Having the Cannabis Talk
It may take many conversations to get through to your teen about cannabis use. That’s okay. Keep trying. Every talk you have is a step in the right direction. By sharing information and listening to your teen, you can make an impact on your teen’s decisions.
Use These Cannabis Talk Tips
There are different ways of talking to your teen about cannabis. Here are some ideas to keep the conversation flowing:
Talk Early and Often:
Start the conversation early, if possible, even before your kids start to think about experimenting.
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Be Casual but Clear:
Have casual conversations instead of lectures
or formal family meetings.
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Be Open and Listen
Without Judgment:
Listen carefully to your teen without judgment. Ask open-ended questions that encourage
your teen to elaborate.
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Keep It Grounded
and Fact-Based:
Focus on the facts and discuss how cannabis
use might affect them. |
When to Talk About Cannabis
It can be hard to know when to bring up cannabis in conversations with your teen. But really, now is the best time. It’s not uncommon for kids to learn about cannabis at young ages in school through friends, music, videos, movies or social media. In fact, talking with your child about cannabis use at a young age is one of the best ways you can help to prevent early experimentation. So, pick a casual moment and keep it light.
Find natural or informal times to chat about cannabis, like when you:
- Drive past a billboard or dispensary
- See someone using cannabis online, in a movie, or on TV
- After smelling it outside
- Are eating dinner or driving in the car together
Different Conversations for Different Ages
How you talk with your child about cannabis use is going to depend on how old they are. Tweens and younger teens may not have been exposed to cannabis yet, but it’s still worthwhile having the conversation early on so they are prepared. If your teenager is older, they might have thoughts of their own on cannabis from friends and what they’ve heard on social media. That’s okay—stick to the facts.
Have an Open Conversation
13–14 Year Olds
If your tween or teen is curious about cannabis, don’t be afraid to talk with them about it. Remind them their brain is still developing. Using cannabis can put their brain development at risk.
Give Them the Facts
15–17 Year Olds
As your teen grows older, they might come across cannabis in their group of friends. Let them know using THC (the main active component in cannabis) in any form can affect their brain and things they care about—like sports, school and making memories with friends.
Cannabis Facts Versus Fiction
When discussing cannabis with your teen, they may have questions or comments that are hard to address. Read through these frequent teen comments so you’re prepared to respond in the moment.
If your teen says...
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“But it’s natural.”
You can say: “Just because it’s natural, it still doesn’t mean it’s safe for you to use. Your brain won’t stop developing until you’re in your mid-20s. Using weed now can impact your memory, stress and anxiety.”
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“But it’s not as bad as tobacco or other drugs.”
You can say: “As your brain develops, it is expertly fine-tuning its connections, and many substances - including cannabis - can disrupt the brain’s developmental process.”
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“But it’s legal.”
You can say: “The legal age of cannabis use in California is 21 and above.”
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“But I saw you use.”
You can say: “Using cannabis underage puts your brain development at risk. That means your memory, attention, coordination, and mental health could be affected.”
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