TORONTO -- With new regulations on cannabis edibles and extracts now in effect, one expert is warning users and parents of the risks involved with these new products and strategies on how to consume them safely.

Edibles is the broad term for cannabis-infused products, which can include beverages, cotton candy, dissolvable strips, gummy candies or baked goods.

But unlike smoking cannabis, the latency period after consuming edibles can range from half an hour to six hours before the "high" from the THC effect fully kicks in.

Dr. Amy Porath, director of research at the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, told CTVNews.ca over the phone that 鈥渋t takes a lot longer for people to experience those effects.鈥�

鈥淎nd that鈥檚 because the product has to go through the digestive system,鈥� she said. One of the biggest mistakes people can make is to accidentally consume too much and experience a stronger, unpleasant and unintended high.

EFFECTS CAN LAST UP TO 24 HOURS

鈥淲hat we want individuals to know is to expect that it鈥檚 going to take a bit longer before you feel the effects,鈥� Porath said. 鈥淎nd not just wait 20 minutes and then take more because you think it鈥檚 not working or you didn鈥檛 take enough.鈥�

Porath said residual effects could even be felt between 12 and 24 hours after consumption.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important to keep that in mind if say you鈥檙e using the product on a Sunday evening and you have to go to work on Monday,鈥� she said.

EDIBLES CAN HAVE A MORE POTENT EFFECT

Porath also warned new users of cannabis extracts or edibles to be aware of potentially potent THC levels, which are placed on all product labels. She reiterated the government鈥檚 advice to 鈥渟tart low and go slow.鈥�

She added that 鈥渋t might be helpful -- if it鈥檚 your first time 鈥� to use with a trusted individual.鈥�

Health Canada also strongly warned people not to consume cannabis edibles and get behind the wheel.

Although the government has regulated products to have plain packaging and child-proof caps, Porath advised people to ensure edibles are safely stored away from both children and pets.

鈥淭o them, it鈥檚 just a cookie or a brownie,鈥� she warned. 鈥淚f there are children in the house it may be wise to invest in a lockbox.鈥�

She also advised people to get edibles from legal vendors because 鈥渢here is that quality control. And you know you鈥檙e getting a product that isn鈥檛 contaminated that doesn鈥檛 contain mold.鈥�

TRY NOT TO MIX WITH OTHER SUBSTANCES

The Canadian government has also warned users to avoid eating cannabis edibles with nicotine, alcohol, prescription medication, illicit substances or other health products.

Porath explained this was, in part, because 鈥渨e know that there鈥檚 an additive effect when you鈥檙e mixing substances together.鈥�

She also cited studies which show that for 鈥渋ndividuals -- who are using cannabis on a regular basis or frequently -- there is a higher risk or increased risk of psychosis. And that risk is enhanced for those who have a family history of psychosis.鈥�

Psychosis is an abnormal condition where sufferers have trouble determining what鈥檚 real and what鈥檚 not. Some other symptoms include incoherent speech, sleep problems and lack of motivation.

Porath also mentioned there were studies 鈥渟uggesting there is a relationship between anxiety and depression but we don鈥檛 know the nature of the relationship.鈥� This means people are potentially using cannabis to deal with those issues or those issues could be causing cannabis use.

鈥淲e still have a lot of research to understand what some of the effects are,鈥� she stressed.

'CANNABIS IS AN ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCE'

Porath lastly made a general warning that 鈥渃annabis is an addictive substance.鈥�

This means that for adolescents who start consuming cannabis frequently and regularly, 鈥渢hey have a much higher risk of developing what鈥檚 called a cannabis-use disorder or an addiction to cannabis.鈥�