Marijuana and youth
Talking to your child about using pot
There is a widespread misperception among Canadian youth that using marijuana is relatively safe, and that it's not addictive. Too many kids don't realize that some of the harmful effects of cannabis can take time to show up, and that it does, in fact, come with serious immediate risks too.
We can impress on our tweens and teens that cannabis remains illegal for them, but we shouldn't leave it at that. We need to keep talking to them, regularly, to ensure they understand the potential risks of using cannabis. The articles on this page with help you get up to speed with what health researchers know – and don’t know – about the impacts of cannabis on youth.
Recommended resource
Understanding and Loving Your Child Who Smokes Pot by Stephen Arterburn and Margot Starbuck
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