Secure Your Stash! | Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department

What is Cannabis?

Cannabis—also called marijuana, marihuana, weed, herb, pot, grass, bud, ganja, Mary Jane, and a vast number of other slang terms—is a greenish-gray mixture of the dried flowers of Cannabis sativa. Cannabis is the most commonly used illegal drug (Federally) in the United States; however, Michigan has legalized adult-use of cannabis, making it legal for adult use in Michigan. Cannabis' use and strength have increased in the past few years. Medical cannabis uses the cannabis plant or chemicals in it to treat diseases or conditions. In the state of Michigan, medical cannabis was legalized in 2008. Learn more about the Michigan Medical Cannabis Program.

What are the health risks of cannabis use?

Distorted perceptions
Impaired coordination
Difficulty thinking and problem-solving
Problems with learning and memory
Respiratory conditions (examples include bronchitis, emphysema, and bronchial asthma)
Anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia Increased heart rate
Hallucinations, delusions, and/or psychosis (when taken in high doses)

Laws and Regulations:

Resources:

Signs of cannabis use include:

Dizziness
Red, bloodshot eyes
Difficulty walking
Having difficulty remembering things that just happened
Acting silly for no apparent reason
The smell of cannabis on hair and clothes

What are the withdrawal symptoms of cannabis?

Irritability
Sleeplessness
Decreased appetite
Anxiety

How to properly store cannabis?

How should cannabis be stored?

Keep products in the original, childproof containers and out of the reach/sight of children. Always store in a lockbox or lock bag.

Children, adults, and pets can mistake cannabis products, particularly edibles, for regular food or candy. Consuming cannabis can make children and pets very sick. They may have problems walking or sitting up or may have a hard time breathing. Since cannabis use has been legalized in some states, accidental cannabis poisonings in children have increased, sometimes requiring visits to the emergency room or hospitalization.

Cannabis dangers for children:

Can secondhand cannabis smoke affect nonsmokers, including children?

Secondhand cannabis smoke contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical responsible for most of cannabis' psychological effects, and many of the same toxic chemicals in smoked tobacco.

Smoked cannabis has many of the same cancer-causing substances as smoked tobacco, but there are still many unanswered questions around secondhand cannabis smoke exposure and its impact on chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and lung diseases.

Where you can find a lock boxes and bags:

Is it possible for someone to become addicted to cannabis?

Approximately 3 in 10 people who use cannabis have cannabis use disorder. For people who begin using cannabis before age 18, the risk of developing cannabis use disorder is even greater. (CDC)

How does cannabis affect the developing brain (25 years and under)?

Cannabis use during adolescence and young adulthood may harm the developing brain. Negative effects of cannabis use during this period can include:

Difficulty thinking and problem-solving
Problems with memory and learning
Reduced coordination
Difficulty maintaining attention
Problems with school and social life

Pregnancy:

How does cannabis impact pregnancy?

Cannabis use during pregnancy can be harmful to the baby’s health. The chemicals in cannabis (in particular, tetrahydrocannabinol or THC) pass through the system to the baby and may harm the baby’s development. Although more research is needed to better understand how cannabis may affect you and your baby during pregnancy, it is recommended that pregnant persons do not use cannabis.

How does cannabis impact breastfeeding?

The health effects of a breastfeeding person’s use of cannabis on their infant or baby are not yet fully known. We do know that chemicals from cannabis can be passed to a baby through breast milk. THC is stored in body fat and is slowly released over time, meaning a baby could still be exposed even after a person has stopped using cannabis. Persons who are breastfeeding are encouraged to avoid all cannabis use.

Cannabis and Driving:

How does cannabis affect driving?

Cannabis significantly impairs judgment, motor coordination, and reaction time. Studies have found a direct relationship between blood THC concentration and impaired driving ability. If using medical or adult-use cannabis:

Choose not to drive and remind your friends and family to do the same.
Assign a trusted, sober driver when you are going out with a group of people you know.
Use a rideshare service or call a taxi.

Benzie Office

6051 Frankfort Hwy, Ste 100
Benzonia, MI 49616

Office Hours
Monday-Friday
8am-12pm and 1pm-4:30pm

Phone: (231) 882-4409(231) 882-4409
Fax: (231) 882-2204

Leelanau County
Health Services

7401 E Duck Lake Rd., Ste 100
Lake Leelanau, MI 49653

Office Hours
Monday-Friday
8am-12pm and 1pm-4:30pm

Phone: (231) 256-0200(231) 256-0200
Fax: (231) 882-0143

Leelanau County
Environmental Services

8527 E. Government Center Dr. Suite LL-007
Suttons Bay, MI 49682

Office Hours
Monday-Friday
8am-12pm and 1pm-4:30pm

Phone: (231) 256-0201(231) 256-0200
Fax: (231) 256-0225

What is Cannabis?

Laws and Regulations:

Resources:

How to properly store cannabis?

Cannabis dangers for children:

Where you can find a lock boxes and bags:

Pregnancy:

Cannabis and Driving:

For Media Contacts

MIChild, Healthy Kids, Healthy Michigan Plan

What is Cannabis?

Laws and Regulations:

Resources:

How to properly store cannabis?

Cannabis dangers for children:

Where you can find a lock boxes and bags:

Pregnancy:

Cannabis and Driving:

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For Media Contacts

MIChild, Healthy Kids, Healthy Michigan Plan