CIPHI Ontario Seminar Series: Growing at Home – Health and Safety Concerns for Personal Cannabis Cultivation

CIPHI Ontario Seminar Series: Growing at Home – Health and Safety Concerns for Personal Cannabis Cultivation

Personal cultivation as described by the Cannabis Act (2017) permits adults to cultivate up to four cannabis plants per household. This provision is intended to promote equity by facilitating access to legal cannabis, ultimately destabilizing the black market. The indoor cultivation and processing of cannabis may also introduce or exacerbate certain environmental health risks in the home.

This session will focus on five key environmental health risks anticipated from household cultivation: access and accidental poisoning; indoor air quality; inappropriate use of pesticides; electrical and fire hazards; and radiation hazards. Collaboration between public health inspectors (PHIs) and regional/ provincial public health professionals will be essential to developing a framework for addressing these risks. PHIs may also play a role in implementing targeted public education on these environmental risks, as well as shaping a safe culture for cannabis cultivation.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Identify environmental health risks associated with personal cannabis cultivation;
• Describe changing cannabis cultivation guidelines and help develop proactive solutions to emerging environmental health concerns;
• Understand the policy and practice considerations relevant to each risk;
• Interact with and advise home growers on information resources and new cultivation approaches.

Presenter: Leela Steiner

Leela Steiner is an Environmental Health and Knowledge Translation Scientist at the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health (NCCEH). She has a background in chemical management, science policy, and regulatory frameworks for emerging contaminants. At the NCCEH, Leela is the lead on the cannabis and environmental health file, focusing on risk communication and personal cultivation. She is also currently a Bridge Fellow at the University of British Columbia. Her recent research has included work on endocrine disrupting compounds, food contact materials, and the science-policy interface.

The Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI) Seminar Series is approved by Council of Professional Experience for professional development hours (PDHs) for members of CIPHI. For more information, contact events@oahpp.ca.

DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies or views of Public Health Ontario, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by Public Health Ontario.

Questions?

Stay up to date on upcoming CIPHI Seminar Series events by visiting our schedule. For comments or questions about this series, please email PHO Events (events@oahpp.ca).

Public Health Ontario is committed to complying with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require accommodations to participate in this event, please contact 647-260-7100 or events@oahpp.ca.