Say "NO" to Underage Cannabis Use
In this interactive module, students will learn about the effects of marijuana on the developing brain and use this information to help them (and their friends!) make informed and responsible decisions when confronted with peer pressure to use marijuana underage.
This resource supports and enhances educators’ implementation of the Ask, Listen, Learn: Breaking down the Myths of Marijuana Digital Exploration and helps connect the module to topics being taught in the classroom.
Part eight of the Ask, Listen, Learn underage drinking prevention program addresses the effects of cannabis on the developing brain. It is important for kids to have the knowledge and tools they need to say “NO” to an array of risky behaviors.
Students build decision-making skills by reflecting on the rippling effects caused by the decisions they’ve made recently. Using a “decision tree” and goal-setting activity, students will explore the distinction between split-second decisions and thoughtful decisions.
Students consider what it means to be responsible throughout the constant changes we experience in life. A group collaboration activity lets students embrace responsibility by developing their own formula for making smart and healthy choices.
Students will investigate the parts of the developing brain most affected by marijuana use. They will create an infographic that highlights how these brain parts function regularly and they will conclude by discussing the increased harm associated with adolescent marijuana use.
In this activity, students will explore why and how marijuana and alcohol are more harmful for adolescents than for adults. They will then apply what they learn as they create a series of short and engaging video clips that explain the science behind these substances to teach their peers about why they are harmful for young people.
Students will research the effects of marijuana and alcohol on the brain and body and will play a game that challenges them to apply what they have learned. They will ultimately consider how these substances could affect their ambitions, and they will caution their future selves about their effects.
Students will delve into the recommendations for minimum age requirements for cannabis use and how these recommendations lead to legislation. They will then simulate the role of elected officials to discuss and debate another topic: the importance of health education in schools.
Separate cannabis facts from fiction in this classroom activity that challenges students to explore the role of the endocannabinoid system and how its neurotransmitters are affected by THC, a chemical compound found in cannabis. Students will apply what they learn to draft a creative writing piece.
Encourage student collaboration around the short-term and long-term effects of cannabis on the developing brain. This activity compels young learners to work together to develop refusal and exit strategies rooted in their research plus create an original slide video that shares these strategies with their peers.
Supporting Videos
