A Public Health Promoter with the Huron County Health Unit says, with the legalization of recreational cannabis next Wednesday, the Health Unit has established two targets.
Jackie Uprichard says the first is to protect the public from the harms of using cannabis and the second is to prevent delay young people from using cannabis. Harrison says people will now be able to choose whether to use it or not but the goal is to make sure they're well-informed.
She says they'll be putting a lot of information on their web site to make sure people are getting credible information and able to educate themselves as much as possible. She adds if people choose to use cannabis the Health Unit suggests they use they use the same precautions as they would with alcohol.
Uprichard adds they have particular concerns about young using cannabis and are advising that young people abstain or at least delay using it until later in life, as well as using less potent products, avoid using any synthetic products, not combining risks by mixing cannabis with alcohol or other drugs and not getting behind the wheel while they're under the influence of cannabis.
She points out impaired is impaired, whether it's alcohol or cannabis. A recent update to the legislation is that the Province will consider smoking cannabis the same as smoking tobacco so you won't be able to use cannabis, whether that be smoking or vaping, wherever you can't smoke, so that would include places like on patios, within twenty meters of parks or playgrounds, on school property.
Finally, Uprichard says there will likely changes to the legislation in different municipalities and as different situations arise. Updates will be provided on the Huron County Health Unit web site.