Cannabis Control Authority Unveils New Parent Toolkit
Wednesday, September 20th 2023
Toolkit Can Help Guide Informed Conversations About Cannabis
Richmond – Attention, parents and guardians! The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (CCA) has created a new toolkit that can help guide discussions with youth about the risks associated with underage cannabis use. “Talking About Cannabis: A Parent Toolkit” is available to download on the CCA’s website.
Parents and guardians play a key role in preventing underage cannabis use. Thirteen percent of high school students currently use cannabis according to the 2021 Virginia Youth Survey conducted by the Virginia Department of Health. Having early, age-appropriate conversations about cannabis creates a foundation for responsible decision making that can help children make safe and healthy choices.
The new toolkit covers topics such as:
- Types of cannabis products
- Effects of cannabis on the developing brain and body
- Virginia cannabis laws
- Tips for talking to your child about cannabis
- Signs of possible cannabis use in youth
The toolkit also includes references to additional expert resources on the subject.
The CCA created the toolkit after receiving feedback from its recent statewide needs assessment survey and during town hall events and presentations across the state. Parents/guardians, health professionals, and community leaders expressed concern about a lack of resources available to help guide conversations about cannabis with youth.
”Our outreach efforts revealed there was a large appetite for a resource on the risks associated with underage cannabis use,” said Jeremy Preiss, the CCA’s Acting Head and Chief Officer for Regulation, Policy, and External Affairs. “We listened, and we responded with this toolkit.” Preiss added, “its publication coincides with the start of the new school year and furthers our mission to promote public safety and health.”
“Talking About Cannabis: A Parent Toolkit” is one of several educational resources available on the CCA’s website. To see more public health and public safety resources, visit cca.virginia.gov/resources.
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