Since Cannabis was legalized in Canada on October 17, it has been weighing on the minds of parents throughout the province. Most are wondering how, and at what age, they should approach this issue with their kids.
“The fact is, children and youth are talking about it,” said Dr. Julie Kryzanowski, Senior Medical Health Officer for the Saskatchewan Health Authority. “Young people with questions - at any age - need information from trustworthy and credible sources, but many parents are not well prepared.”
Kryzanowski advises there are materials online that can help assist parents with a conversation about cannabis for most age groups, and adds that having just one conversation isn’t enough. She says you’ll need to have open, ongoing talks in a non-judgmental way, on the risks and effects of cannabis use in order for your message to make an impact. This will help build the knowledge and skills your kids need to make educated, responsible choices for themselves as they grow older.
“It seems there is a wide misconception out there that cannabis is safe. The important message we want to share is that while cannabis is legal, it isn’t necessarily safe and it especially isn’t safe for kids. We need youth to understand that,” Dr. Kryzanowski said.
As the adult brain continues to develop into a person’s early-to-mid-20s, cannabis can have long-lasting effects on youth. It can affect how they learn and think, altering their performance in school and impeding their memory.
Dr. Kryzanowski said it is important for parents to model the behaviours they want their children to emulate.
“Early exposure to cannabis increases the risk that children and youth will regularly use cannabis in the future,” said Dr. Kryzanowski.
Early exposure could also include cannabis usage in the household by the parents. Parents should be prepared to talk about their values without either normalizing cannabis use or using scare tactics.
A number of parents have expressed concern surrounding cannabis edibles, which sometimes come in the form of gummy candy or baked goods – which could easily be mistaken by your kids as yummy-looking treats. It will be another year before these edibles are legally purchased in store, but Dr. Kryzanowski said it’s just good responsible usage to ensure all harmful substances are kept in a safe place.
“Just as you would for alcohol or cigarettes, keep them in a place where they are not accessible to your kids.”
Health Canada has a number of resources online for parents and youth on cannabis, including health effects and how to talk to your kids. The Government of Saskatchewan also has
information for the public. As always, for professional health advice in Saskatchewan, you can direct questions to HealthLine at 811.