Cannabis with THC
Cannabis with THC is one of the most widely used substances among youth today and is more potent than ever. Cannabis with THC/marijuana use among Vermonters is consistently among the highest in the country and we have the highest use rates in the US for 12-17- and 18–25-year-olds.
Cannabis use can have short and long-term impacts on health and well-being, and adolescents are particularly susceptible to negative impacts because their brains are still developing. In fact, research shows that 1 in 10 teens who start using cannabis with THC develop a substance use disorder within 12 months. The chances of kids encountering cannabis in their adolescence have increased now that it is sold in stores and legal to have in your home. Cannabis with THC/marijuana remains illegal at the federal level.
Dr. Nora D. Volkow the Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the National Institutes of Health talks about how the cannabis available today is vastly different from what some people may be used to from previous decades, “The content of THC is much higher, and the higher the THC content, the greater the risk of adverse effects.” It is time for us all to learn more about the cannabis available today so we can make informed decisions.
GENERAL
Let's Talk Cannabis is a Vermont campaign with information about the health impacts of cannabis use, as well as what’s legal in Vermont.
International Academy on the Science and Impact of Cannabis
Center for Disease Control and Prevention - Health Effects of Marijuana
T-Break: Take a Cannabis Tolerance Break from UVM's Center for Health & Wellbeing
FOR SUPPORTING YOUTH
Marijuana Talk Kit - from the Partnership to End Addiction offers useful facts and answers to commonly asked questions.
Talking with Your Child About Marijuana - from SAMHSA’s Talk, They Hear You campaign to help you start—and keep up—the conversation about the dangers of drinking alcohol and using other drugs at a young age.
ParentUp Vermont - a resource from the Vermont Department of Health with lots of suggestions for initiating conversations about cannabis and other substance use with youth.
Have a question?
Information is constantly advancing and as we continue to learn BPHC will update this page with new resources as needed. However, if you don’t find what you need, and live locally, reach out to us and we’ll try to connect you to the right information.