Informing your doctor and pharmacist about recreational use of marijuana

This spring, the government will be introducing its legislation to legalize the sales of marijuana for recreational use. When you fill your prescription, your pharmacist may ask if you are using marijuana because it can cause moderate to severe interactions with some commonly prescribed medications, due to its active chemical ingredient tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. This chemical is the main psychoactive component of marijuana. 


Furthermore, there are health risks associated with this chemical, particularly in the smoked form. Therefore, it is important that patients inform their doctors and pharmacists about the use of recreational marijuana.

According to the Canadian Medical Association, marijuana use is linked to addiction, cardiovascular and pulmonary effects, mental illness, cognitive impairment and reduced educational attainment. There also seems to be an increased risk of chronic psychosis disorders, including schizophrenia in persons with a predisposition to such disorders. 

Children and youth are especially at risk of harm because their brain is still in development. Studies over the last 15 years has established that the human brain development continues into a person's early 20's. The Canadian pediatric society cited concerns that exposure to cannabis during brain developmental period causes greater adverse effects in adolescents compared with older adults, whose brains are fully developed. 

Although the Canadian Medical Association recommends that the minimum age for marijuana consumption to be set at 21, the federal task force report suggests that the minimum age to be set at 18, but in Ontario, it may follow the same minimum age for alcohol consumption which is 19 years of age. 


As marijuana becomes more widely available for recreational use, people will likely have more questions about its health effects and drug interactions. Make sure you consult with your health professionals if you are unsure about the effect it may have on your own health. Look for reliable and scientific sources when researching online about the health effects of marijuana.

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