The federal government has committed to legalize the recreational use of marijuana and is expected to table legislation this week, before Parliament rises for its spring break. Are we ready for this? Does the government have a clear and consistent message for young people and their families?

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been clear on his rationale for legalization: to minimize underage access to marijuana and to reduce criminal activity surrounding illegal marijuana trade. “Our focus is on protecting kids and protecting our streets,” Trudeau said at The Economist magazine’s Canada Summit in Toronto last June.

And yet when the announcement to introduce legislation was made last April by Health Minister Jane Philpott, it happened to coincide with 4/20, the annual day of celebration for cannabis culture when thousands of people across the country, often very young people, gather to demonstrate their support for legalization by smoking joints in public places.

It’s been reported that the tabling of the legislation would also have coincided with this day again this year had it not been for Parliament’s spring break. And the government reportedly intends that marijuana will be legalized on July 1, 2018, the day we celebrate our country.

The government messaging regarding the legalization of recreational cannabis requires a delicate touch. A celebratory approach will give the impression of promoting use. Yes, the time has come to legalize recreational cannabis, but sending the right message is as important as developing a sound regulatory approach.

Those of us who work in the field of addiction services know that this is a drug that, for some, can have serious consequences. There is ample research on the effects of cannabis on the adolescent brain, especially with early and frequent use. So while there may be political points to be scored by linking the government’s actions to days of celebration, this link overshadows the caution we must exercise with youth when we normalize the substance.

Pine River Institute is a residential treatment facility for adolescents struggling with addictive behaviours. Most of the young people we see use a variety of substances, but identify marijuana as their primary drug of choice.

Before entering our program many have accessed numerous services over months and even years: from crisis visits to the ER, to individual psychotherapy, family therapy, medical intervention, day treatment and/or short-term residential programs. Our students did not respond to these less-intensive interventions, and continued to spiral down, sometimes with severe mental health symptoms, including cannabis-induced psychosis.

They experienced global collapse, not functioning well socially, at home, or at school. Hospital visits and contact with police were part of life for most of them. Conversations with our colleagues who work with adolescents across North America, and what we hear from our own students, tell us that this is a common narrative.

The federal marijuana task force recommendations are clear and they include: use revenue from cannabis regulation for drug prevention, education and treatment; begin public education strategy immediately.

This is where our focus must be. Effective public education that informs youth and their families of the risks of cannabis on the developing brain of adolescents is an important first step, and that step needs to be taken immediately. Minister Philpott pointed out recently that Canada has the highest proportion of cannabis use by adolescents. We need to act now, well before legalization.

Legislation aimed at protecting our kids and our streets is certainly worth celebrating, but “let’s party” mutes the essential message and sends a very mixed signal.

Vaughan Dowie is CEO of Pine River Institute.

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