{"id":4414,"date":"2022-02-23T16:47:23","date_gmt":"2022-02-23T16:47:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/wp-home\/?p=194810"},"modified":"2022-02-23T16:47:23","modified_gmt":"2022-02-23T16:47:23","slug":"toolkit-how-to-talk-to-kids-about-cannabis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/?p=4414","title":{"rendered":"Toolkit: How to talk to kids about cannabis"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>  <title>Toolkit: How to talk to kids about cannabis | Leafly<\/title>     <!-- This is Index Exchange, a script\/\/3rd-party integration that interjects GAM. It needs to be 'ahead' of GTM in the DOM, which comes from Cephalopod. GTM loads GAM. This script needs to setup it's interjection stuff before GAM loads. --> <!-- End Index Exchange --> <!-- Quotes = strings--><!-- No quotes = boolean-->\t   <!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v17.5 (Yoast SEO v17.5) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->                  <!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. --> <\/p>\n<p> <!-- BEGIN Sailthru Horizon Meta Information --><\/p>\n<p><!-- END Sailthru Horizon Meta Information -->  <!-- Google Publisher Tag --> <!-- End Google Publisher Tag --> <!-- Google Tag Manager --> <!-- End Google Tag Manager --> <!-- Chartbeat --> <!-- End Chartbeat --><br \/>\n <!-- Google Tag Manager (noscript) -->   <\/p>\n<div id=\"copy_clipboard_success\" class=\"fixed top-0 left-0 right-0\">\n<div class=\"bg-white p-lg container mt-xl flex justify-between elevation-low rounded\"> <span class=\"flex items-center\">     <span class=\"ml-md\">Link copied to your clipboard<\/span> <\/span> <button id=\"copy_clipboard_close_btn\">    <\/button> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <!-- End Google Tag Manager (noscript) -->   <title>Leafly<\/title>     <title>Leafly \u00ae<\/title>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              <title>Loading\u2026<\/title>                     <\/p>\n<div class=\"bg-white fixed flex hidden inset-0 items-start md:h-auto md:items-center overflow-auto\" id=\"age-gate-container\">\n<div class=\"bg-white md:h-auto mx-auto p-lg text-sm w-full\" id=\"age-gate\">\n<p><label for=\"select-country\">Where are you from?<\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"age-gate__info\">\n<p><button class=\"button\" data-testid=\"age-gate-no-button\" id=\"tou-cancel\">no<\/button><button class=\"button ml-md\" data-testid=\"age-gate-yes-button\" id=\"tou-continue\">yes<\/button><\/p>\n<p><label class=\"checkbox__label my-xl\"><span class=\"text-xs\" id=\"remember-user-label\">Remember me for 30 days. <br \/>I confirm that this is not a shared device.<\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<p class=\"error error--underage hidden\">Darn! You&#8217;re not old enough to use Leafly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"hidden age-gate__loading\">Redirecting you to<span class=\"redirect-domain\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-xs mt-auto\">By accessing this site, you accept<br \/>\nthe <a class=\"py-xl\" data-testid=\"tou-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/info\/terms-of-use\">Terms of Use<\/a><br \/>\nand <a class=\"py-xl\" data-testid=\"pp-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/info\/privacy-policy\">Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container my-xl\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col md:col-9\" id=\"article-content\">\n<p>When it comes to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/lifestyle\/tips-from-cannabis-loving-parents\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">talking to kids about cannabis<\/a>, many parents don\u2019t know where to start. From what\u2019s age-appropriate to what language to use, the stress around opening up the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/lifestyle\/im-a-cannabis-using-mom-how-should-i-talk-to-my-kids-about-legalization\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">conversation<\/a> can leave many to put off having the conversation altogether.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Open communication is important and cannabis is no different. Just as having a dialogue about sexual health results in improved outcomes, many parents say that having open conversations about cannabis with their kids helps reduce the stigma and appeal.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-moms-who-work-in-weed-know-the-value-of-open-communication\">Moms who work in weed know the value of open communication<\/h2>\n<p>Jess Moran, the founder of Known Group, says that she started speaking to her kids about pot from a very young age because she works in the industry, as well as a medical cannabis advocate. Her daughter takes medical cannabis (CBD) to help with her acute insomnia as part of her autism and mental health issues.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI came by it honestly, and it seems since they were little it\u2019s always been a part of their lives,\u201d she says. \u201cI largely work from home, and run a cannabis agency, so from a young age they heard me talking about cannabis a fair amount.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She says that because of her daughter\u2019s journey, all her kids got to know about the plant first as a medicine, and as they grew older (11 and 12), they understand medical use vs recreational, as well as the difference between the regulated and unregulated market.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy son, in Grade 1, even raised his hand in health class when they were talking about treatments and spoke about how medical cannabis can help patients,\u201d she says.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\" id=\"h-\">\n<p>\u201cOne time I was eating a chocolate bar [that I] didn\u2019t want to share. He asked, \u2018Oh, because it has cannabis in it?\u2019 It didn\u2019t, but I said \u2018yes\u2019 and kept it to myself!\u201d<\/p>\n<p><cite>Devon Scoble<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>For Gill Polard, her work in the industry naturally led to conversations about cannabis with her children.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy kids have grown up with us talking about it at home a lot. I think it\u2019s not very interesting or exciting to them. It\u2019s just the plant that mom is always talking about.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She says her children are familiar with the plant as she grows it in her yard. They understand that there are many different ways that adults can use cannabis and that it\u2019s not just about getting high.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey see me make balms or tinctures with it to use therapeutically, so they get that. In general, I treat it like any other thing in the home that they can\u2019t have yet: alcohol, certain medications, lit candles in their rooms. We\u2019re very open about it being something they may use when they\u2019re older, but not until they\u2019re older.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Polard says it\u2019s important to talk to kids about cannabis because knowledge is power, and the best way to reduce harm is with education.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy hope is that they can make better decisions when the time comes if I have armed them with information.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-lightest-green-background-color has-background\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\">\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/getsensible.org\/get-toolkit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Get Sensible Youth Toolkit<\/a> is a great resource for parents wanting to talk to their kids about cannabis. It helps to support non-judgmental conversations and is available as a free download.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drugfreekidscanada.org\/order-cannabis-talk-kit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Cannabis Talk Kit<\/a> from Drug-Free Kids Canada is another excellent resource for parents who want to have judgment-free discussions rooted in evidence. They also have resources for talking about other drugs, including alcohol.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.samhsa.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/marijuana-brochure-newpics-r15f_508c.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration<\/a> has a helpful pamphlet for talking to your child about cannabis. It includes advice about talking with your children about having an \u201cexit plan\u201d if they are offered cannabis.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/health-canada\/services\/publications\/drugs-health-products\/is-cannabis-safe-use-facts-youth.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Government of Canada<\/a> also has a resource for teens that educates them about the risk of using cannabis to a developing brain, as well as different cannabis terminology and slang.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction guide for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ccsa.ca\/sites\/default\/files\/2020-04\/CCSA-Cannabis-Communication-Guide-2020-en.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Talking Pot With Youth<\/a> contains a set of exercises to engage youth in meaningful discussions and conversations about cannabis. The updated edition also contains answers to frequently asked questions about cannabis.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"h-secure-your-weed-and-create-a-safe-space-for-kids-to-ask-questions\">Secure your weed and create a safe space for kids to ask questions<\/h2>\n<p>For Devon Scoble, safety was the top motivator for opening up the cannabis conversation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI started the cannabis conversation with my son when he was around four years old,\u201d she says. \u201cI was working in the cannabis industry at the time, so that was one reason. But I also keep <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/canada\/edibles-kids-safety-canada\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">edibles<\/a> in the house, so safety was another.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She says her son knows what cannabis packaging and the cannabis symbol looks like, where she keeps her securely stored edibles and beverages, and that these products aren\u2019t safe for him or for the family\u2019s dog.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThose safeguards have served us well,\u201d she says, \u201cThe side benefit of this is that one time I was eating a chocolate bar and didn\u2019t want to share. He asked, \u2018Oh, because it has cannabis?\u2019 It didn\u2019t, but I said \u2018yes\u2019 and kept it to myself!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Now at nine years old, Scoble talks with her son about the different ways people use the cannabis plant, and their risks and benefits.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe knows that THC-containing products can be risky for kids while their brains are still developing. His peers haven\u2019t started using it, but he knows that when the time comes, he can come to me for real talk on cannabis.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-xxl wp-block-leafly-blocks-leafly-related-articles\">\n<p><h2>Related articles<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Scoble says another important reason to talk to her son about cannabis was because of the amount of misinformation available.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>She encourages all parents to talk about cannabis with their kids, especially parents who <em>don\u2019t<\/em> want them using it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf my passion for the topic has done anything, it\u2019s to drain my child of interest. Bring it up all the time, and your kids will start treating it as another boring thing adults do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Moran agrees, adding, \u201cI would rather give my kids the right information, like any other sensitive topic, such as alcohol or sex. I would rather be the one providing the accurate and correct information, as opposed to an untrusted source at school or on the internet.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Moran says parents should start to talk to their kids about cannabis at a certain age\u2014when they feel they are ready, as every kid is different. She says the reality is, especially with social media and the internet, they are going to find out regardless, and they will be faced with consumption decisions. So educating them and destigmatizing at the \u2018right\u2019 age is best.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"author-box\" class=\"p-lg my-xxl bg-white rounded border border-light-grey elevation-low\">\n<div class=\"mb-lg\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/toolkit-how-to-talk-to-kids-about-cannabis.jpg\" alt=\"Caitlin McCormack's Bio Image\" class=\"lazyload inline-block mr-md rounded-full border border-light-grey\"> <\/p>\n<p>Caitlin McCormack<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"text-sm\">Caitlin McCormack is a writer based in Toronto. Her work has appeared in MSN, Lift &amp; Co., HuffPost, What to Expect, and Mashable, among others. When she isn&#8217;t writing, she&#8217;s busy chasing after her two sons, testing out new recipes, and working on her century-old fixer-upper.<\/p>\n<p> <a class=\"text-sm font-bold underline text-green\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/author\/caitlin-mccormack\">View Caitlin McCormack&#8217;s articles<\/a> <\/div>\n<div class=\"leafly-sailthru-signup p-lg my-xl bg-white rounded elevation-low border border-light-grey\">\n<p class=\"text-xs pt-lg\">By submitting this form, you will be subscribed to news and promotional emails from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\">Leafly<\/a> and you agree to Leafly&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/company\/tos\">Terms of Service<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/company\/privacy-policy\">Privacy Policy<\/a>. You can unsubscribe from Leafly email messages anytime.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- Chartbeat --> <!-- End Chartbeat -->  <!--\nPerformance optimized by W3 Total Cache. 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From what\u2019s age-appropriate to what language to use, the stress around opening up the conversation can leave many to put off having&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4415,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4414","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-marijuana_information"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/toolkit-how-to-talk-to-kids-about-cannabis.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4414","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4414"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4414\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4415"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4414"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4414"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4414"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}