The Canadian government may have legalized cannabis, but its efforts to destigmatize the drug could use some work.

A statement from federal Minister of Health Patty Hajdu Thursday regarding the impending arrival of edibles is raising eyebrows for the language being used to describe cannabis compared to alcohol.

“The best way for Canadians to protect their health is not to consume cannabis, and adults who choose to use cannabis should avoid products from illegal or unknown sources,” Hajdu said.

It’s a curious remark to make about a product the government has legalized for use — medicinal and recreational — and stands in stark contrast to comments about alcohol. While it is reasonable to exercise caution with newly legal drugs, particularly in light of the vaping related health-care scare, there’s a fine line before one ventures into alarmist territory. Particularly when, in the view of some, the evidence points to cannabis being a more benign substance than marijuana.

Cannabis is commonly used by Canadians as an alternative form of medication / Photo: REUTERS/Matthew Hatcher REUTERS/Matthew Hatcher

As Vice noted, cannabis is commonly used by Canadians as an alternative form of medication that allows them to rely less on prescription medications. Some even use it in place of alcohol — a substance that the Canadian Institute for Health Information reports is the leading cause of hospitalization for substance use across all jurisdictions. It accounts for half of substance-abuse hospital stays.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving notes that booze plays a part in four fatal cars crashes each day.

It also takes a huge financial toll on the country. With Canadians drinking 50 percent more than the global average, alcohol-related harm has an estimated price tag of around $14.6 billion.

Despite this, the federal government has not felt the need to tell people not to consume alcohol, but to “limit the amount you drink” while pointing to the notion that booze can be good for you.

“Alcohol is a depressant drug that slows down your body’s central nervous system,” the federal government states on its website. “While a small amount of alcohol may provide health benefits for some, drinking excessively can cause serious health issues.”

Alcohol said to be the leading cause of hospitalization for substance use across all jurisdictions. / Photo: ViewApart / iStock / Getty Images Plus ViewApart / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Gregory Taylor, Canada’s former chief public health officer, said alcohol should be treated more seriously than it currently is. “Our society condones, supports and, in some cases, promotes drinking such as through ‘drink of the day’ specials, sale prices on certain brands and associating alcohol with fun and sophistication,” Taylor noted in a report on consumption in Canada. “Our low-risk drinking guidelines do not mean that alcohol is harmless.”

Perhaps, just like high-risk cannabis guidelines don’t mean it shouldn’t be consumed.