• Drowsiness, dizziness, or feeling unsteady
• Dry mouth and red eyes
• Faster heartbeat
• Trouble with short-term memory or concentration
• Anxiety or paranoia, mostly with higher THC doses
• Nausea, especially with edibles taken in large amounts

Most side effects ease as your body adjusts or when the dose is lowered.

• Stay in a safe, quiet place and sit or lie down.
• Drink water , and wait. The feeling passes as the THC wears off , usually within a few hours.
• Do not take more cannabis, and do not drive.
• Next time, use a lower THC dose or a product with less THC.

Call 911 or go to an emergency room for chest pain, trouble breathing, f ainting, seeing or hearing things that are not there, severe panic or paranoia that does not ease, or vomiting that will not stop.

Avoid cannabis in every form, not just smoking or vaping, while pregnant or breastfeeding. THC passes to the baby through the placenta and breast milk. Talk with your practitioner about other options.

• Are trying to become pregnant (if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, avoid cannabis in every form)
• Are under 25, because the brain is still developing
• Have had psychosis, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder , or have a close relative who has
• Have heart disease, irregular heartbeat, or have had a stroke
• Are over 65 or prone to falls
• Have had a problem with alcohol or drug use

THC and CBD are processed by the same liver enzymes as many common medicines. They can raise or lower the levels of other drugs in your blood. Ask your practitioner or pharmacist before using cannabis if you take:

• Blood thinners such as warfarin
• Seizure medicines such as clobazam or valproate
• Transplant medicines such as tacrolimus
• Sleep aids, anxiety medicines, opioids, or other sedating drugs

Avoid mixing cannabis with alcohol. The combination increases impairment.

Large studies have linked frequent cannabis use with higher rates of heart attack and stroke, even in people who never smoked tobacco. The risk rises with daily use. If you have heart disease or risk factors, discuss this with your doctor.

Cannabis can be habit-forming. Studies estimate that about 1 in 4 people who use medical cannabis develop some degree of cannabis use disorder . Warning signs include needing more to get the same effect, trouble cutting back, and cravings.

Stopping after heavy use. People who use cannabis daily and stop suddenly can have irritability , trouble sleeping, low mood, and an upset stomach for a week or two. Tapering down gradually makes this easier .

Some long-term, frequent users develop repeated bouts of severe nausea and vomiting. People with this condition often find relief in hot showers. It usually goes away only after stopping cannabis.

• Do not drive or operate machinery while impaired. Impairment from edibles can last 6 hours or more.
• Keep all cannabis in its original child-resistant packaging, locked and out of reach. Edibles can look like ordinary candy .
• If a child or pet swallows cannabis, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Call 911 for trouble breathing, seizures, or unresponsiveness.

Smoking any plant material irritates the lungs, and heavy use can cause cough and bronchitis-like symptoms. If you inhale cannabis, vaporized flower or a regulated vape at a lower temperature is gentler . Very hot “dabbing” of concentrates breaks terpenes down into irritating chemicals.

A 2019 outbreak of serious lung injuries was linked mostly to unregulated THC vape cartridges, with vitamin E acetate strongly implicated. Buy vape products only from a licensed dispensary . Stop and seek care if you develop cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain after vaping.

• Store all cannabis locked, out of sight, and out of reach of children and pets.
• Report a side effect or product problem to the dispensary pharmacist and to the Office of Cannabis Management through its Report an Incident page. New York requires adverse events to be reported.
• Check the OCM website for product recalls.