The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit has launched a campaign aimed at debunking myths about cannabis and arming residents with facts.
As communities across the country prepare for legalization on October 17, a recent Nanos poll suggests many in Ontario are woefully uneducated about the differences between recreational pot and marijuana used for medicinal purposes.
"There has been a lot of misinformation about the health effects of cannabis, both positive and negative. Through the Cannabis - Your Questions, Answered campaign, we aim to provide residents with the facts they need to make informed decisions about their own cannabis use," says Eric Nadalin, manager of chronic disease and injury prevention.
The health unit's online campaign is located on its website and aims to educate parents, teachers, employers, and everyone else by answering common questions.
The information is rooted in available research, and evidence gathered across Ontario. Areas of focus include impaired driving, health impacts, youth prevention, the impact of smoking marijuana while pregnant, and treatment for addiction. Parents can get tips on how to talk to their children about it, and there are resources to connect people to healthcare providers.
Related story: OMA warns public ahead of recreational marijuana legalization