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Cannabis health warning messages

This document took effect on March 12, 2025.

Part 1: The cannabis health warning messages in this Part apply to dried cannabis products and cannabis extracts intended for smoking.

  • WARNING: The smoke from cannabis includes toxic chemicals that increase your risk of heart and lung disease. The more often you smoke, the greater the risk.
  • WARNING: Using cannabis before age 25 can harm brain development. This can worsen your attention, concentration, and memory, especially when using cannabis every day or most days.
  • WARNING: Using cannabis before age 25 increases your risk of mental disorders like psychosis and schizophrenia. The more often you use, the greater the risk.
  • WARNING: Cannabis can cause psychotic symptoms like severe paranoia. The risk is greatest in people younger than 25 or when using products higher in THC.
  • WARNING: Using cannabis every day or most days can lead to dependence. Dependence also increases your risk of anxiety and depression.
  • WARNING: Cannabis can be addictive. The higher the THC, the greater the risk.
  • WARNING: Long-term cannabis use increases your risk of anxiety and depression. The more often you use, the greater the risk.
  • WARNING: The higher the THC, the greater the risk of adverse effects. These can include paranoia, anxiety, and dependence.
  • WARNING: Do not use cannabis if pregnant or breastfeeding. Using cannabis can harm your baby's growth and development.
  • WARNING: Do not drive under the influence of cannabis. It puts your life and other people's lives at risk.

Part 2: The cannabis health warning messages in this Part apply to edible cannabis products.

  • WARNING: Edibles can poison children. Severe cases can include hospitalization for breathing difficulties, seizures or coma, especially in children under 5.
  • WARNING: Keep out of reach of children. Edibles can cause cannabis poisoning that can be life-threatening to children, especially to those younger than 5.
  • WARNING: It can take up to 4 hours to feel effects from eating or drinking cannabis. Consuming more before feeling an effect can cause cannabis poisoning including severe anxiety and panic attacks.
  • WARNING: Using cannabis before age 25 can harm brain development. This can worsen your attention, concentration, and memory, especially when using cannabis every day or most days.
  • WARNING: Using cannabis before age 25 increases your risk of mental disorders like psychosis and schizophrenia. The more often you use, the greater the risk.
  • WARNING: Cannabis can cause psychotic symptoms like severe paranoia. The risk is greatest in people younger than 25 or when using products higher in THC.
  • WARNING: Using cannabis every day or most days can lead to dependence. Dependence also increases your risk of anxiety and depression.
  • WARNING: Cannabis can be addictive. The higher the THC, the greater the risk.
  • WARNING: Long-term cannabis use increases your risk of anxiety and depression. The more often you use, the greater the risk.
  • WARNING: The higher the THC, the greater the risk of adverse effects. These can include paranoia, anxiety, and dependence.
  • WARNING: Do not use cannabis if pregnant or breastfeeding. Using cannabis can harm your baby's growth and development.
  • WARNING: Do not drive under the influence of cannabis. It puts your life and other people's lives at risk.

Part 3: The cannabis health warning messages in this Part apply to cannabis extract products intended for ingestion.

  • WARNING: It can take up to 4 hours to feel effects when cannabis is ingested orally. Consuming more before feeling an effect can cause cannabis poisoning including severe anxiety and panic attacks.
  • WARNING: Using cannabis before age 25 can harm brain development. This can worsen your attention, concentration, and memory, especially when using cannabis every day or most days.
  • WARNING: Using cannabis before age 25 increases your risk of mental disorders like psychosis and schizophrenia. The more often you use, the greater the risk.
  • WARNING: Cannabis can cause psychotic symptoms like severe paranoia. The risk is greatest in people younger than 25 or when using products higher in THC.
  • WARNING: Using cannabis every day or most days can lead to dependence. Dependence also increases your risk of anxiety and depression.
  • WARNING: Cannabis can be addictive. The higher the THC, the greater the risk.
  • WARNING: Long-term cannabis use increases your risk of anxiety and depression. The more often you use, the greater the risk.
  • WARNING: The higher the THC, the greater the risk of adverse effects. These can include paranoia, anxiety, and dependence.
  • WARNING: Do not use cannabis if pregnant or breastfeeding. Using cannabis can harm your baby's growth and development.
  • WARNING: Do not drive under the influence of cannabis. It puts your life and other people's lives at risk.

Part 4: The cannabis health warning message in this Part applies to cannabis topical products.

  • WARNING: Do not swallow or apply internally or to broken, irritated or itching skin. There may be health effects and risks from cannabis topicals that are not fully known or understood.

Part 5: The cannabis health warning messages in this Part apply to all cannabis products that do not fall within the description of cannabis products provided in Parts 1 to 4 of this document.

  • WARNING: Using cannabis before age 25 can harm brain development. This can worsen your attention, concentration, and memory, especially when using cannabis every day or most days.
  • WARNING: Using cannabis before age 25 increases your risk of mental disorders like psychosis and schizophrenia. The more often you use, the greater the risk.
  • WARNING: Cannabis can cause psychotic symptoms like severe paranoia. The risk is greatest in people younger than 25 or when using products higher in THC.
  • WARNING: Using cannabis every day or most days can lead to dependence. Dependence also increases your risk of anxiety and depression.
  • WARNING: Cannabis can be addictive. The higher the THC, the greater the risk.
  • WARNING: Long-term cannabis use increases your risk of anxiety and depression. The more often you use, the greater the risk.
  • WARNING: The higher the THC, the greater the risk of adverse effects. These can include paranoia, anxiety, and dependence.
  • WARNING: Do not use cannabis if pregnant or breastfeeding. Using cannabis can harm your baby's growth and development.
  • WARNING: Do not drive under the influence of cannabis. It puts your life and other people's lives at risk.

Previous versions

This is how the document read from October 17, 2019 to the coming into force of the Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Concerning Cannabis (Streamlining of Requirements) on March 12, 2025.

Part 1: All of the cannabis health warning messages in this Part apply to cannabis products of all classes of cannabis listed in Schedule 4 to the Cannabis Act, with the exception of cannabis topicals.

  • WARNING: The smoke from cannabis is harmful. Toxic and carcinogenic chemicals found in tobacco smoke such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons, aromatic amines, and N-heterocyclics are also found in cannabis smoke.
  • WARNING: Do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding. Substances in cannabis are transferred from the mother to child and can harm your baby.
  • WARNING: Do not drive or operate heavy equipment after using cannabis. Cannabis can cause drowsiness and impair your ability to concentrate and make quick decisions.
  • WARNING: Frequent and prolonged use of cannabis containing THC can contribute to mental health problems over time. Daily or near-daily use increases the risk of dependence and may bring on or worsen disorders related to anxiety and depression.
  • WARNING: Adolescents and young adults are at greater risk of harms from cannabis. Daily or near-daily use over a prolonged period of time can harm brain development and function.
  • WARNING: The higher the THC content of a product, the more likely you are to experience adverse effects and greater levels of impairment. THC can cause anxiety and impair memory and concentration.
  • WARNING: It can take up to 4 hours to feel the full effects from eating or drinking cannabis. Consuming more within this time period can result in adverse effects that may require medical attention.
  • WARNING: The effects from eating or drinking cannabis can be long-lasting. The effects can last between 6 and 12 hours following use.

Part 2: The cannabis health warning message in this Part applies only to cannabis products that are cannabis topicals.

  • WARNING: Do not swallow or apply internally or to broken, irritated or itching skin. There may be health effects and risks associated with cannabis topicals that are not fully known or understood.
This is how the document read from October 17, 2018 to the coming into force of the Regulations Amending the Cannabis Regulations (New Classes of Cannabis) on October 17, 2019.

Part 1: Health warning messages for cannabis products that are dried cannabis or cannabis accessories that contain dried cannabis

  • WARNING: Cannabis smoke is harmful. Harmful chemicals found in tobacco smoke are also found in cannabis smoke.
  • WARNING: Do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding. Using cannabis during pregnancy may harm your baby and result in low birth weight.
  • WARNING: Do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding. Substances found in cannabis are also found in the breast milk of mothers who use cannabis.
  • WARNING: Do not drive or operate machinery after using cannabis. More than 4,000 Canadians were injured and 75 died from driving after using cannabis (in 2012).
  • WARNING: Do not drive or operate machinery after using cannabis. After cannabis use, coordination, reaction time and ability to judge distances are impaired.
  • WARNING: Cannabis can be addictive. Up to half of people who use cannabis on a daily basis have work, social or health problems from using cannabis.
  • WARNING: Cannabis can be addictive. 1 in 11 people who use cannabis will become addicted.
  • WARNING: Cannabis can be addictive. Up to 1 in 2 people who use cannabis daily will become addicted.
  • WARNING: Regular use of cannabis can increase the risk of psychosis and schizophrenia. Higher THC content can increase the risk of psychosis and schizophrenia.
  • WARNING: Regular use of cannabis can increase the risk of psychosis and schizophrenia. Higher THC content can lower the age of onset of schizophrenia.
  • WARNING: Regular use of cannabis can increase the risk of psychosis and schizophrenia. Young people are especially at risk.
  • WARNING: Adolescents are at greater risk of harms from cannabis. Early and regular use increases the risk of psychosis and schizophrenia.
  • WARNING: Adolescents are at greater risk of harms from cannabis. Using cannabis as a teenager can increase your risk of becoming addicted.
  • WARNING: Adolescents are at greater risk of harms from cannabis. 1 in 6 people who start using cannabis in adolescence will become addicted.

Part 2: Health warning messages for all other cannabis products

  • WARNING: Do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding. Using cannabis during pregnancy may harm your baby and result in low birth weight.
  • WARNING: Do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding. Substances found in cannabis are also found in the breast milk of mothers who use cannabis.
  • WARNING: Do not drive or operate machinery after using cannabis. More than 4,000 Canadians were injured and 75 died from driving after using cannabis (in 2012).
  • WARNING: Do not drive or operate machinery after using cannabis. After cannabis use, coordination, reaction time and ability to judge distances are impaired.
  • WARNING: Cannabis can be addictive. Up to half of people who use cannabis on a daily basis have work, social or health problems from using cannabis.
  • WARNING: Cannabis can be addictive. 1 in 11 people who use cannabis will become addicted.
  • WARNING: Cannabis can be addictive. Up to 1 in 2 people who use cannabis daily will become addicted.
  • WARNING: Regular use of cannabis can increase the risk of psychosis and schizophrenia. Higher THC content can increase the risk of psychosis and schizophrenia.
  • WARNING: Regular use of cannabis can increase the risk of psychosis and schizophrenia. Higher THC content can lower the age of onset of schizophrenia.
  • WARNING: Regular use of cannabis can increase the risk of psychosis and schizophrenia. Young people are especially at risk.
  • WARNING: Adolescents are at greater risk of harms from cannabis. Early and regular use increases the risk of psychosis and schizophrenia.
  • WARNING: Adolescents are at greater risk of harms from cannabis. Using cannabis as a teenager can increase your risk of becoming addicted.
  • WARNING: Adolescents are at greater risk of harms from cannabis. 1 in 6 people who start using cannabis in adolescence will become addicted.

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