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 to 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. If you are 21+ choose to use, please lock up your products and be aware that different forms of cannabis can have very different levels of THC and can cause severe reactions.
Information is always changing and we try to update this page as new resources become available and others phase out. If you are local to the Upper Valley and can’t find what you need, please reach out to us and we’ll connect you to the right information.
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.
Cannabis, Pregnancy, and Breastfeeding: information from the Vermont Department of Health.
Marijuana Talk Kit: The Partnership to End Addiction offers useful facts and answers to commonly asked questions.
Talking with Your Child About Marijuana may help you start, and keep up, conversations about the dangers of using cannabis and other drugs at a young age.
ParentUp VT is a resource from the Vermont Department of Health with lots of suggestions for initiating conversations about cannabis and other substance use with youth.
Wit’s End is a local, weekly support group for family members of adolescents or adults who are having problems related to alcohol, other substance use, or harmful addictive behaviors.