By Tyler Marr

Youth cannabis education key as legalization looms

Jun 24, 2017 | 4:00 PM

With the legalization of cannabis in Canada set to roll out no later than July 2018, some are questioning how education on the subject may change, especially for youth.

Many parents feel uninformed on the subject or that kids may know more about the drug than they do. And according to Marc Paris with Drug Free Kids Canada, they are probably right.

“The parents don’t quite know what to say as they are not informed as they should be,” Paris said. The group recently released a guide that highlights the latest evidence on cannabis and how to have meaningful conversations with young people.

Paris stressed the need to “treat kids as intelligent people” who can understand the pluses and minuses of the drug. He said using science and evidence-based facts to inform kids over scare tactics of the past is the way to go.

“I don’t think kids respond well to that,” he said, noting the need to strike a balance between discouraging use at an early age while providing information on how to lower risks.

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He said schools have a significant role to play in education as well. However, he believed many educators were not trained to appropriate levels. 

“I think school programs need to start training the teachers and the councillors first, so the conversation can take place at a level that is not around certain myths,” he said.

According to the World Health Organization, teen consumption of marijuana in Canada is the second highest in the world, heightening the need for appropriate conversation.

This comes as six of the countries leading health organizations endorsed 10 new cannabis recommendations designed to help reduce the risks around using marijuana on Friday.

Published in the American Journal of Public Health, the Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines outline safe ways to consume marijuana.

Included are suggestions to delay using the substance until later in life and limiting usage to one day per week or on weekends only. It also reinforced the fact that driving under the influence of cannabis can significantly increase the risk of a motor vehicle collision causing injury or death. It says drivers should wait six hours before getting behind the wheel of a car.

They also highlighted the mental health problems that can come from over-dependence or self-medication, a message that was echoed by Pairs.

“Regular consumption of someone who is still in their teen years, some people may not get affected, but one out of 10 will have some form of dependence,” he said.

Health Minister Jane Philpott welcomed the guidelines and the work of Drug Free Kids Canada. She said it is important for those who choose to use cannabis for non-medical reasons to understand how they can minimize their risks, especially with youth.

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr