Definition

Cannabis is a plant that contains more than 100 compounds (or cannabinoids), including Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

• THC is impairing or mind-altering, meaning it causes a “high.”
• THC can cause intoxication and affect how you perceive and think about things, how you feel, and how you make decisions. 

For more information on how THC works in the body, visit the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Forms of THC

There are a variety of THC cannabinoids. Delta-8, Delta-9 and Delta-10 are forms of THC and can be impairing or intoxicating.

Hemp is a cannabis plant that has lower THC levels (>0.3%) than marijuana.

For information on forms of THC, visit the Minnesota Department of Health.

Smoking or vaping

• People smoke marijuana in hand-rolled cigarettes (joints), in pipes or water pipes (bongs), and in blunts. Blunts are emptied cigars that have been partly or completely refilled with marijuana.
• Some people also use vaporizers, commonly known as vaping.
• Products that are smoked or vaped usually take effect in a matter of minutes.

Secondhand smoke

Research shows that secondhand cannabis smoke has many of the same toxic chemicals found in tobacco smoke.

• Nonsmoking people who are around secondhand cannabis smoke breathe in the toxins and chemicals. This includes children and youth.
• THC appears in the blood of nonsmokers who breathe secondhand cannabis smoke.

Edibles

Edibles are products made with cannabis that you can eat or drink.

• Edibles can resemble food products such as gummy candy, cookies, chocolate and beverages.
• Edibles can take anywhere from 30 minutes to four hours to take effect. The intoxicating or “high” effect from an edible can last longer (up to 24 hours) than when smoked or vaped.
• Effects may vary by product, and for each individual.
• Cannabis products are constantly evolving and are available in many forms.

THC affects everyone differently

Not all people experience the same thing when:

• Consuming edibles
• Smoking marijuana

Understand how much THC is in a cannabis product before eating, smoking, vaping or inhaling oil.

Temporary effects can vary across products and people and may include the following:

• Reduced hand-eye coordination
• Relaxed or “high” feeling
• Dizziness
• Increased heart rate
• Increased blood pressure
• Slower reactions
• Confusion, anxiety, panic or paranoia
• Trouble thinking or concentrating, including impaired learning and memory
• Seeing or hearing things that are not real (this is rare)

Also important to know

• Some effects take up to two hours to start and last up to 24 hours.
• Several factors affect how quickly a product gets absorbed into the body, including a person's:
  • Weight
  • Metabolism
  • Gender
  • Eating habits
• Cannabis use can worsen mental health conditions.
• If used frequently, cannabis might increase the risk of depression or worsen depression symptoms.

Youth

See Cannabis effects on youth

What to know

• In 2023, Minnesota’s state government made it legal for adults over 21 to use cannabis.
• Marijuana is still illegal under federal law, where it is still classified as a controlled substance.

2024 Minnesota cannabis law

Under current Minnesota law, hemp-derived THC edibles with no more than 5 mg per serving and 50 mg per package are legal for:

• Sale
• Use
• Possession

2025 Minnesota cannabis law

Other forms of cannabis will not be available for sale in Minnesota until sometime in 2025.

Driving while impaired is illegal and unsafe

Getting high before you drive could lead to a charge of driving under the influence (DUI). People who drive under the influence of cannabis can experience dangerous effects, such as:

• Slower reactions
• Lane weaving
• Difficulty reacting to signals and sounds on the road

Store cannabis safely

Store THC products safely and securely to help prevent accidental consumption.

• Store THC products in their original child-resistant packaging and keep the label on.
• Keep THC products in a secure and locked place, out of sight and reach of children and pets.
• Store cannabis edibles separately from food.

See tips from Hennepin County

Marijuana is not safe during pregnancy or while breastfeeding

Marijuana can affect baby development in a negative way.

• Marijuana use during pregnancy may cause fetal growth restriction, premature birth, stillbirth, and problems with brain development.
• THC can also be passed from a mother to her baby through breast milk, further impacting a child’s healthy development.

Unsafe for youth

Cannabis dependence increases when someone starts using it at an early age. Using it carries adverse long-term health outcomes.

See Cannabis effects on youth

Child consumption can be dangerous

THC edibles pose a high risk for accidental child consumption. They can make children very sick.

Symptoms of THC overdose include:

• Excessive sleepiness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Rapid heart rate
• Slurred speech

Emergency rooms across the country and in Minnesota have seen an increase in intoxication events.

See information from Washington County

Poison Control Hotline

If a child consumes a THC product, parents should immediately call the free Poison Control Hotline.

Call 1-800-222-1222

Make the call even if a child has no symptoms.

• Edible THC products can take 30 minutes to two hours to have an effect.
• The peak effect happens three to four hours later.

If symptoms seem bad, call 911 or go to an emergency room right away.

See tips from the Minnesota Department of Health