Normalizing the conversation about marijuana use

With the legalization of marijuana around the corner, having accurate information about the drug is vital, according to a drug strategy official.

That’s why the Peterborough Drug Strategy (PDS) and Peterborough Public Health are working to provide evidence-based resources to the public.

Marijuana will be legal in Canada on Oct. 17.

In preparation for legalization, PDS has been gathering data, information and research about weed to create a training guide for professionals in the social service sector, and for presentations to groups, particularly youth.

When Evan Brockfest, the acting co-ordinator for PDS and the project lead for the Peterborough Community Cannabis Project, started working on the project, he said he realized there was a lack of data around marijuana use, stigma and attitudes.

It’s evident the community has strong attitudes around substance use, he said, so it’s important to first address the stigma attached to marijuana.

“When it comes to cannabis use, we really want to normalize the conversation around cannabis use, as opposed to normalizing consumption,” Brockfest said.

Evidence shows that Canadians are already consuming marijuana at a high rate compared to citizens in other countries, he said.

It’s also known that young people often get inconsistent information on cannabis.

“That’s why it’s really important that we work together to ensure that young people have access to meaningful evidencebased and trustworthy information on this subject,” Brockfest said.

If not, youth will seek their own information online, which may not be accurate.

“We have to be in a position to be confident to speak to this issue. If we avoid it entirely, we’re really throwing young people in a position where they have to gather the facts on their own.”

With any substance, the safest way to avoid any negative health outcomes is to abstain.

But that’s not always a realistic option, Brockfest noted.

So learning about low-risk cannabis products, how preexisting mental health issues can cause additional health risks, and the increased harm of synthetic cannadinoids, for example, are helpful if someone is going to use marijuana.

It’s also important for citizens, adults and youth alike, to know that just because pot will be legal, doesn’t mean it’s safe.

It can have adverse health effects, especially among youth.

“We know that there’s an association between cannabis use at a younger age and negative outcomes that may surface down the road,” Brockfest said.

Deanna VandenBroek, substance use and harm reduction health promoter at Peterborough Public Health, said the brain continues to develop until the age of 25. Smoking pot regularly could have an impact on that development.

And teenagers who consume pot can be even more at risk, she said.

“Those who begin using cannabis before age 15 are at an increased risk for some of the adverse physical and mental health outcomes, especially things like psychosis and some of the pieces of the brain that affect decisionmaking,” VandenBroek said.

That’s why parents and guardians need to create an open dialogue with teens, in an unbiased and non-judgmental way.

“It’s so important to have open communication about this right up front with your kids,” she said.

Furthermore, Brockfest stressed that conversations about marijuana should be positive, avoiding fear mongering.

“Fear based messaging doesn’t work and it tends to create a barrier to any positive exchange or learning,” he said.

As legalization approaches, the health unit has been compiling a list of informative resources so citizens can make informed decisions before lighting up.

On the health unit’s website, there are several links on various pot-related topics, including cannabis and young people, cannabis and pregnancy, reducing risks, and effects on your health, for instance.