The community, parents and caregivers are being invited to an information session at Lambton Public Health on the effects of marijuana on teens next month.
"The legal status on recreational marijuana is about to change in Canada. It's now not a question of if, it's a question of when," says spokesperson Terry Easterby "This is an awareness opportunity to prevent harm from cannabis among teens."
Anna McKiernan, a Research and Policy Analyst for the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, will be the keynote speaker.
McKiernan was the lead author of Canadian Youth Perceptions on Cannabis.
A key finding in her report was that youth consider cannabis to be less harmful than alcohol and other substances, as well as some youth believed cannabis was detrimental to the brain in some capacity, but with limited understanding.
According to Stats Canada, the average age of youth engaging marijuana is 15.4 years. Although it has been found that school-aged youth using the drug has decreased, Canadian youth continue to have one the highest rates of Cannabis use worldwide.
"I think the public perception of the risks and harms associated with marijuana is decreasing. But research suggests that marijuana is not totally risk-free especially in adolescents," says Easterby.
He says it's important for a parent or caregiver to understand what the effects are associated with marijuana and factors that could influence youth.
The federal legislation on the legalization of marijuana was introduced Thursday, April 13.
The free event is being held at Lambton Public Health Thursday, May 4th at 7 pm.
For more information on how to register visit www.lambtonhealth.on.ca
-Written by Meghan Bond, Fanshawe College Intern