Safe Storage

If you have more than two ounces of marijuana in your home, it needs to be locked up. It is best to keep any amount in a closed, locked container out of reach and out of sight of children and pets.

The way you store cannabis should change as children get older. Safe storage around young children may not stop a curious teenager who might want to try it. Take additional precautions as your kids grow older.

Eating or drinking cannabis can make children and pets sick. If your kids or pets accidentally consume marijuana they may have problems walking or sitting up, feel sleepy, and even have difficulty breathing. If your child or pet ingests marijuana, call the numbers below. If they are experiencing serious reactions, call 911 or your local veterinary hospital immediately.

Poison Control Hotline: 800-222-1222
Pet Poison Hotline: 855-764-7661

Secondhand Smoke

While research on secondhand cannabis smoke is still developing, breathing in smoke of any kind may pose health risks. Avoid smoking around pets, children, and other vulnerable populations. If you choose to smoke, consume entirely outside while keeping indoor spaces in your home and vehicle smoke-free. Avoid smoking near windows, doors, or vents to reduce the likelihood of smoke going indoors.

Don’t Mix Marijuana and Alcohol

Using alcohol and marijuana together results in greater impairment than either substance alone. While more research is needed, combining substances is associated with greater risks. When alcohol and cannabis are used together, it enhances the effects of both drugs and can lead to harmful health consequences. Alcohol may also increase the length of time tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) stays in the body.

Don’t Consume and Drive

It is illegal and dangerous to drive while under the influence of cannabis. Make a plan to stay put, use public transportation or a taxi or ride share—or catch a ride with a sober friend.

Driving when you are impaired or “high” is dangerous and illegal, and you could be charged with Operating Under the Influence. Cannabis may affect your ability to drive safely by slowing your reaction time, impacting your decision-making, and reducing your ability to attend to more than one thing at a time. The effects can last different lengths of time for different people; your tolerance, metabolism, and the type of product you consume all make a difference.

Just like alcohol, there are open container laws for marijuana. You cannot have an open container of cannabis in the passenger area of your car or anywhere the public has access. For more information, see Know the Laws.