Youth, diagnosed with cannabis-induced psychosis, support dose recommendation
Two young people who were diagnosed with cannabis-induced psychosis are supporting an expert panel’s recommendation that Health Canada establish a standard dose for cannabis, saying it would help nudge people toward safer consumption.
In a report released last week, the panel convened by the federal government to study legislation that made cannabis legal in 2018 came up with 54 recommendations, including increasing the excise tax on high-potency cannabis, revising packaging and labelling rules and introducing other measures to mitigate health risks to youth.
Cannabis-induced psychosis is a particular concern as the concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which causes a euphoric high, has increased in recent years and could affect adolescents’ brain development, noted the experts who called for “total THC” labels and standard doses to be listed on cannabis product packages.
The panel said a standard dose would note the amount of cannabis that should be considered a single serving and help users make better choices.