How to safely store cannabis from minors

 Highlights:

• Cannabis products should be kept out sight and reach of children and pets.
• Many affordable options are available for secure storage including lock boxes, hidden wall safes and child-resistant containers.
• An honest conversation with minors about the potential risks of cannabis may act as a natural deterrent.

It’s one of Health Canada’s key recommendations, but quite frankly it is good common sense to keep cannabis products (dried flower, pre-rolls, oils, capsules) safely sealed, out of sight and reach from children and youth. It is also illegal to share legally purchased cannabis with minors.

Here are 10 ideas to keep the smallest members of your family free from potential harm:

1) Have an honest conversation about cannabis with children and teens

While keeping cannabis out of sight and out of mind from minors is always a good idea, having an open conversation about cannabis with children and teens supports a safe and responsible living environment. If you feel comfortable, a balanced discussion might include sharing the potential risks and benefits of use, that it’s illegal for people under 19 to use cannabis, and what the current laws and regulations are around responsible consumption.

2) Invest in secure storage

A secure safe, under lock and key or combination lock, might be the best way to ensure that minors don’t have access to cannabis products. Sure, it may take a few seconds longer for you to retrieve your products, but at least you’ll know your cannabis is secure.

Depending on your budget, you may want to invest in a built-in or hidden wall safe.

Other affordable storage options may include diversion containers – items that look like normal objects (cans, books, shaving cream) but are actually storage containers for cannabis. Of course, make sure that these containers do not represent sought-after items such as soda or other enticing food products.

3) Out of reach, out of sight

Ensure that all products and accessories are kept out reach, possibly on a high shelf in a dark closet, or locked in a dedicated storage box. Keeping cannabis out of common areas such as kitchens and living rooms is also a good idea. Youth are naturally curious and love exploring, therefore it’s not ideal to keep cannabis in an unlocked desk drawer within easy reach.

4) Child-resistant caps and containers

Cannabis is shipped directly from approved licensed producers, safely through government warehouses to BC Cannabis Stores and private cannabis retailers, in consumer-ready child-resistant packages. Consider keeping the products in their original containers, which feature cautionary labels and icons as additional warnings.

5) Unpack cannabis purchases first

After a busy day of shopping, which may include stops at multiple retailers (including your local cannabis store), it is key to unpack and safely store cannabis products first. This will make sure that helpful hands don’t accidently come in contact with these items.

6) Keep infused goods separated

While edibles and other concentrates are not currently regulated for legal sale in BC, people may decide to experiment by adding oils or dried cannabis products to food and other baked goods. Infused products, even homemade ones, might easily be mistaken for normal snacks. They must be separated from other foods, sealed, labeled and stored far away from hungry minors.

7) Never leave cannabis unattended

Life is busy and we may be unexpectedly called to another location when preparing to, or while consuming cannabis. It’s important to never leave cannabis products unattended, even for a few moments, as minors can consume them in an instant.

8) Consider storing cannabis outside the house

Assuming it does not violate strata or tenant agreements, and if space is not an option, cannabis products might be safely stored in a locked container outside the main living areas, or in secure outdoor areas that children cannot access. This also helps minimize the potential odours that may otherwise be more detectable inside.

9) Odour-free storage is key

While babies and toddlers may not know what cannabis smells like, many teenagers do, which means that masking or eliminating the potential odour of dried flower becomes important. Besides purchasing a purpose-made smell-proof container, vacuum-sealed or zip-locked packages may solve this problem affordably.

10) Do not refer to cannabis as candy

In adult-only company, it may be tempting to refer to cannabis products with enticing terms that may liken these products to sweet treats. Even though cannabis is legal, it is still a powerful product that is meant for responsible consumption by adults. It should be spoken of in a mature fashion when in mixed company.

If you suspect a minor has accidentally ingested cannabis, please contact the BC Drug and Poison Information Centre at 604-682-5050 or 1-800-567-8911.