Ontario schools prepare for cannabis legalization
TORONTO — As the arrival of legal cannabis looms, school boards across Ontario are grappling with how to discuss the drug with underage students barred from consuming it while ensuring rules and policies reflect the province’s new legal and social reality.
Like alcohol, recreational cannabis will be off-limits to those under 19 and banned from school property when it becomes legal on Wednesday, and school boards say they are working to update their codes of conduct and disciplinary processes to reflect the details of provincial law.
Many boards say they are also training staff to deal with questions and issues surrounding cannabis both in and out of the classroom as they await further direction from the government.
The Catholic board noted its staff would be guided on various potential circumstances that could involve cannabis.
“Some of our students may be exposed to smoke, whether vape or anything related to cannabis, and not have consumed,” said John Yan, spokesperson for the Toronto Catholic District School Board.
Ontario’s Ministry of Education has published some resources for educators and parents highlighting the changes contained in the Cannabis Act. But it has yet to give specific instructions to school authorities on the issue. What’s more, consultations are underway on the health and physical education curriculum, which deals with substance use as well as sexual education. An interim curriculum put in place by the government this summer does not discuss the legalization of cannabis.
“Once legalized, policies and resources on suspension, expulsion, and code of conduct will be updated and posted on the ministry’s website. School boards will be expected to update their policies accordingly,” ministry spokesperson Heather Irwin said in an email.
“Additional resources for principals/vice principals and educators are being developed for release this fall to help ensure they have the necessary information to support students and keep schools safe. The ministry is also consulting on the best way to efficiently support the training needs of staff in school boards and schools.”
Abby Goldstein, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Toronto and Canada research chair in the psychology of emerging adulthood, said legalization opens the door to conversations about cannabis that may have been unlikely in the past.
“So recognizing that teens and young adults are going to use cannabis and so how can we inform them in a way that makes the harms known to them so that they can make educated and healthy decisions about responsible cannabis use once they do reach the legal age.”