Lower risk Cannabis Use Guidelines
Published in the June 2017 issue of the American Journal of Public Health, the Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines (LRCUG) is an evidence-based public health intervention tool by CRISM for informed reduction of behavioural risk factors associated with cannabis use. Although an initial version of the LRCUG was developed and published in 2011, the impending legalization of cannabis in Canada and the evolution of scientific evidence on cannabis use and outcomes call for a comprehensive update and revision of the original LRCUG’s recommendations. Led by Dr. Benedikt Fischer (Nominated Principal Investigator, Ontario Node of CRISM), the present version of the LRCUG is the result of a comprehensive scientific update and revision by an international team of renowned addiction and health science experts, and have underwent a rigours review and expert guidelines process. The LRCUG’s ten core recommendations is aimed at cannabis users in the context of Canada, and as such, constitutes an evidence-based resource for governments, public health education and authorities, as well as other relevant organizations for implementation.
The LRCUG have received authoritative national endorsements from six leading national medical, public health, and substance use organizations: Canadian Medical Association (CMA), Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA), Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health (in principle) (CCMOH), Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine (CSAM), Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA), and Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).
In an effort to effectively distribute, disseminate, and implement the LRCUG, knowledge translation (KT) materials are available through all CRISM’s four Nodes as well as other collaborators and partners for public use.
- A ‘Summary Brief’ version of the LRCUG (mainly for health professionals)
- A ‘Public Brochure’ version (mainly for cannabis users; available in both English and French)
- Infographic of the LRCUG Recommendations (mainly for media/online purposes; available in both English and French).