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Marijuana remains illegal in North Carolina, with some medical exceptions. However, as in many other states, some will celebrate marijuana on April 20, and those celebrations have a significant influence.
April 20 became the day for the celebrations because a group of Californian teenagers ritualistically smoked marijuana every day at 4:20 p.m., the ritual spread, and soon 420 – or 4/20 –became code for smoking marijuana.
Many of these celebrations are still used as counter-culture protests. Still, cannabis companies use it as an opportunity to promote the industry and its products. It is similar to alcohol companies using St. Patrick’s Day, the Super Bowl, or the holiday season.
Teens are easily influenced, especially when celebrities, businesses, and influencers push products and brands. Parents should be aware of this and incorporate prevention and education talks about marijuana, just as they would with alcohol or any other drug, said Marcel Gemme, owner and founder of Addicted.org.
“Age matters the first time someone uses cannabis. THC has addictive properties, and young, developing brains are more susceptible to these properties,” Gemme said.
In North Carolina, 8% of 12- to 17-year-olds report using drugs in the past month. Among those, 83% reported using marijuana, according to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics.
Prevention efforts go a long way. Short and frequent conversations about marijuana have a tangible impact. Parents should have goals in mind when speaking to their kids about drugs. Consider some of the following pointers:
• Show disapproval of marijuana use and other drug misuse. Parents are the leading influence on their decisions to use drugs and alcohol.
• Show genuine care about their health, wellness, and success. Reinforce why they should avoid these substances.
• Always pay attention, which leads to discouraging risky behavior. Stay aware of what a child is up to and let them see this.
• Build their skills and strategies for avoiding drug and alcohol use. Peer pressure is a powerful thing.
• Listen to their opinions and answer their questions. Be prepared to provide real-life examples; the conversation goes both ways.
• Avoid lecturing, threatening, or using scare tactics. Provide factual real-time information.
• Talk often, as many little talks are more effective than one big talk.
The marijuana industry is directly involved in 4/20 events such as The Cannabis Cup or Hippie Hill that have become mainstream and commercialized. Parents should stay aware of their influence and keep prevention efforts at the forefront, especially early on.
Jody Boulay is a mother of two with a passion for helping others. She currently works as a community outreach coordinator for Addicted.org to help spread awareness of the dangers of drugs and alcohol.
