Marijuana edibles might not be as safe as thought, health experts warn

Cannabis edibles were poised to become the next big health craze -- but science is saying to be aware.

Weed edibles have been legal recreationally in Canada since October and are on the cusp of being widely available to the public. They're also popular, according to the 2019 National Cannabis Survey, with 27% of Canadian respondents who used cannabis reporting they'd eaten edibles during the previous three months.

In the U.S., 11 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized recreational marijuana, with more states expected to go fully legal in 2020.

With the prospect of even more edibles being consumed by the public this year, physicians and health experts are warning that consumers should tread lightly: edibles might seem safer than vaping or smoking, but they also carry unique risks, according to a commentary published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.