In Canada, an information booklet on cannabis is available for parents

Canada plans to legalize recreational cannabis by July 1, 2018. The charity Drug-free youth, in partnership with the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, has published an information booklet on cannabis, to help parents to discussing cannabis with your children and thus reinforce prevention in a country where cannabis sales for adult use are already beginning to appear.

This booklet available online since last Tuesday, includes a wealth of information on cannabis: federal laws on the substance, recent data and role-playing scenarios of a discussion on cannabis between a teenager and his parents, which may be useful for Canadian families.

For example, for parents who use cannabis, the booklet offers ideas for responses when a teenager questions his or her parents, particularly with regard to the risks involved. for a 15-year-old teenager, the substance can.

Cannabis use in Canada

This chart published by Radio Canada International shows cannabis use among young teenagers, adults and the general population. Cannabis use has been on the rise since 2011, particularly among younger people. The data in the booklet also reveal that in Canada, cannabis use is more prevalent among men than women, but that the gap is narrowing.

In addition, according to the latest Global Drug Survey, 14.9% des canadiens wake up smoking a joint, ranked 4th after the United States, Mexico and Greece.

In the context of forthcoming legalization, the booklet recalls the risks associated with cannabis consumption, such as a 2 to 3 times greater risk of road accidents (figures of 1.4 to 1.8 are most often cited in France), the harmful long-term effects of cannabis (depression, anxiety) or the dangerous combination of cannabis and alcohol.

Mehdi Bautier