Cannabis Toolkit for Parents and Mentors - What You Need to Know About Teens and Cannabis

Teens are getting mixed signals about the risks of cannabis use. More states across the United States are legalizing adult-use cannabis. As of August 2023, 44 states in the U.S. have legalized medical cannabis use and 23 states have legalized adult use.

Conflicting information about cannabis makes it difficult for teens to know how much of a risk it truly is. They may also have heard that there is something called ‘medical cannabis’ that can be used to treat certain medical problems. In school, they may learn about the harmful effects that it can have on youth brain development and yet they may see their favorite celebrity or social media influencer talking about the benefits of cannabis.

Where does all this conflicting information leave teens? What are they supposed to believe is true about cannabis? This inconsistency makes it hard for them to evaluate the risks and consequences of underage cannabis use.