Talking to your children about drugs is, of course, a very personal decision and oftentimes depends on their maturity, as well as a variety of other factors. This being said, it really is important to chat to them about it no matter how hard it is, as it is vital to keep them informed and educated. Here's a couple of tips on how to approach this conversation with your kids:
Something that lots of governments and citizens use to justify the prohibition of marijuana is to keep it from falling into the hands of curious children. Despite this being more than legitimate, most of this fear is misplaced. For example, in Colorado, for instance, teen use has dropped in spite of legalization.
Adutls vs Teenagers
I think that adults need to stop treating their teenagers as if they are dumb, and that this is the first step to helping them stay away from illicit substances. I also believe that because of years of anti-drug propaganda, more teenagers will want to take drugs because of the risky, thrill-seeking feeling that it delivers. Legalizing weed, then, would make the substance normal and thus, less ''thrilling'' to consume. If weed were to be normalized, then the allure of it being illicit would be totally eliminated.
The best thing to do with your kids in regard to the drug talk is to be honest with them. You want to be a parent first, and definitely an educator second. Like I said before, kids aren't stupid, and so will respect and listen to you much more if they know you aren't telling them a bunch of lies. They have the right to be educated properly so that they can make their own informed decisions.
A Clear Approach
Using science to explain cannabis, or any drug really, to your children is a fantastic way to peak their interest and actually may even get them interested in science in general. Talk to them about the endocannabinoid system and the medicinal benefits marijuana has to offer. Essentially, approach the issue from a clinical perspective.
If you think your children are doing drugs, including marijuana, this is clearly something to think long and hard about. Try not to accuse them out rightly of doing so, and instead take a patient approach to discover whether they really are doing drugs or if they are maybe going through something else. If you do find hard evidence, try to approach the situation gently, as there is usually a deeper reason behind drug usage. Essentially, do what you think is best, but try not to be too harsh, that really is all that can be asked of you.
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