Cannabis

Overview

Cannabis is a green or brown tobacco-like substance consisting of the dried flowering tops and leaves of the cannabis plant, Cannabis sativa. Hashish or cannabis resin is the dried brown or black resinous secretion of the flowering tops of the cannabis plant. Cannabis is a controlled substance under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, meaning that the acts of growing, possessing, distributing and/or selling cannabis are illegal.

Cannabis is the most commonly used illegal drug in Canada and worldwide. According to the 2010 Canadian Alcohol and Drug Use Monitoring Survey, 10.7% of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported past-year use of cannabis. The use of cannabis is generally more prevalent among youth, with approximately 25.1% of 15- to 24-year-olds reporting use of the drug during the past year compared to the 7.9% among adults 25 years and older. Approximately 45% of past-year cannabis users in Canada aged 15 and older reported using cannabis less than once a month during the three months prior to being surveyed. A sizeable percentage of past-year users indicated that they use cannabis more regularly on either a weekly (19.2%) or daily/almost daily (20.3%) basis.

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Clearing the Smoke on Cannabis Series
Cannabis is Canada’s most widely used illicit substance. Results from the 2010 Canadian Alcohol and Drug Use Monitoring Survey (CADUMS) indicate that 10.7% of Canadians 15 years of age and older reported using cannabis in the past year. Given the prevalence of cannabis use and the international concern surrounding its impact on public health, CCSA conducted an empirical review of cannabis-related research to identify the harms associated with using this illicit substance. The Clearing the Smoke on Cannabis series provides an objective review of the evidence on the effects of cannabis use on various aspects of human functioning and development, and discusses implications for policy and practice. Prepared by expert researchers in the field and peer-reviewed, this series of reports addresses what we know, what we don’t know, and what is debatable and in need of further investigation.
Highlights 2013 summarizes the key findings and implications for policy and practice from the five papers in the series [PDF - 0.8 MB]

Chronic Use and Cognitive Functioning and Mental Health [PDF - 0.5 MB]
Maternal Cannabis Use During Pregnancy [PDF - 0.5 MB]
Cannabis Use and Driving [PDF - 0.5 MB]
Respiratory Effects of Cannabis Smoking [PDF - 0.5 MB]
Medical Use of Cannabis and Cannabinoids [PDF - 0.8 MB]