Power of Parents ® Middle School Handbook
Chapter 7
Cannabis and Youth Young people’s brains continue to develop until their mid-20s. As a result, cannabis affects them differently than adults. As you read on page 8, research has shown youth who use cannabis are more likely to report decreases in brain volume, poorer attention, verbal skills, and self- regulatory behaviors.
Breaking News: Does vape use increase future cannabis use? Researchers examined a nationally representative sample of 9,800 students ages 12-14 who never used cannabis and found that students who used vapes were significantly more likely to use cannabis one year later compared to students who did not use vapes. The study’s findings show a strong association between vapes and cannabis use in middle school age youth.
ACTION STEP: We recommend that parents use how, what, and why questions to engage their middle schoolers in conversation about how cannabis works in the body. HOW, WHAT, WHY • How do you think cannabis effects a young person’s body or brain? • What makes you think that? • What could happen to someone after using cannabis that would concern you? • Why do you think some people think cannabis is not dangerous?
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