Good to Know Colorado – How to Talk to your Kids about Marijuana
My post is sponsored by Single Edition Media on behalf of the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment for Good to Know Colorado.
When I first told my friends I was moving to Colorado they would get a smirk on their face and mention the legalized use of marijuana. I hate that this has become what Colorado is known for, but at the same time it really makes me think as a mom. In a way, it has pushed me to bring the topic of marijuana up to my boys before I may have in our last location.
Then again, C’Man is 13. Thirteen! Where does time go? Next year is high school and you know all the influences he will find there. I found this scary statistic and know it is time –
The most recent Healthy Kids Colorado Survey (HKCS) data indicates that in 2013 one in five high school and middle school students reported using marijuana in the last 30 days.
Sitting down and talking to your kids is hard. You want them to understand that this is serious, but at the same time you don’t want to preach. Just inform. I am so thankful for the launch of the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment’s new resources on the Good To Know website, created especially for parents in Colorado to start talking to their kids about underage marijuana use.
Good to Know Colorado
You’ll find information on…
Health Effects – Information about how underage marijuana use may impair learning and memory coordination, judgment and brain development.
Legal Consequences – Details on the legal consequences of underage marijuana use including potential loss of financial aid, job or driver’s license.
Marijuana 101 – Information on common slang terms for marijuana, methods of consumption and details on safe storage.
Talking Tips for Parents and Youth-Serving Professionals – Age-specific recommendations on how to talk to youth about marijuana.
Plus Good to Know Colorado has an active social media presence on Facebook and Instagram. This makes it easy for us to grab quick info and ask questions in a open environment with other parents.
Believe me, I know that talking to our children about marijuana can be challenging and that is why I wanted to write this post and share how we can feel more confident by using these resources that are easily accessible for us. Let’s all work together to help prevent youth marijuana use!
Have you sat down with your family yet? Use Good Know Colorado resources!