Cannabis education campaign coming

Idea is to educate Islanders about higher potency related to new products coming later this year

With new cannabis products coming to market this year, government is working to ensure Islanders are properly informed and well educated.

Recently, the federal government announced amendments to its cannabis regulations, setting out the rules governing the legal production and sale of edible cannabis, cannabis extracts and cannabis topicals.

The amended regulations will come into force on Oct. 17 but it will be at least mid-December before new cannabis products are available for purchase.

Health and Wellness Minister James Aylward said Islanders need to be aware of the health and safety risks associated with new and higher potency cannabis products.

The province’s Just the Facts campaign will expand over the next four months to include additional information on THC levels and higher potency products, health effects, keeping cannabis out of the hands of children and teens and information on lower-risk use and impaired driving.

“The results show us that cannabis use is common across P.E.I., is likely to increase, and is more commonly used among youth and vulnerable populations. Dr. David Sabapathy

Last August, the chief public health office launched a survey to better understand Islanders’ pre-legalization attitudes towards cannabis, current use of cannabis and knowledge of lower-risk cannabis use.

“Over 4,300 Islanders completed the survey in 2018, including non-users of cannabis, former users and current users,” said Dr. David Sabapathy, deputy chief public health officer. “The results show us that cannabis use is common across P.E.I., is likely to increase, and is more commonly used among youth and vulnerable populations. It also shows that many of our current users of cannabis are engaging in higher-risk behaviours, such as combining cannabis with alcohol use, driving while impaired, and going to work or school still under the influence of cannabis.”

The survey also reported that current users of cannabis have a lower perception of cannabis-related health and social risks, and that there is a considerable knowledge gap regarding lower-risk cannabis use.

The cannabis survey will run from Aug. 1-Sept. 16. Any Island resident 16 years or older, regardless of whether or not they have ever used cannabis, can take the survey. Participants can win an iPad or a Confederation Bridge pass during weekly prize draws and are encouraged to complete the survey early to be entered into all draws.

The survey report is available online at princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/health-andwellness/cpho-2018-pei-cannabis-survey-report.