and support, visit the Cannabis section of our website.

Correct. Unlike smoking or vaping, edibles take their time to kick in – up to two hours or more! This delay can increase the risk of consuming too much and lead to negative reactions like feeling anxious or paranoid.

If using edibles, “start low and go slow” to lower the risk of negative outcomes.

Correct. Canada’s Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines (LRCUG) offer 10 science-based tips to help reduce the health risks of cannabis use.

While the safest option is not to use at all, these guidelines suggest safer ways to use cannabis, like using less often, choosing products with lower THC, and being aware of your personal risk.

To access the guidelines, visit:

• Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines
• Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines for Youth