Let’s have a candid conversation about cannabis

Let’s have a candid conversation about cannabis. Although it’s legal, the topic is highly debated by parties on each side – is it right, or wrong? Is it totally safe, or very dangerous?

Like all things, the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle.

As a society, we have generally come to accept statements like “don’t drink and drive” and “smoking causes lung cancer.” It’s culturally acceptable to share these types of reminders.

We aren’t there yet with cannabis, but The Legacy Center hopes to inspire and normalize common sense conversations about this newly legal substance.

This spring, The Legacy Center and Midland County Department of Public Health will revive the “Good To Know” campaign. As in past years, the campaign will cover four general topics: driving under the influence, teen prevention, securing your products to protect children and pets, and prevention during pregnancy and breastfeeding. These are four simple steps that can positively impact the health and safety of our youth and community, while also protecting an adult’s legal right to use cannabis.

Similar to alcohol and tobacco, the legal age to purchase, possess, and use cannabis is 21. This isn’t an arbitrary number meant to frustrate younger adults. There’s heavily researched and proven science behind the decision to delay legal use: the human brain simply isn’t fully developed until the age of 25.

The longer a young adult delays first use, the less likely they are to develop an addiction. The brain needs time to establish its pathways and patterns, but addictive substances change the brain’s chemistry and can disrupt those patterns. According to SAMHSA, one in six individuals who began using cannabis before the age of 18 will develop cannabis use disorder as an adult. Overall, cannabis use disorder affects approximately 10% of cannabis users.

Parents can help protect their teens from early cannabis use by using the following proven strategies:

• Set clear expectations and answer teens’ questions in a nonjudgmental way and remind them often.
• Model the behavior you want to see. Kids learn from watching their parents.
• Lock up your products. Locking up substances can significantly reduce teens’ access, which corresponds to lower teen substance use.
• Make a safety plan so your teens know how to get out of a tricky situation and practice it to reinforce the plan.
• Help your teens connect with peers who make positive choices. Positive peers are the most impactful Developmental Asset to protect against behaviors like early substance use.

Whether you choose to use cannabis or not, having candid conversations about cannabis with your teens will help them make healthy choices no and in the future.

Kathryn Tate is the President & CEO of The Legacy Center for Community Success. To learn more, contact 989-496-1425 or tlc4cs.org

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