On October 17, 2019 cannabis edibles, extracts, and topicals became legal in Canada. However, due to the requirement of licenced producers to provide a 60-day notice to Health Canada, Canadians did not see these products available until mid-December.

Employers have had many questions regarding the new products and DriverCheck wanted to provide our clients with the information they need to navigate through this new space. 

EDIBLE VS. INHALED CANNABIS

Ingested cannabis (edible cannabis) is broken down by our body differently in comparison to smoked or vaporized cannabis. With the use of edible cannabis, it takes longer to feel the effects, these effects last significantly longer and may result in a different type of euphoria or “high.” 

After ingestion of edible cannabis, the active component of cannabis — delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) — may take between 30 minutes and two hours or more before reaching the bloodstream and brain, which means that the individual may not feel any effect for one to two hours or longer for some. 

The effects and impairment from the use of edibles can last significantly longer than smoked or vaporized cannabis. The initial euphoria (or “high”) may last for 12-24 hours or more.

With smoked or vaporized cannabis, the effects are felt within minutes. This allows the individual to titrate the amount they inhale, to produce the effects they are looking for. For edibles, the prolonged time between ingestion and effect is due to the slow and unpredictable absorption when ingested. As well, this prolonged time to feel any effects leads some to over-consume cannabis, resulting in unwanted effects that can last for hours to days.

It is not uncommon for individuals who use cannabis with high THC levels to experience nausea, sweats, vomiting, dizziness and a feeling of being generally quite unwell (often referred to as “greening out”). This can occur with overconsumption of edibles. It is possible as well to experience temporary symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, severe anxiety and paranoia.

EXTRACTS

Cannabis extracts include concentrates — or very high potency THC. Some contain up to 99% THC, producing significantly greater intoxication and prolonged effects. In contrast, cannabis available today contains no more than 30% THC. The cannabis used recreationally in the 1960s and 1970s contained levels of 1-5% THC. The difference in the strength leads to differences in the amounts of THC used resulting in vastly different effects than cannabis used years ago.

With these new products, it is important to note that what employees do on their own time may indeed affect safety in their workplace. Prolonged impairment of edibles and concentrates means usage on their own time can most certainly spill over to the workday.

TOPICALS

Topicals include any product that is used on the skin that contains cannabis. Typically, topicals are used for medicinal purposes and not for recreational purposes. Cannabinoids (the active constituent of the cannabis plant) can cross through the skin into the blood and therefore impact cognitive functioning. The amounts however in these products may vary and therefore the effects individuals have will vary from product to product.

DRUG TESTING

For companies conducting alcohol and drug testing, it is important to note what each test will tell you concerning these new products.

All of the new cannabis products will result in a positive urine drug test so long as the product contains THC (the most notable active constituent of the cannabis plant). Currently, all cannabis products purchased legally in Canada (whether purchased through the provincial legal recreational stores or a Health Canada Licensed Producer with a medical authorization) contain some THC (with levels varying from 0.1% to 30% presently with newer products having the ability to contain much higher THC).

Oral fluid, on the other hand, will not detect the use of topical cannabis. Smoked, vaporized and edible cannabis will all result in a positive oral fluid test if used within the timeframe that the test will detect (which differs based on the cut-off level being used). Some individuals claim that edible cannabis will not result in a positive oral fluid test, however, this is incorrect. All ingestible products (cookies, drinks, brownies, candies etc.) that are chewed or remain in the oral cavity before being swallowed, result in the presence of THC in the oral cavity which is picked up by laboratory based oral fluid testing.

If your company is using hair testing, all products will result in a positive hair test.

NEXT STEPS

Workplaces can begin by educating their employees about the differences the new legal cannabis products present and their impact in the workplace, especially in safety-sensitive situations. Policies should be reviewed and updated to reflect expectations regarding the newly legal products and substance use in the workplace in general. It is important to note that these products may result in acute intoxication lasting significantly longer than smoked or vaporized cannabis (24 hours for some). Residual effects of cannabis can last even longer (days to weeks).

Employers and employees need to appreciate the differences between the various types of cannabis and their specific impacts. Employee education is of utmost importance.

With these products which are legal and becoming increasingly available for both recreational and medical purposes, now is the time to ensure everything is in place in terms of workplace policy.

If you have any questions regarding these new products, the testing you are conducting, your policy or how to educate your workforce, please feel free to contact our Client Support Group at ClientSupport@DriverCheck.ca.

With the new legal products come new challenges…..higher concentrations of THC and prolonged cognitive effects which no doubt impact safety. With the use of these products even outside of work hours, the effects may spill over to the workplace.  Just because cannabis (smoked, vaporized, edible cannabis, extracts, concentrates, and topicals) is legal, does not mean that it is safe in the workplace.

FAQ

Will edible cannabis result in a positive oral fluid test?

Yes, edible cannabis, unless taken in a capsule form with no degradation in the oral cavity, will result in a positive oral fluid test. The typical edibles (cookies, brownies, drinks, etc) will result in a positive test. Edible cannabis will also result in a positive urine drug test.

Is there a difference in the length of time an individual will have impairment from the new products?

Yes – with edibles, the effects take much longer to feel the effects and the euphoria (the “high”) which results in cognitive effects, last significantly longer (12 -24 hours or longer). Extracts include concentrates which are very potent, high dose THC products. These also result in a more significant impairment that lasts longer than when using less THC. The effects of both products outside of work hours can therefore significantly impact the workplace.

Is the impairment from edible cannabis different than smoked/vaporized cannabis?

Outside of the timeframe, most individuals using edible cannabis will describe a completely different effect from edibles in comparison to smoked cannabis. Part of the reason is the tendency to overconsume, however, there are other reasons. With edible cannabis, the cannabinoids (THC for example) are first broken down by the liver before entering the bloodstream resulting in the production of an even more potent metabolite called 11-hydroxy-THC. With edible cannabis, there is a larger, longer lasting and more pronounced production of this metabolite and this is thought to account for more of the negative effects of cannabis (anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, etc). This results in different cognitive effects, and a different “high” than with smoked or vaporized cannabis. 

Dr. Melissa Snider-Adler, M.D., C.C.F.P.(AM), M.R.O. (AAMRO), D,A.B.A.M.

Chief Medical Review Officer, DriverCheck Inc.

Physician, Addiction Medicine

Dr. Snider-Adler is the Chief Medical Review Officer for DriverCheck and is a Board-Certified Addiction Medicine Physician with a Certificate of Added Competence in Addiction Medicine. Dr. Snider-Adler currently practices addiction medicine in Oshawa, Ontario and is an Assistant Professor at Queen's University Department of Family Medicine. She works as a Peer Assessor for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.

Dr. Snider-Adler is considered an expert in the field of substance use in the workplace as well as alcohol and drug testing for safety-sensitive workplaces. As such, she is often asked to provide expert opinions, reports, and testimony for arbitrations, hearings and court cases across Canada. Dr. Snider-Adler travels across Canada and the U.S. speaking to workplaces and at various conferences regarding the impact of recreational cannabis, cannabis for medical purposes, workplace substance use, and addiction prevention and treatment.