Two days ahead of legalization, the Manitoba Liquor Gaming and Cannabis Authority is launching a safe consumption campaign.

The Know Your Limits campaign tells people to be aware of how much THC is in a marijuana product, understand that the effects vary, do not mix cannabis and alcohol, and not everyone uses cannabis.

LGCA CAO Elizabeth Stephenson said today mixing alcohol and cannabis creates a combination effect that can be very dangerous.

“You lose more inhibitions, depending on what kind of strength of cannabis you use or how strong the liquor is that you use. The interesting thing with cannabis is it’s a very complicated product that we scientifically don’t know a lot about at this point,” she said.

As for the message, not everyone uses cannabis, Stephenson says they don’t want to normalize cannabis use.

“We want to make sure that people are aware of the fact that they don’t need to feel pressured into using it. We know that young people are more likely to use it than older people. We also know that peer pressure has a significant impact on people, so we just want to remind people that you don’t have to use if you don’t want to,” said Stephenson.

Stephenson admitted the LGCA does not have similar messaging for alcohol, and maybe it should.

Justice minister Cliff Cullen said today the Know Your Limits campaign – phase two of the LGCA’s public education campaign – costs $200,000, and will run in a variety of print, digital, and social media formats.

Stephenson also said today people shouldn’t be surprised if there isn’t enough product to meet demand at the outset of legalization.

“I think that all of the retailers across the country are well aware that there could be supply issues, and I would say to that: photosynthesis takes time. This is a product that has to grow in the field or in the hot-house,” said Stephenson.

Recreational cannabis becomes legal across Canada this Wednesday.