In light of the impending cannabis legalization on October 17, Hanover School Division’s addictions counselor Daniel Dacombe says he and fellow employees at the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba (AFM) have been busy.

Though AFM has been collecting data and creating content for the past two years in anticipation for this date, Dacombe notes they were talking about the drug long before. “I’ve been doing cannabis education with young people for eight and a half years, it’s one of the drugs that I talk about the most.”

Daniel DacombeDacomb shares his stance on recreational marijuana use: “the last thing we want to do is get drawn into a morality discussion about right and wrong, what matters is the science and the science is pretty clear. When you are a young person and your brain is developing you’re very vulnerable to the effects of mind-altering drugs.”

Among the proven issues caused by underage cannabis use is the inability to cope with emotions. Dacombe indicates that while smoking weed can momentarily decrease stress levels, it also weakens your brain making anxiety and depression difficult to deal with when off of the drug.

Another pot-induced side-effect is a lack of motivation. “People begin to feel really okay with doing nothing and that can make it difficult for young people to achieve their goals, graduate, and even attend class,” mentions Dacombe. This can lead to students adjusting their goals downward, making them achievable for their lower level of functioning.

“Just because something is legal doesn’t mean that it’s safe” stresses Dacombe, who points out that none of the kids he speaks with on a daily basis will be legally old enough to consume marijuana even after October 17. Still, he realizes the parent/child discourse around pot will only increase in the coming months. This, he adds, is not necessarily a bad thing.

Dacombe’s goal is to arm students with factual information so they can make an informed decision on cannabis use while at the same time provide parents with the resources they need to approach the subject in a non-offensive way.

Dacombe encourages those who are seeking additional knowledge on marijuana to visit AFM’s new “Weed Out The Facts” website or contact him at the SRSS where he has "cannabis talk kits" available upon request.