SPEAKING CANNABIS WITH YOUR KIDS

The lucrative, recreative, and medicinal uses of the cannabis plant have entirely changed the narratives people once had about cannabis. After years of discrimination and marginalization, cannabis for recreational use is now available in eighteen states.

Kids And Cannabis

Despite legalization being the norm in many states, educating your kids on the dos and don’ts associated with cannabis is never easy. Though it is illegal for children to consume marijuana recreationally, they may try it out sometime in the future. No matter how difficult it may seem, educating your kids on everything cannabis should be of prime importance. Like sex education, children have a long challenging social life ahead of them. So offering them some vital tips on how to navigate such challenges is critical.

Speaking Cannabis With Your Kids

Here are some tips to follow regarding having a cannabis-related discussion with your children.

Identify The Right Moments To Ignite Such Discussions

The first tip is looking for an ideal moment to raise such conversations. Such moments may include

Driving past a cannabis dispensary
Seeing someone smoking cigarettes along across the street
As well as watching a character smoke pot on TV.

Should you be fortunate to encounter any of the scenarios above, that could be an ideal moment to raise such cannabis-related discussions.

Communication is Key

Remember, your kids are just kids. So when discussing issues of this magnitude, always mind your choice of words. To achieve a smooth and easy-going conversation with your kids, parents should

Learn how to age-appropriate discussions with young children, tweens, teens as well as young adults
Engage in conversations rather than lectures
Just ask the questions rather than being judgemental
Always be engaged in whatever happens in your child’s life
Be an active listener for children love and adore a listening parent
Never approach such topics with anger cause your child would be left demoralized and unable to engage with such discussions

Tell Your Children, The Truth About Cannabis

Cannabis is here to stay, and thanks to medicinal and recreational benefits sandwiched with the lucrative nature of the industry, the sky is the starting point for this industry. Also, it is essential to educate your kids on the uses of cannabis. And why its legalization varies from one state to another, and why it is illegal for people under age 21.

Create An Avenue Of Trust

Making your kids trust you and being comfortable around you make it difficult for them to keep secrets. This is critical cause once this trust exists, they can freely reach out to you in case of any worry. For instance, if your kids know they can count on you in their darkest moments and you would make them see the light, nothing humanly possible would stop them from confiding in you with their cannabis-related worry(s).

Be Understanding If Your Child Is Using

Remember, a child remains a child. And as a parent, we owe them love, proper guidance, and understanding. If you find out your child is using or confide in you about their use of cannabis, try to be calm. Once you achieve that, ask about their motives or what drives them to use cannabis and be observant about whether or not it affects them. If it does, get help immediately by calling 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or reach out to a cannabis expert or a physician.

Others

Other solutions associated with speaking to your kids about cannabis include

Endeavor to acknowledge some of the reasons why some people use cannabis (medicinal or recreational purposes)
Admit it to them you also use cannabis (that is, if the child asks you the question directly)
Be sincere to your kids if your family had addiction-related issues

Final Note

Considering the difficulty of isolating our children from interacting with the rest of the world, we as parents still have a vital role to play. One which involves educating and trust them to handle themselves appropriately and, most importantly, make the right decisions.