Cannabis Information
ñ Cannabis
Cannabis and its active components, including THC, CBD and other cannabinoids, come in many forms and strengths and can affect people differently.
Cannabis products vary widely in strength. Potency has increased significantly over the past few decades, making it more important than ever to understand what you’re using.
- Flower (bud): ~10%–30% THC
- Concentrates (wax, dabs, oils): ~40%–90% THC
Concentrates are much stronger and increase the risk of unwanted effects.
- Edibles do not have a universal serving size
- Colorado defines one serving as 10 mg THC, which may be too much for some people
- Effects can take two hours to begin and up to four hours to fully peak
Always check packaging and avoid re‑dosing too quickly.
Being Intentional ñ Use
Like any substance, cannabis can create both wanted and unwanted effects. If you choose to use cannabis, it can be helpful to reflect on why you’re using it.
Potential wanted experiences
- Feeling calm or relaxed
- Social ease or connection
- Altered sensory experiences (music, food, art)
- Reduced physical discomfort
- Enjoyment and laughter
Get about your cannabis use—no meeting required.
Potential unwanted experiences
- Memory or concentration problems
- Worsening anxiety, depression or psychosis
- Feeling tired due to lower‑quality sleep
- Academic, work or relationship impacts
- Legal consequences
- Loss of control or risky behavior
- Cannabis addiction
- “Greening out” (nausea, vomiting, zoning out)
- Increased suicidality
- Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome - a condition causing severe, recurrent vomiting and abdominal pain for those using cannabis often
Understanding your intentions can help you notice whether cannabis is supporting your goals or creating outcomes you’d rather avoid. Cannabis can also affect everyone differently and use under age 25 may impact brain development.
It’s also important to remember that not everyone uses cannabis in college. According to the National College Health Assessment, two‑thirds of ñ students reported not using cannabis in the past three months.
To learn more about the health effects of cannabis, visit the .
Ways to Reduce Risk and Stay Safer
If you or someone you know chooses to use cannabis, these strategies can help reduce potential harm.
Please note: Harm‑reduction strategies lower risk but do not make use risk‑free.
- Begin with a small amount, especially with edibles or new products
- Wait long enough to feel the full effects before using more
- You can always take more—but you can’t take less
Nearly all cannabis today is much more potent than what was used 20 or 30 years ago. This means today’s cannabis is more likely to cause unwanted experiences and it is much easier to become addicted than in the past.
Frequent use can increase tolerance and risk of dependence. Consider reflecting on:
- Is my use affecting school, work or relationships?
- Am I feeling more tired or foggy than I want?
- Am I breaking my own limits?
- Is my use impacting my mental health or finances?
Using less often can lower risks and help reset tolerance.
Regular use can lead to tolerance, meaning you need more to feel the same effects. If you use most days, consider a tolerance break (t‑break) of about 21 days to allow THC to leave your system and reset your baseline.
- Keep cannabis in original packaging
- Store out of reach of pets and children
If accidental ingestion occurs, call a healthcare provider or veterinarian right away.
Using cannabis with alcohol or other drugs increases the risk of:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Blackouts or impaired judgment
- Accidents or injuries
Play it safer by using one substance at a time.
- Choose environments and people where you feel safe
- Plan ways to say no to pressure
- Avoid sharing joints, vapes or pipes to reduce the spread of illness
Remember that cannabis not only can result in a DUI, but also impairs important skills required for safe drinking like slowed reaction time and decision making, impaired coordination, and distorting perception
Identifying THC dependence can be challenging, because some people use THC to manage symptoms caused by withdrawal itself—such as anxiety or sleep difficulties—which can worsen when use is reduced or paused.
Withdrawal symptoms may include:
- Irritability, anxiety, restlessness, or low mood
- Sleep issues (insomnia, vivid or unsettling dreams, poorer sleep quality)
- Decreased appetite or weight loss
- Headaches, sweating, nausea or stomach discomfort
- Strong cravings to use again
Noticing these symptoms after cutting back or stopping THC use may be a sign of dependence and withdrawal.
Regular cannabis use is linked to:
- Worsening existing mental health conditions
- Increased suicidal thoughts or attempts
- Delusions, paranoia or hallucinations
- Losing touch with reality
If someone’s safety is at risk, call 911. For non‑emergency concerns, CAPS offers 24/7 support at 303‑492‑2277.
Call 911 if someone experiences:
- Severe anxiety or panic
- Chest pain or irregular heartbeat
- Confusion or extreme agitation
- Repeated vomiting
- Passed out or unresponsive
Good news: CU’s Amnesty Policy and Colorado’s can protect you from disciplinary action or prosecution if you call for help and stay with the person.