Cannabis: Parents and caregivers of youth

If I suspect my child is using cannabis, what can I do about it?

We know that it can be a hard conversation for parents to have, but there are tips to help you have this conversation.

People choose to use or not use cannabis for several reasons. If you are concerned, have a non-judgmental talk with your child about cannabis. Research has shown that fear and/or abstinence-based approaches to discussing cannabis does not work on youth^1,2.

GetSensible.org has a downloadable booklet called The Guiding Principles of Education (PDF) that explains the best practices on discussing cannabis with young people. Drug Free Kids Canada also has the Cannabis Talk Kit to help adults talk with youth about cannabis. For an additional youth resource, see Cannabis: What parents and caregivers need to know (School Mental Health Ontario).

What are some signs that my child might be using cannabis?

Cannabis use can be difficult to recognize. A lot of the signs might actually seem like normal teen behaviour. According to the Cannabis Talk Kit from Drug Free Kids Canada, “It is important not to jump to the conclusion that any changes in your child’s behaviour are because of cannabis or other substance use.”

Some behaviours you may notice include:

their attendance or performance at school goes down
their sleeping habits change
they are less open or honest
there are sudden changes to their friend group or relationships with family

Regardless of the cause, these signs are an opportunity to check in with your child to ensure that they know they are supported by you. You know your child best; if something seems off, listen to your instincts and start a conversation.

How does cannabis affect my child’s mental health?

The impacts of cannabis on the teenage brain have not yet been thoroughly researched, so the full long-term effects are unknown. It is not yet clear how much cannabis plays a role in the development of mental health issues. However, there are a few factors that may increase someone’s risk for negative cognitive effects¹:

Early age of initiating cannabis (prior to age 15)
Frequency of usage (every day or nearly every day)
Dosage (large amounts of THC)

These factors also contribute to someone’s risk for developing a cannabis use disorder (CUD). One such study shows that individuals who start using cannabis prior to the age of 18 are 4-7 times more likely to develop a CUD compared to those who start using cannabis after the age of 22¹.

For more information on how cannabis affects the teen brain, Get Sensible has a pdf booklet titled Cannabis in Context to download that explores the research on the impact of cannabis on the entire body.

Are there cannabis resources for teachers and educators?

The Ontario Ministry of Education website has a page dedicated to cannabis information for educators (Government of Ontario, Ministry of Education).

GetSensible.org has a downloadable booklet called The Guiding Principles of Education (PDF) that explains the best practices on discussing cannabis with young people.

For additional information, see the Ontario Physical and Health Education Association’s Cannabis Resources for Educators.

What is my child going to be learning about cannabis in school?

Education about cannabis is integrated into the current Ontario Health and Physical Education curriculum. For more information, see the Ministry of Education’s Health and Physical Education (HPE) curriculum for grades 1-8 and HPE curriculum for grades 9-12, which give a comprehensive description of where cannabis is mentioned in the curriculum.

I use (or want to use) cannabis, but I don’t want my child to know. Should I be worried if they find out?

As a parent or caregiver, you can impact your child’s decisions and attitudes about cannabis. Though it may not always seem like it, young people pay attention to what their parents and caregivers do. This observation starts early in a child’s life and influences their values and behaviours as they get older, including how they interact with cannabis and other drugs. As a caregiver, you can:

Talk to your child early and often about cannabis in age-appropriate ways.
Avoid fear or abstinence-only based information. Educate yourself and stick to the facts.
If you choose to use cannabis, always model healthy and responsible cannabis consumption.
Keep any cannabis-related supplies locked up and safe.
Do not provide cannabis to anyone underage – it’s illegal.

For more information about talking about cannabis with youth, check out the GetSensible.org booklet called The Guiding Principles of Education (PDF) that explains the best practices on discussing cannabis with young people. Additionally, Drug Free Kids Canada has created the Cannabis Talk Kit (Drug Free Kids Canada) to help adults talk with youth about cannabis.

Get Sensible. (2021). The guiding principles of education. Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy. https://getsensible.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Sensible-Cannabis-Education-Booklet-1.pdf
Drug Free Kids Canada. (2020). Cannabis talk kit: Know how to talk with your teen (2^nd ed). https://www.drugfreekidscanada.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/Cannabis-Talk-Kit_EN.pdf

This item was last modified on September 10, 2024