The Charter of the French language and its regulations govern the consultation of English-language content.
The Charter of the French language and its regulations govern the consultation of English-language content.
The SQDC groups products into five types: dried cannabis, pre-rolled, extracts, beverages and edibles. Several factors should be considered when choosing a product. These include how the product will be used and how long the effects will last.
Dried flower
Description
Often called buds, dried cannabis flowers can vary in appearance. They come in several colours, the most common being green, orange, red and purple.
Ground cannabis is simply cannabis flowers that have been ground into fine pieces or powder.
Use
Inhaling or vaporizing
Recommendations
- Use small doses of a low-THC product
- Start with a small puff
- Do not use “as is” for cooking
Preparation and accessories
Grind for smoking in a joint or vaporizing. Break into pieces for use in a pipe or bong. Decarboxylate (heat) for later use in cooking.
Appearance of effects
90 seconds to 5 minutes after inhalation
Peak effect
15 to 30 minutes after inhalation
Duration of effects
2 to 3 hours
Pre-rolled
Description
Rolled by hand or mechanically, pre-rolled joints of ground cannabis can be smoked “as is.” Little or no intervention by the user is necessary.
Use
Inhaling
Recommendations
- Use small doses of a low-THC product
- Start with a small puff
Appearance of effects
90 seconds to 5 minutes after inhalation
Peak effect
15 to 30 minutes after inhalation.
Duration of effects
2 to 3 hours
Extract
Description
Cannabis oil is obtained via the distillation or extraction of cannabis leaves and flowers. The oil is sold in different forms: liquid in a dropper bottle, oral spray and ingestible capsules.
Oil and cooking oil are different products and should not be used interchangeably.
Use
Ingesting
Recommendations
- Use small doses of a low-THC product (2,5 mg)
- Start with one activation
- Wait several hours before taking more, if desired
- Do not heat or cook with this type of oil
Preparation and accessories
Drop or spray the oil directly in the mouth and swallow
Appearance of effects
30 to 60 minutes after ingestion
Peak effect
90 minutes to 3 hours after ingestion
Duration of effects
Up to 8 hours and sometimes more
Description
Sublingual annabis oil is obtained via the distillation or extraction of cannabis leaves and flowers. Sublingual oil is sold in different forms: liquid in a dropper bottle, oral spray and oral strips.
Sublingual oil and cooking oil are different products and should not be used interchangeably.
Use
Dry your mouth by swallowing your saliva
Place oral strip, oil drop or spray under your tongue or against the inside of your cheek until the strip completely dissolve or wait between 1 and 5 minutes before swallowing the oil.
Avoid drinking and eating for the next 15 to 20 minutes.
Recommendations
- Use small doses of a low-THC product (2,5 mg)
- Start with one oral strip or one activation
- Wait several hours before taking more, if desired
- Do not heat or cook with sublingual oil
Preparation and accessories
Remove the strip from its packaging and place it under your tongue or against the inside of your cheek
Drop or spray the oil under your tongue or against the inside of your cheek
Appearance of effects
15 to 30 minutes after ingestion
Peak effect
90 minutes to 2 hours after ingestion
Duration of effects
Up to 6 hours and sometimes more
Description
Hashish usually comes in the form of a dense cube of dried resinous paste. Its colour can vary, with dark green and brown being the most common. Hashish is extracted from cannabis flowers and leaves and usually has a stronger concentration of cannabinoids than dried cannabis.
Use
Inhaling
Recommendations
- Use very small doses
- For more experienced users
- Do not use in a vaporizer
Preparation and accessories
Break into pieces the size of a match head and expose to a heat source
Appearance of effects
90 seconds to 5 minutes after inhaling
Peak effect
15 to 30 minutes after inhaling
Duration of effects
2 to 3 hours
Description
The cannabis oil in capsules is obtained via the distillation or CO2 extraction of cannabis leaves and flowers. Encapsulation makes the oil easier to swallow.
Use
Ingesting
Recommendations
Effects may take a while to appear. To avoid overdosing, begin with a single low-dose THC capsule and wait several hours before taking another, if desired.
Appearance of effects
Up to 60 minutes or longer
Peak effect
90 minutes to 3 hours after ingestion
Duration of effects
Up to 8 hours and sometimes more
Description
Cannabis tinctures are a liquid food product obtained by macerating cannabis flowers in strong, flavourless spirits and then boiling the mixture several hours. A CO2 extraction process is also used. The resulting liquid is usually mixed with a neutral oil and packaged with a dropper.
Use
Ingesting
Recommendations
- Make sure all portions contain an equal amount of tincture
- Begin with a small dose (one drop) of low-THC product
- Wait several hours before consuming more, if desired
Appearance of effects
Up to 60 minutes and sometimes more
Peak effect
90 minutes to 3 hours after ingestion
Duration of effects
Up to 8 hours and sometimes more
Description
The cooking ingredients available at the SQDC are in the form of cannabis oil specifically designed for cooking. Cannabis oil for cooking is obtained through a CO2 extraction process. It is then diluted in a neutral oil rich in triglyceride.
Cooking oil, unlike sublingual oil, can be heated, but is not recommended for frying. Like other cooking oils, it should not be burned. The maximum recommended cooking temperature is 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius).
Use
Ingesting
Recommendations
- Begin with a small dose (one drop)
- Wait several hours before consuming more, if desired
- Distribute the quantity well if you are cooking more than one portion at a time
- Do not fry or heat above 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius)
Preparation and accessories
Add the drops of oil to a cooking preparation (e.g. cake) or directly to a cold food (e.g. salad).
Appearance of effects
Up to 60 minutes and sometimes more
Peak effect
90 minutes to 3 hours after ingestion
Duration of effects
Up to 8 hours and sometimes more
Description
Cannabis concentrate is an emulsion obtained using a CO2 extraction process. Unlike oil, the concentrate is water-soluble, so it dissolves quickly in water.
Use
Ingesting
Recommendations
- Begin with a small dose (one drop)
- Wait several hours before consuming more, if desired
- Do not heat
- Do not add this product to boiling water
- Do not smoke
Preparation and accesories
Add the drops of concentrate to a cold or lukewarm drink or directly to a cold food.
Appearance of effects
30 to 60 minutes
Peak effect
90 minutes to 3 hours after ingestion
Duration of effects
Up to 8 hours and sometimes more
Description
Kief usually comes in the form of a powder with a sticky texture. Its color can vary, with yellow and green being the most common. Kief is extracted from the trichomes of the dried flowers of female cannabis plants. Kief usually has a stronger concentration of cannabinoids than dried cannabis.
Use
Inhaling
Recommendations
- Use very small doses
- For more experienced users
Preparation and accesories
Break into pieces the size of a match head and expose to a heat source
Appearance of effects
90 seconds
Peak effect
15 to 30 minutes after inhaling
Duration of effects
2 to 3 hours
Description
Cannabis extract produced from dried flowers or hashish, obtained using heat, pressure and/or a solvent. Depending on the extraction method and temperature used, the texture can vary between solid, creamy, crystalline and liquid.
Use
Inhaling
Recommendations
- Use very small doses
- For more experienced users
- Use in an accessory intended for this purpose (vaporizer for concentrate, dabring)
Preparation and accesories
Break into pieces the size of a match head and expose to a heat source
Appearance of effects
90 seconds to 5 minutes after inhaling
Peak effect
15 to 30 minutes after inhaling
Duration of effects
2 to 4 hours
Beverage
Description
Ready-to-drink beverages and cannabis infusions contain pre-activated cannabinoids.
Use
Ingesting
Recommendations
- Start with a small mouthful
- Consume no more than one low-THC beverage and wait several hours before drinking another one, if desired.
Appearance of effects
Up to 60 minutes and sometimes more
Peak effect
90 minutes to 3 hours after ingestion
Duration of effects
Up to 8 hours and sometimes more
Edibles
Description
Edibles are defined as food ready-to-eat infused with cannabis extracts or concentrates with active cannabinoïds.
Use
Ingesting
Recommendations
- Start with a single service, low in THC (2.5 mg) and wait at least 3 hours before taking another serving, if desired.
Appearance of effects
Between 30 and 60 minutes after ingestion
Peak effect
90 minutes to 3 hours after ingestion
Duration of effects
Up to 8 hours and sometimes more
All products sold at the SQDC are grown in Canada and certified as being free of contaminants and pesticides not approved by Health Canada.
Though several other types of cannabis products exist, they aren’t sold by the SQDC. The legal framework established by the Cannabis Regulation Act currently prohibits the sale of cannabis products whose THC content exceeds 30%, topical products and edibles appealing to children. Demystify the legal framework governing edibles by reading our article on the subject.
Relaxing, stimulating and mood-altering: cannabis can have effects that are pleasant or undesirable. Learn what causes the effects and determines how intense they are and how long they last.
Using cannabis entails a number of health risks. See our recommendations for using it responsibly to minimize them.
Smoking, vaporizing or ingesting: each method for consuming cannabis has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.