The Brief
- Health officials are urging World Cup visitors to use caution with Washington cannabis, which is often more potent than many tourists expect.
- Experts recommend starting with a low dose and waiting at least 60 to 90 minutes before taking more, especially with edibles.
- No tournament-related cannabis emergencies have been reported, but dispensaries are handing out safety guides and officials remind visitors that public use and impaired driving are illegal.
SEATTLE – The global spotlight is on Seattle as thousands of soccer fans pack the city for the FIFA World Cup, driving an economic surge for local businesses. Among those scoring big are legal cannabis shops near “Seattle Stadium,” which report a rise in sales from tourists.
However, the influx of visitors prompted state and local health agencies to issue a safety warning: Washington’s legal cannabis products are likely much stronger than what visitors are used to back home.
“If you’re coming from an area where cannabis isn’t legal, you may not understand that one gummy or one cone is a dose. It will take an hour or more to kick in,” said Jimmy Leonard, pharmacist and chief clinical officer with the Washington Poison Center.
Understanding the dosage gap
To bridge the gap, Public Health – Seattle & King County launched a World Cup resource page designed to guide out-of-towners. It includes information about Washington cannabis products that often contain much higher levels of THC (the psychoactive component in marijuana) than visitors realize.…