Legislation has passed to allow for more types of cannabis products to be sold legally on the market. The sheer number of cannabis products that will be available to Canadians in 2020 will be difficult to navigate for novice users. Below is a brief summary chart of products that will be available in dispensaries in 2020.
| Product name | Description | Important Considerations |
| Inhalation | ||
| Dried Cannabis plant | The most common form used recreationally or medicinally. The plant material is either smoked or vaporized. | Has a distinct odour, therefore it’s difficult to use discretely.
Can irritate lung tissue in patients with Asthma and COPD |
| Liquid THC/CBD Concentrates (E-Cigarettes) | Relatively new on the market, first sold in Canada in 2004. These e-cigarettes contain liquids that have THC and/or CBD extracts along with other additives. | Many of the additives in these liquid concentrates, such as vitamin E and propylene glycol, haven’t been tested for safety in lung tissue. Unclear how safe this product is, users have had hospitalizations and even death related to vape pen usage. |
| Oral/Edible | ||
| Capsules | Capsules can have THC and/or CBD. Swallowed like any other tablet/capsule. | Can take more than an hour to start feeling any effect after taking a dose. THC/CBD effect can be variable and make it hard to dose. |
| Edibles (gummies, brownies, drinks, foods) | Recently legalized and will be on the Canadian market December 17th 2019. Similar to other oral cannabis products. | |
| Oils | Contains THC and/or CBD in an oil base. Swallowed using dropper, syringe or spray. | |
| Tinctures | Recently legalized and will be on the Canadian market December 17th 2019. Contains THC and/or CBD in an alcohol base. Administered using a dropper or syringe. This can be taken orally, sublingually (under the tongue) and some formulations can be vaporized. Always check the label to ensure it’s safe to vaporize. | Versatile because it allows for different administration methods.
Since tinctures have an alcohol base, theoretically they can cause alcohol intoxication. This will depend on the type of alcohol used and it’s concentration in the mixture. |
| Topicals | ||
| Cream, Ointment, Lotions | Recently legalized and will be on the Canadian market December 17th 2019. These topicals can contain THC and/or CBD and are applied just like any other cream. | Simple, apply like any other cream! |
For a more personalized and detailed analysis of the clinical pros and cons of these products, schedule a consultation with Apothecare today!
