5 facts that any parent should know about legalisation of cannabis

If the Federal Government's legalization of cannabis in Canada takes effect as it was announced, many parents wonder what this decision means for their teens. Here are five facts that it is important to share with your children.

1. Only adults have the right to consume cannabis
Only people 18 years of age or older will have the right to obtain marijuana, which means that it will be forbidden to sell or provide cannabis to the young.

2. Marijuana slows reflexes
It is essential that young drivers understand that when they are driving, they need to be attentive and able to concentrate. Even a very small amount of marijuana can affect concentration, judgement, motor skills, reaction time, decision-making, balance and coordination. After alcohol, marijuana is the second most commonly detected substance in drivers who lose their lives in a collision in Canada.

3. It is illegal to drive under the influence of drugs
It is illegal and dangerous to drive under the influence of any drug including marijuana. However, no less than 24% of young adults feel that they can safely drive less than two hours after consuming cannabis. This is totally wrong as is the myth that it is safer to take the wheel after consuming marijuana than driving in a drunken state.

4. Marijuana and alcohol are not good housekeeping
It is dangerous to believe that mixing certain drugs, such as cannabis, with alcohol can balance the effects – on the contrary, it only makes driving performance worse. Many of the collisions involving adolescents are caused by inexperience and lack of judgement, and if these factors are associated with alcohol, cannabis or other drugs, the results can be disastrous.

5. Children should not board a vehicle whose driver has consumed drugs
According to the most recent Canadian survey of tobacco, alcohol and drugs among students, 15% of students from grades 7 to 12 said they had already boarded a vehicle driven by someone who had consumed cannabis in the previous two hours. Explain to your children that they can safely return home by calling, taking public transportation or using a carpooling service.