Talking to Your Kids About Weed

As a parent, one of your most important responsibilities is to educate and guide your kids as they go through life. This includes having conversations about difficult topics such as cannabis. In this blog post, we will provide some guidance on how to engage in open and informed discussions with your kids on this sensitive matter.

Whether you like it or not, there will come a time when you as a parent need to talk to your kids about weed. Before you do, however, it is crucial to educate yourself on the subject first, to ensure that you can provide them with balanced and evidence-based information. Bringing up the topic of cannabis should be done in a relaxed and private setting during a time where you can give your child your undivided attention. To enable open communication, it is essential to create a safe and non-judgmental environment where they feel comfortable to share their thoughts and feelings about cannabis. Try to avoid using fear tactics and encourage them to ask questions and express their opinions freely. This will foster trust and ensure that your child remains receptive to your guidance.

When you decide that it’s time to have the “Cannabis talk” with your kids, remember to tailor the conversation based on their age and level of understanding. For children under the age of 10 years, keep the discussion simple and focus on the basics of what cannabis is and why it’s important to avoid it until they are older. The ideal message at this stage should be something along the lines of “you shouldn’t do anything to harm your body”. When they start to ask questions, be honest and explain the facts in a way that they can comprehend. Give them a visual idea of what cannabis looks like in all its different forms and instruct them to say no to anyone who offers it to them. 

As they grow older, you can gradually provide more detailed information about the effects of cannabis on the body and brain and the potential risks associated with its use. Kids between the age of 10–13 years usually know how to use the internet and have probably already come across bits of information about cannabis. However, at this point, it is unlikely that they are educating themselves with reliable information. For kids who have just discovered the existence of cannabis, conversations should center mostly on refusing it when offered. Talk to them about peer pressure and how to say no, and reiterate that cannabis isn’t safe for children.

During the teenage years, most kids will start to experiment with substances of abuse, including cannabis. During this period, it is crucial to engage in more in-depth discussions about peer pressure, the potential impact of cannabis on their physical and mental health, and the legal and safety aspects of cannabis use. One of the most crucial things that your kids need to know is that it matters when you start. Kids who start smoking weed before the age of 15 are much more likely to have a substance problem at the age of 28 than those who started later. “The odds of developing any drug abuse symptoms by age 28 were reduced by 31 % for each year of delayed onset of cannabis use in adolescence”.

Research has shown that the brain continues to undergo significant development until the age of 25, and that the adolescent brain is particularly vulnerable to the effects of cannabis. Engaging in cannabis use during this sensitive period can have various negative effects on the brain, which can lead to difficulties in cognitive processes such as thinking. problem-solving, memory, learning and attention, amongst others. Frequent cannabis use during adolescence can also increase the risk for developing mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, psychosis, schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder. It is therefore crucial to encourage your children to delay cannabis use until the age of 25 when the brain’s development is more complete and potential risks are minimized. Try to keep a neutral stance and do not demonize. As teenagers, they will test your limits, and forbidding them from doing something will only push them to do it even further. Help them to explore other ways to cope with stress and peer pressure, such as engaging in hobbies, and sports.

By the time your kids reach their 20s, they are old enough to make their own decisions, and you have already done your part as a responsible parent. At this stage, the best you can do is to talk to them about how to use cannabis responsibly. For example, you can educate them about the dangers of mixing cannabis and alcohol and driving while intoxicated. Stress the importance of keeping their recreational use under control and discuss the likelihood of dependence. Remind them of the differences between cannabis and harder drugs, and why they should never cross that line. 

If you are doing this for the first time and don’t know where to start, Health Canada has put together a very comprehensive “Cannabis talk kit” that contains all the information you need to guide you through this process step by step. You can also have a look at the following article, which contains guidelines for reducing health harms from cannabis use. This includes things like delaying use until late adolescence, avoiding frequent or intensive use, choosing low-potency products with a high CBD/THC ratio, avoiding deep inhalation practices and the dangers of driving while under the influence.

We know that talking to your kids about cannabis can be a daunting task, but the earlier you start having this conversation, the better. By being proactive and supportive, you can empower your children to make responsible choices that will positively influence their future well-being.