Talking to your child or loved one about medical marijuana can be difficult to navigate. Often delicate conversations can turn into arguments resulting in hurt feelings. It doesn’t have to be this way.
Problems associated with marijuana use:
- Issues with academic performance – 41%
- Decreased student motivation – 37%
- Mental health issues – 36%
Nationally, the number of students over the past three years who view marijuana as safe has increased by 54%. Talking to your teen can help ensure that they know the risks that marijuana use pose.
Tips and Tricks
We’ve outlined tips so you can simply have a conversation without anyone feeling as if they’re being judged:
- Open a safe, sharing conversation
- Come from a place of love and concern (choose a time when you’re calm)
- Withhold judgement
- Share your own memories and mistakes
Conversation starters:
✓ Describe your proudest moment and the way you reacted/felt
✓ How do you feel when you hear about kids abusing over the counter medicines, like cough medicine?
✓ What would you say if a group tried to pressure you and your friends to use drugs or alcohol?
✓ Name three things you’d like to do or accomplish before you graduate from high school.
✓ How do you feel about friends who drink alcohol or use drugs?
✓ Who would you consider to be your best role model? What do you look for in a role model?
✓ Why do you think kids take risks or abuse drugs and alcohol?