Adult-use: If you are 21 years or older, you may legally use cannabis without a doctor's recommendation.

Medicinal-use: If you have a doctor's recommendation and are 18 years or older, you may legally use cannabis.

Cannabis is a plant used to produce hemp fiber for materials, and as a drug. Cannabis has many names including:

• Marijuana
• Pot
• Weed
• 420
• Dope

...and many more.

Community Assessment Survey 2017

• Driving high is not legal.
• DUI is Driving Under the Influence of any impairing substance or combination of substances, including alcohol, cannabis, over-the-counter drugs, prescription drugs, or illegal substances.
• Being Under the Influence of cannabis means that as a result of using cannabis, your mental or physical abilities are so impaired that you can no longer drive a vehicle with the caution of a sober person, using ordinary care, under similar circumstances.
• Driving with any amount of THC in your body can put you at risk of facing legal consequences. There is no per se amount of THC used to establish impairment.
• Remember that THC can remain in your system for 2 weeks or longer, even if you are no longer high.
• Whether under the influence of adult-use or medicinal-use cannabis, the laws and penalties surrounding DUI are the same.
• Legal ramifications of a DUI conviction may include: a jail or prison sentence, up to $10,000 in fines, a suspended or revoked driver's license, a criminal record, and more.

Community Assessment Survey 2017

Cannabinoids are compounds found in cannabis flowers and produced in the brain that act on special receptors located throughout the body. The most concentrated cannabinoids found in cannabis flowers are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).

• THC - psychoactive and most responsible for mood and behavior changes
• CBD - counteracts some psychoactive effects of THC; is generally considered to have therapeutic effects on pain, inflammation, and anxiety
• Endocannabinoids - cannabinoids that are produced in the body
• Phytocannabinoids - cannabinoids that are found in the cannabis plant

Many studies suggest that using cannabis frequently and in high doses could have long-term health consequences. Since brains develop through 25 years of age, the younger a person is, the more likely they are to see negative health outcomes from use.

Being high can affect short-term attention and concentration which could lower academic achievement over time. A common woe of adults who used cannabis when they were younger is how much time they feel was wasted while being high.

The younger you are when you start using cannabis or any other substance, the more likely you are to struggle with addiction later in life.

• It is not legal to use cannabis in a car while it's being operated, even if the car is parked or the person using cannabis is a passenger.
• It is not legal to drive with an open container of cannabis in the car, much like it is not legal to drive with an open container of alcohol.

Everyone must make their own choice about whether to use cannabis or other substances.

Not everyone will react the same way to cannabis. What makes one person feel good can make another feel bad. How you respond to cannabis depends on your biology, the potency of the cannabis, your previous experience with the drug, how it is used (smoking vs. ingesting), and whether other substances are used at the same time.

Cannabis can exacerbate existing or cause emergence of pre-disposed mental health conditions. If you or any of your family members have anxiety, PTSD, or schizophrenia, you should not use cannabis.

Cannabis plants can be broken down into a few main categories. Each strain has its own physical properties and affects the body differently:

• Sativa - Produces energetic, head highs that stimulate creativity. They are more likely to cause anxiety or paranoia, and are typically higher in THC.
• Indica - Produces heavy, body highs and are typically higher in CBD.
• Ruderalis - Less common; some consider to be a sub-strain of Indica
• Hybrids - Exhibits properties of pure strains and are often classified according to their similarities to either Sativa or Indica.

It can be difficult to be different. Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Fewer of your peers use cannabis regularly than you think (in 2016, less than 7% of 12-17 year olds say they have used cannabis), and of those who do, many report using cannabis primarily to fit in. Be confident in your choices, and you may find many of your friends feel more comfortable following your example than you expect!
• Practice how you’ll respond in a situation where you may be expected to use cannabis or other substances. You could say that you have a sports game or big test coming up, or that you’re afraid your parents would find out and disapprove.

THC

• Effects from inhalation (smoking or vaping) reach their peak about 10-30 minutes after use, though It can take upwards of 2 hours to feel the full psychoactive effects. People who drive immediately after inhaling cannabis double their risk of getting into a car crash.
• Effects from ingesting oral cannabis or edibles take longer to kick-in, peak around 2-4 hours after consumption, and last much longer than those from inhalation.
• Higher doses of THC generally cause greater impairment, especially for those who are new to cannabis use or who use cannabis infrequently.

CBD

• Currently, there is no evidence suggesting CBD impairs driving ability.
• Some evidence suggests that CBD may lessen (though not eliminate) impairing effects of THC.

There are many methods of using cannabis. Only the most common methods are mentioned here.

Inhalation

• Includes smoking and vaping
• Cannabinoids enter the lungs before being absorbed into the bloodstream
• Effects are typically felt within 10-15 minutes and peak at about 30 minutes
• Effects can last anywhere from 45 minutes to over 3 hours

Oral Consumption

• Edibles are cannabis infused beverages and foods
• Cannabinoids are broken down in the gut
• It may take up to 2 hours to begin feeling effects
• Effects last an average of 4-6 hours, though they may last even longer
• Concentration of cannabinoids can vary even within the same batch

Topical

• Most topical cannabis products are not concentrated enough to deliver psychoactive effects
• Transdermal patches and some high THC products may produce a mild high

While it's easy to get excited about fewer restrictions on cannabis, it's important to consider how little is known about its long-term impacts on health. Because of how cannabis is classified by the federal government, long-term scientific studies have been very difficult to complete.

While abstaining from use is the safest choice, to reduce health risks from using cannabis:

• Wait until your body and brain are done developing - around 25 years of age
• Consume it less frequently, and in lower concentration
• Obtain it from a reputable source or licensed dispensary, where it has been lab tested for contaminants and potency
• Avoid inhalation methods of consumption, such as smoking or vaping
• Do not drive while under the influence of cannabis

• Cannabis affects the part of the brain that controls body movement, balance, coordination, judgement and memory
• Cannabis slows down reaction time, decreasing a person's ability to make quick decisions
• Using cannabis at the same time as alcohol or other drugs is even more dangerous than when any substance is used on its own

• If you have been using or intend to use cannabis, plan to avoid driving until the effects completely wear off. Arrange for a friend to remain sober, use public transportation, or call a car service such as Uber, Lyft, taxi, etc..
• Because cannabis is fat soluble, know that neither food, water, coffee nor exercise will reduce your impairment or make you a better driver. The only thing that will reduce impairment is time.
• It is every drivers' personal responsibility to practice safe and sober driving habits.

While no adult death has been confirmed to be caused directly by cannabis poisoning, risky behavior while high has resulted in death. Additionally, there is some evidence suggesting cannabis poisoning may be deadly to children.

For adults, if you think you may have used too much cannabis, the best thing to do is relax and wait in a safe place for the drug to leave your body. If your discomfort becomes so intense that you think you need medical attention, ask someone to take you to the emergency room or dial 9-1-1. Do not try to drive yourself.

If you think a child is suffering from cannabis poisoning, take them immediately to the nearest emergency room or dial 9-1-1.

• Always wear your seatbelt - it is your best defense against all kinds of risky drivers.
• Don't let your friends drive impaired. If you are sober, offer to drive them or arrange to have them picked up by a car service, friend, or family member.
• Talk to friends and family members about the legal and safety risks of driving under the influence of cannabis.

Learn more about alcohol/ drug impaired driving from the California Office of Traffic Safety.

Synthetic cannabis, also known as K2 or Spice is a compound that is man-made to imitate THC. It is not legal and is very dangerous. It has been shown to have significant health consequences including death, even when used infrequently in small quantities.