Using Cannabis and Tobacco Together

According to the 2017 Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey:

• Cannabis is one of the most widely used substance in Canada with close to half of all Canadians aged 15 or older reporting having tried it

• Canadian youth aged 15–19, have the second highest rate of cannabis use in the world.

• 14.8% of Canadians over the of age 15 had used it in the past year, and 18% had used it in the past 3 months. In 2019, 6.1% of Canadians 15 and older reported using it daily.

• 23.4% of people in BC reported using cannabis in the past year, which is far above the estimates for the rest of Canada

• Those aged 15–24 tended to use it the most (about 19% aged 15–19 and 33% aged 20–24).

• 34.8% of Canadians aged 18-24 said they used it in the past three months. 

• About 12.5%% of people aged 18-24 said they used it every day.

• 12.7% of people 25 and older said they used it in the past year.

Studies show that using cannabis under age 25 can affect how the brain develops. The damage can affect the person for the rest of their lives. Using under age 25 can affect memory, learning, attention, judgement, and decision-making—never mind how it affects the rest of the body.

How much cannabis, how often, and how you use it will affect how much and how long it can affect your health:

• Lungs – Vaping cannabis can damage the lungs. Second-hand cannabis vape is at least as harmful—or more harmful —than tobacco vape.
• Goals and performance – It can have a negative effect on how you do at work, school, and on your hobbies and activities. This is especially true for teens and young adults. Younger users have higher rates of being suspended, skip more school, and drop out more.
• Memory and learning – It can affect your memory, learning, and attention.
• Judgment and decision-making – It affects judgment and can lead to risky behaviour and poor decision making.
• Mental Health – In some, especially teens and young adults, using cannabis often can increase the risk for mental health problems like depression, anxiety, and psychosis.
• Dependency – Some studies show that early, regular use may be associated with a higher risk of addiction.
• Other health risks – It can affect both the unborn and newborn baby. Toxins to cannabis pass to the unborn baby, and then in the breast milk after birth.

According to the Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health " the safest approach for people who use cannabis is to avoid smoking or vaping cannabis extracts." 

• Teens and young adults have a higher risk of becoming addicted to nicotine.
• Stopping smoking may be harder for people who mix tobacco with cannabis because the combination may make nicotine withdrawal stronger.
• People who use cannabis and tobacco together are at risk of making unsafe decisions, such as driving while impaired and other risky behaviour.
• People who use cannabis and tobacco together have more breathing problems than those who use only tobacco because of the increased exposure to harmful chemicals, including carbon monoxide and tar.
• There can be more problems with memory and learning. To learn more, or for support in quitting tobacco or cannabis, visit www.quitpath.ca or call toll-free.