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Marijuana (Cannabis)

We Know How to Fight This: Flavored Marijuana

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If it feels like vaping is suddenly everywhere, you’re not imagining it.

Local reports and data from this past year show a sharp rise in the number of kids—especially middle schoolers—vaping flavored marijuana (cannabis).

The sweet flavors can make these products seem harmless, but experts warn that they’re driving addiction and causing real problems at school, with friends, and at home.

Photo credit: news.umich.edu

As a parent or caregiver, that can feel overwhelming. But here’s the encouraging part: we know how to fight this.
Twenty-five years ago, more than a third of teens smoked cigarettes. Today? That number is down to just 3%. 

Cigarettes didn’t vanish—our approach changed. Parents, schools, and entire communities came together to reshape policies, expectations, and conversations. And it worked. We can do the same thing with vaping marijuana.

Three Powerful Ways Parents Can Help

You don’t need a long script or special training. What matters most is staying engaged, connected, and clear with your kids:

1. Talk Often
 Regular, short, and honest conversations are far more effective than a single “big talk.” Ask what your child is hearing at school. Share what you know. Keep the door open.

2. Be Clear About Expectations
 Kids actually want to know where you stand. Let your child know you don’t want them using marijuana in any form—including vaping. Clarity helps them make safer choices.

3. Stay Close
 A strong relationship with a caring adult is one of the biggest protective factors against substance use. Your presence, attention, and support truly matter.

You’re Not Alone

Parenting through a changing landscape of substances can feel tough, but you don’t have to navigate it by yourself.
Parent Up offers tools, conversation starters, and resources to help you open these discussions and keep them going.

Together – just like we did with cigarettes – we can protect our kids and create healthier futures.

What’s Next:

– Parent Up Staff

How to Keep Our Kids Merry and Bright Now and All Year Long

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It’s the holiday season and here at Parent Up, we are intentionally celebrating the joy, creativity, and resilience of area youth. We also celebrate YOU, the parents, guardians, and other caring adults who are following along, learning, listening, and taking action, even when it isn’t always easy.

With the threats of deadly fentanyl, new discreet nicotine products, and the now-more-available-than-ever potent-THC packed cannabis posing risks to young brains, Parent Up is rounding out the year with some encouragement and tried-and-true tips for keeping our kids merry and bright now and all year long:

  1. Set no-use expectations when it comes to vaping, alcohol, marijuana, and other substances.
    Teen substance use harms the developing brain and puts youth at higher risk for mental health problems and addiction throughout life. Let’s ensure kids know we care about their health and well-being, and that’s why we want them to stay drug-free. You can do this without threatening by saying something like, “I really care about your health and safety, and I don’t want you risking that by vaping or using marijuana. Your brain is not done growing so it’s even more important at this time in your life that you don’t use any drugs like alcohol, nicotine, unprescribed pills, or marijuana.” Or something like this, “Friends around you might tell you that drugs or alcohol help with that, but I really care about you and want you to not use alcohol, vapes, or any marijuana to protect you now and in the future.”

     

  2. Be curious and keep the dialogue about substances open.
     Ask kids what they think or have heard about alcohol, vaping, marijuana, and other drugs. Be curious and open-minded about their experiences. It’s more important – and effective– to listen and discuss rather than to lecture. Ask them questions about what they think about marijuana. Ask them what they know or what they’ve heard about vaping at school or from friends. Finding out what our teens know and think about substances first helps us know where to start our conversations. Use “teachable moments” to start conversations too. Use public service announcements, stories on the news, TV plot lines, pop culture or current issues at school or in the community to spur on your conversations.

    There’s an important second part to this advice: Let kids know they can come to you or other trusted adults for help with peer pressure, stress, or anxiety. Kids need to hear that their well-being is a priority and that they have options for relief other than taking matters into their own hands.

  3. Prepare kids for peer pressure.
    Help youth gain confidence to say “no” to alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs by practicing scenarios and brainstorming what they might say if they’re offered to them. “What do you do if you are in a social setting and you’re uncomfortable with what is happening?” Or ask, “What if someone is offering you something — what are you going to say?” Practice this with teens, even if they groan at you and don’t want to do it. Even if you don’t get them to say the words, if you can say the words and at least put them in their brain, they will be more likely to use that strategy when the moment comes. We also recommend teens memorize the phone numbers of two trusted adults so they always have someone to call to get out of an uncomfortable situation, even if their phone is dead.

  1. Watch for early signs or symptoms of substance use.
    As parents and caregivers, we know our kids best so if something seems off, we should take action. General early signs of substance use could include: Changes in appearance, changes in friend groups, grades dropping, and/or secretive behavior. Find more specific early warnings signs for underage drinking, marijuana use, teen vaping, and prescription drug misuse on our     Drug Topics page. If you need help for your child and are worried your child may be using alcohol or other drugs, the Partnership to End Addiction can help.

Our kids are more resilient and better off with your support! We wish you well this holiday season and into the new year.

 – The Parent Up KC Team

5 Urgent Reasons to Keep Our Youth Marijuana-Free

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As parents and caring adults, we all want our kids to grow up healthy, happy, and confident about their futures. But with today’s marijuana products becoming stronger and more accessible, it’s more important than ever to stay informed and proactive.

Whether you hear it called marijuana, THC, cannabis, weed, or pot — one fact remains:

No amount of marijuana use is safe for youth.

Because the brain continues developing well into a person’s mid-20s, young people are especially vulnerable to marijuana’s effects on brain growth, learning, and mental health.

In fact, 90% of Americans who struggle with addiction today started using alcohol or other drugs during their teen years. Early prevention truly matters — and your guidance can make all the difference.

Here are five key reasons why keeping youth marijuana-free helps protect their health, safety, and future success:

1. Today's Marijuana is Much Stronger Than Before

Marijuana today is not the same as what existed decades ago. THC — the chemical responsible for the “high” — has risen dramatically in strength. While marijuana in the 1960s contained only about 1–4% THC, dispensaries now sell marijuana products averaging 18–23% THC, with some strains testing over 30%.

Even more concerning are concentrated forms like dabs, waxes, oils, and vapes, which can contain anywhere from 40% to over 80% THC. These highly potent products can trigger anxiety, paranoia, and psychosis — and the risk of addiction rises along with the dose.

Because these products aren’t regulated by the FDA, there’s no oversight on their safety or potency. Keeping teens marijuana-free helps protect their developing brains from these increasingly powerful and unpredictable substances.

2. Marijuana, Like Other Drugs, Can Be Addictive

It’s a common misconception that marijuana isn’t addictive, but science tells a different story. About 1 in 10 people who use marijuana will develop an addiction — and for those who start before age 18, the risk jumps to 1 in 6.

Teens are particularly at risk because their brains are still learning and forming habits. Just as it’s easier for young minds to learn an instrument or new language, it’s also easier for them to develop dependencies. Early marijuana use can also raise the likelihood of future substance use.

Helping youth stay marijuana-free is one of the strongest ways we can protect them from addiction.

3. Marijuana Use Harms Teen Mental Health

We know how much today’s teens are navigating — stress, peer pressure, and anxiety are real challenges. Some might turn to marijuana thinking it will help them relax, but research shows it can actually make things worse.

Regular marijuana use, especially with high-THC products, can interfere with emotional growth and make it harder for teens to cope with stress in healthy ways. Studies have linked teen marijuana use to higher rates of depression, anxiety, psychosis, and suicidal thoughts.

Our kids’ mental health is precious — and keeping them marijuana-free helps protect their ability to think clearly, feel deeply, and manage life’s challenges in positive, lasting ways.

4. Marijuana Use Harms Learning & School Success

Teen brains are wired for growth, curiosity, and learning — which makes these years so important. But marijuana use can interrupt this development, leading to problems with memory, attention, and motivation.

Teens who use marijuana often have more trouble focusing in class, completing assignments, and solving problems. Over time, that can lead to lower grades and a higher risk of dropping out.

And the effects don’t just fade when the high wears off — marijuana’s impact on attention and memory can last for days or even weeks. Some studies even show lasting declines in IQ for those who start using as teens.

Protecting our kids from marijuana use helps them stay sharp, focused, and ready to reach their full potential.

5. Marijuana Use Makes Driving Dangerous

Learning to drive is one of the biggest milestones in a teen’s life — but it’s also one of the riskiest times. Marijuana use slows reaction time, coordination, and judgment, making it dangerous behind the wheel. Combine that with an inexperienced driver, and the results can be tragic. 

Marijuana is the most common illegal drug found in drivers involved in deadly crashes, sometimes along with alcohol. Teens who use marijuana are also more likely to ride with someone who’s impaired, putting themselves at risk even if they aren’t the driver.

We can help keep them safe by setting clear expectations: Don’t drive high, and don’t ride with someone who is.

How We Can Keep Youth Marijuana-Free

Parents, the good news is that marijuana use among youth in the Northland is currently low — and together, we can keep it that way! Here’s how:

💬 Set clear expectations

Let your teen know you care deeply about their health and want them to stay marijuana-free. Clear, loving boundaries make a difference.

🧠 Keep the conversation open

Ask what your teen has heard about marijuana and share the facts calmly and honestly. Make sure they know they can come to you — or another trusted adult — with questions or concerns about anxiety, stress, or peer pressure.

💪 Prepare kids for peer pressure

Role-play scenarios so your teen feels confident saying “no.” Create a code word they can text you if they need help leaving an unsafe situation.

👀 Stay alert to changes

Watch for warning signs like red eyes, dropping grades, new friend groups, or shifts in mood. If you’re concerned, reach out for help early — support and resources are available.

Safeguarding our kids’ well-being is one of the most important things we can do — and you’re not alone in it. The potency of today’s marijuana, its addictive nature, and its effects on developing brains all underscore why prevention matters so much.

💛 Together, we can protect our kids, prevent addiction, and help them grow into strong, healthy adults.

Visit our Marijuana page for free resources, conversation guides, and support for parents and caregivers.

How To Talk To Your Teen About Marijuana (And Actually Get Somewhere!)

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Whether you know it as marijuana, THC, cannabis, weed, or pot, one fact is clear: No amount of marijuana use is safe for youth. With more marijuana being sold and used in our community, it’s more important than ever we know the risks of youth use and protect them from early experimentation. Because teens’ brains are still developing, they are much more sensitive to the negative effects of marijuana use such as difficulties in learning, memory, and attention, increased anxiety and depression, and even addiction.

Teens who learn about marijuana and other drugs from their parents or caregivers, and know their no-use expectations, are HALF as likely to ever use these drugs compared to their peers. Parent Up is here to encourage and equip parents and caring adults to use their influence to prevent youth marijuana use, and these tips should help!

Setting the Stage for Conversations with Your Child

  • Try to put yourself in their shoes. Try to talk to teens the way you would want to be spoken to about a difficult subject. Practice refraining from judgement or anger, and instead be curious, calm, and listen with respect and empathy. Be curious and open-minded about their experiences. It’s more important – and effective– to listen and discuss rather than to lecture. Ask them questions about what they think about marijuana. Ask them what they know or what they’ve heard about cannabis at school or from friends. Finding out what our teens know and think about marijuana first helps us know where to start our conversations about the drug.

     

  • Keep an open mind, but a firm stance. We should make it clear to our teens that we care about them so we don’t approve of them using marijuana. We can tell our kids we don’t want them to risk their safety, brain development, or future, and we expect them to remain marijuana-free. Let’s express concern and set clear boundaries so they know where we stand. We are building a foundation for a relationship with our teens that is honest, trusting, and open, which is an important protective factor to safeguard them against cannabis and other drug use now and in the future.

     

  • Talk often! Talk often, talk often, talk often! These conversations are more likely to be successful when they take place more casually. For example, while we’re driving in the car, taking a walk, or washing dishes after dinner with our teens. Sometimes there’s even something in our environment that can spur a conversation, like when we drive past a smoke shop or we’re watching a movie with our teen that shows drug use. Taking advantage of these smaller moments and potential in-roads will help the conversation seem less threatening and more natural.

What to Say when Talking to Your Teen about Marijuana:

  • “There’s a lot of information about marijuana out there, but I want you to come to me with your questions.”
  • “If you’re concerned about your friends using marijuana, let me know and we can talk about it.” (In Missouri, more than 30.2% of youth had one or more friends who smoked marijuana (2022 Missouri Student Survey.)
  • “I’ve heard a lot of talk about marijuana recently, so I want you to know that it is never okay for kids to use. In fact, it’s illegal.”
  • “Your brain is still growing until your mid-20s and marijuana isn’t good for growing brains.”
What Your Teen Might Say: How You Can Respond:
"Ugh, again?! We've already talked about this!" “Yeah, I know we have, but it’s important to me that you know where I’m coming from and why I expect you to be drug-free. I care about you and love you. I want what’s best for your growing brain and body, so I’m going to check in with you sometimes or remind you of our rules because they keep you safe. I know you’re facing a lot of choices as you grow up and I want you to know where I stand.”
"Weed is safer than alcohol." “I’m not surprised to hear you say that because many people think that. But the fact is, there is no amount of safe drug use as a teen. Your brain and body are growing so much right now, and using any drugs during this time can have long term impacts on your brain and your health. Using marijuana as a teenager can also put you at greater risk of car accidents and making poor choices about sex or other drug use.”
“Marijuana is legal here now. Why would it be legal if it’s harmful?” “Many things are legal that can harm people, and especially kids and teens, like tobacco or alcohol. In fact, any drugs - including marijuana - can be more harmful to you than adults because you’re at a stage in life where your brain and body are growing so fast that it leaves you more vulnerable to addiction and the other harmful consequences of drug use.”
“I hear kids at school saying it’s from nature, so it can’t be harmful.” “I get that, but when you really think about it, that doesn’t make much sense. There are many natural plants that are harmful to humans like poison ivy, tobacco, and heroin, which is made from poppy flowers. Just because someone says it’s ‘natural’ doesn’t mean it isn’t harmful.”
“Did you smoke weed when you were younger?” {Answer with the truth, but bring it back to the present.} “Marijuana was a much less potent substance when I was a kid and I am really not happy with the decisions that I/my peers made when I/they did smoke. When you’re high or stoned, the ability to make good decisions is questionable and because today's marijuana is so strong, the risk is just too high.”
“My friend only smokes weed on the weekends and he’s fine.” “I am glad your friend isn’t using it throughout the week, but I am worried because using any drug during the teen years can be really harmful to your brain. I don’t want you to do anything that can be harmful, that’s why I expect you to not use cannabis.”

For a free download of our one page handout of this information, click the button below!

Download and Print Here!

Learn more about preventing teen marijuana use, and find more specific signs and symptoms of use, on our Marijuana page! 

Legal Weed is Now in Missouri – Here’s How You Can Help Ensure Kids Stay Drug-Free

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With legal marijuana now being sold and marketed in our community, it’s more important than ever that we protect youth from early experimentation. The adolescent brain is unique, growing, and changing daily, and it’s these conditions that allow addiction to set in much more quickly in teens than adults. Also adding to the dangers are high potency marijuana and products like edibles and vapes. The average THC content (the substance that gets you high) in marijuana today has skyrocketed since the 60s, making it stronger and more likely to jumpstart addiction in our vulnerable teens. When the risks of increased access to THC-packed edibles, gummies, and vape cartridges are added to the mix, it’s a recipe for addiction.

The good news is that marijuana rates among youth in the Northland are currently low and we can help keep it that way:

  • Make sure kids in your life know you care about their mental health and well-being. That’s why you don’t want them to use marijuana or any other substances! Set clear expectations that they will stay marijuana-free.

  • Ensure any cannabis products are not accessible to youth.  

  • Help youth gain the confidence to say “no” to marijuana by practicing scenarios and brainstorming what they might say if they are offered marijuana. Prepare your kids for peer pressure and let them know they can come to you for help.

  • Watch for any early signs or symptoms of marijuana use. Be on alert for changes in behaviors, friend groups, or attitudes. Some warning signs include: Glassy, red eyes, slurred speech, dry mouth, a “skunky” smell, anxiety, a drop in grades, quitting activities, and difficulty thinking and problem solving.

Most addiction starts in adolescence: 90% of adults in the U.S. with a drug addiction starting using before age 18, making this the most important time to prevent experimentation with drugs. As adults, we have the power to help protect our kids and prevent addiction, and Parent Up is here to help! Check out all of our marijuana-specific resources here!

Keeping Our Kids Merry & Bright

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It’s the holiday season and here at Parent Up, we are intentionally celebrating the joy, creativity and resilience of area youth. We also celebrate YOU, the parents, guardians and other caring adults who are following along, learning, listening and taking action, even though it isn’t always easy.

With the threats of deadly fentanyl, new discreet nicotine products, and the now more available than ever potent-THC packed cannabis posing risks to young brains, Parent Up is starting out the new year with some encouragement and tried-and-true tips for Keeping Our Kids Merry & Bright All Year Round:  

  1. Let’s make sure kids know we care about their health and well-being. Youth substance use harms the developing brain and puts youth at higher risk for problems with mental health and addiction throughout life. Set no-use expectations when it comes to vaping, alcohol, marijuana, and other substances.

     

  2. Be curious and keep the dialogue about substance use open. Ask youth what they think or have heard about alcohol, vaping, and other drug use. We can let them know they can come to us adults for help with peer pressure, stress, or anxiety.

     

  3. Help youth gain confidence to say “no” to alcohol and other drugs by practicing scenarios and brainstorming what they might say if they’re offered to them.
  1. Watch for early signs or symptoms of substance use which could include: changes in appearance, changes in friend groups, grades dropping, and/or secretive behavior. We know our kids best, so if something seems off, we should take action.

Kids are resilient and they are better off with your support. We wish you well this holiday season and into the new year.

The Parent Up Team

Marijuana: Risky Business for Young Brains

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The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that 38% of high school youth have used marijuana at some point in their lives.  In this same report, concerning findings suggest more middle school youth and kids who historically aren’t at high risk for drug use, are now using marijuana.  Our local rates in the Kansas City Northland are lower than the national average, but still concerning.  In the Northland, 30% of middle and high school kids perceive marijuana as harmless with 5.5% of them using it regularly (2020 Missouri Student Survey).  

Using marijuana is risky business for a developing teenage brain. According to the CDC, use in teens can result in difficulty in thinking and problem solving, problems with memory and learning, impaired coordination, and difficulty maintaining attention. Teen marijuana use is also associated with lower grade point average, reduced overall school performance, impaired driving, impaired attention span, lower life satisfaction, and increased risk for mental health issues and other substance use. 

Although marijuana use can actually increase mental health problems, many teens use it to dampen anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues.

Here at Parent Up, we believe that parents and caring adults can help prevent youth marijuana use and protect youth from turning to marijuana use to cope. This month, Parent Up got some insight from Dr. Debra Olson-Morrison, a local clinician who has decades of experience working with families.

Informed teens make more informed choices. Engage pre-adolescents and young teens in healthy conversations about the effects of using drugs such as marijuana. Refrain from using scare tactics and lecturing, and remain open and receptive to what your teen wants to share with you. Start with phrases such as “So, seems like some kids are using marijuana these days. What do you think about that? What do you know about the effects of using marijuana? How do you feel about all this?”  Asking open-ended, curiosity-based questions reflects a non-judgmental willingness to engage in truthful dialogue about drug use.

Choose relationships over ribbons. Many parents focus on their teens’ grades, performance in extracurricular activities, undesirable behaviors, or other activities, and forget to just spend quality one-on-one time with their teen. As parents and caring adults openly talk about marijuana use, they should simultaneously show confidence in their teen’s ability to make healthy decisions, and spend time connecting with them.

Trust, Love, and Acceptance: Communicate your admiration for the person your teen is, and excitement for the person they are becoming. Being a teenager is hard – being present to and validating teens’ thoughts, feelings, concerns, and dreams provides a foundation for a healthy relationship based in love and trust.

Thanks for your thoughts, Debbie, and thanks for the work you do with Northland kids to help them thrive! 

Remember, Parent Up is here to help you navigate conversations about drug use and establishing healthy boundaries with your kids. Visit our homepage to learn “how to Parent Up” or navigate to our Drug Topics page for more information about preventing youth substance use, including marijuana use.

Debra Olson-Morrison, PhD, LCSW, RPT-S has been in clinical practice with children and families since 2001 and currently serves as the Trauma-Informed Training Manager and Child Advocacy Center Therapist at Synergy Services.

What We Want Every Parent to Know

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There’s yard signs, news headlines, and lawsuits buzzing around us. No, we are not talking about the election. We’re talking about medical marijuana. In 2018, Missouri voters approved a constitutional amendment to allow medical marijuana to be grown, manufactured, dispensed, and used in Missouri. You will soon (if you haven’t yet) start to notice this new industry pop up in various ways in our communities. While there’s plenty we could talk about related to medical marijuana, our goals at Parent Up are specific:  Empower and equip parents to protect their kids from early engagement in all substance use. With this in mind, here is what we want every parent to know to help keep their kids and teens safe:

  1. Many in the local medical marijuana industry, health experts, and addiction researchers agree:  No amount of marijuana for youth is safe. Marijuana is dangerous for young, developing brains and the earlier someone starts to use marijuana, the greater their chance of becoming dependent on it. The average potency of THC in the marijuana sold today is higher than ever before and science is just starting to measure the impact. While every brain and body is impacted differently, we do know that adolescents are more vulnerable to the negative impacts of marijuana use. If teens use marijuana, their risk of addiction, mental health problems, impaired driving, and problems with thinking, memory, learning and coordination increase.

  2. Medical marijuana, is still marijuana. It is now legal for individuals and businesses who qualify to grow, manufacture, recommend, sell, market, smoke, vape, consume, and use marijuana. Medical marijuana will come in a lot of different products (edibles, candies, concentrates, buds, waxes, cartridges for vapes, and more) at various unregulated potencies. With increased availability of THC-packed marijuana, we need to do everything we can to ensure this substance is not diverted to youth.

  1. Now’s the time to take action to protect your kids and other young people from any early use of any marijuana:  Learn more about the vulnerable adolescent brain so you are energized to protect it.  Communicate a strong stance against all youth substance use, including marijuana.  Keep marijuana out of reach of youth, and watch for any early warning signs of use or risk factors.

As more marijuana comes to our communities, Parent Up is here to help. Throughout our resources, you can read more about the impact of marijuana on youth, learn what to say (or not to say) to your teen, take action if you know adults who provide marijuana, and like and share our messages on Facebook. Worried your child may be using marijuana or other drugs?  The Partnership to End Addiction can help.  Thanks for doing all you can to protect the health and safety of your kids!

 

From, Your Parent Up KC Staff

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