Public Service Announcement: Medical Marijuana Misconceptions

Champions for a Drug-Free Grant County is a youth substance use prevention coalition funded through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Our Drug Free Communities (DFC) Grant employs one full-time Program Director who works with individuals and organizations in the community to reduce risk factors and increase protective factors for youth, with a specific focus on alcohol and marijuana. Over the last four months, our Program Director has presented to all four City Councils and the Fiscal Court on the topic of medical marijuana. Unfortunately, many aspects remain misunderstood. As the issue of medical marijuana business and industry will be placed on the ballot for a vote in November, it is crucial that information be shared directly with residents. We implore our community to help us share the facts of the issue to the extent that they are able to do so.

Please Note: While legislation uses the scientific name, cannabis, our coalition uses the common name, marijuana, as it is the term individuals are more familiar with.

1. MEDICAL MARIJUANA BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY. As marijuana is still illegal at the federal level, it is not regulated by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) as a prescription medication. Doctors will not be writing prescriptions for marijuana products that are covered by an insurance company and filled by a pharmacy. Individuals with qualifying conditions, outlined by state legislation, will seek a written certification or recommendation from their physician to use marijuana for ‘medicinal’ purposes and then apply for a medical marijuana card. Once an individual is a medical marijuana cardholder, they will purchase marijuana based on their preference of consumption (i.e. an edible, a vapor product for those over 21, etc.) from a dispensary out-of-pocket. All medical marijuana business and industry is sales and excise tax exempt. There is no financial benefit to our community for entities such as our public schools that rely on tax revenue.
2. UNDERSTANDING THE BALLOT. Medical marijuana was legalized by Senate Bill 47 in the 2023 Legislative Session and amended by House Bill 829 in the 2024 Legislative Session with an effective date of January 1, 2025. Residents of Grant County are not voting whether or not it should be legal to use marijuana for ‘medicinal’ purposes. This decision has already been made by state legislators. Residents are voting whether or not marijuana business and industry such as growers, processors, producers – all of which must be done indoors per state legislation – and dispensaries should be allowed to operate within Grant County. In order to cast an informed vote, the nature of the marijuana business and industry must be understood.
3. IMPACT ON YOUTH. Data shows that legalization of marijuana increases youth use because it decreases perception of harm. For our young people, the acceptance of something as legal automatically means it must be safe. This thinking is compounded with marijuana – a ‘natural plant’ is not questioned to be anything other than healthy. For example, as we continue to struggle to decrease youth vaping, the number of vape shops in Grant County has increased from one to five in, approximately, the last year and a half. What we are telling our youth about the risks and dangers of vaping differs from what they are seeing in our community where the advertisement and promotion of various products is becoming ‘the norm’. We are sending conflicting messages to our young people. Allowing marijuana business and industry to operate in Grant County will only continue to reinforce to our youth that it is acceptable and normal.

These points are by no means all aspects of medical marijuana business and industry that need to be considered. They are simply the most relevant for residents to consider at this time to cast an informed vote on Election Day. Information around this issue continues to evolve quickly and we will continue to work diligently to share vital information with the appropriate parties in a timely manner. Questions from the community can be submitted via email grantcountychampions@gmail.com so that we can provide a written response that can be referred back to, if needed. We will respond at our earliest convenience but appreciate your patience as some questions may require research and/or clarification from the appropriate parties before a response is given. All individuals and/or organizations who submit a question will remain anonymous but the answers to questions submitted will be publicized and shared on our website and Facebook page so that we can keep the community informed with transparency and integrity.

Adapted from Natural High

Conflict is an inevitable part of life, no matter who you are. For teenagers, conflict is constant, and some experience it more than others.

Whether it’s an argument with a sibling, back talking to a parent, or confusion over who was supposed to save a seat at the lunch table, learning to navigate disagreements and hurt feelings is a must.

According to the Search Institute, “Research shows that young people who resolve conflicts peacefully do better in school, have higher self-esteem, and are less likely to use alcohol and other substances.”

1. Kids who learn to resolve a conflict have stronger bonds with their families. In homes ripe with unresolved conflict, they carry stress and anxiety wherever they go. That can lead to poor academic performance from an inability to concentrate. Feeling disconnected from their family will cause most kids to seek even more acceptance and validation from their peers, often causing them to make poor choices.
2. Kids who learn to resolve conflict with their peers experience more support and stability. Since the adolescent years are typically filled with switching alliances, sudden changes in group dynamics, and poor communication, learning how to address hurt feelings and misunderstandings are crucial.

Most adults learned how to resolve conflict from their family of origin during childhood. That means they repeat the patterns they observed, for better or worse. Teaching conflict resolution to kids starts with modeling how we manage conflict.

• Think of the moments in recent days or weeks when you had a misunderstanding that led to a fractured relationship. Reflect on the steps you took to resolve that misunderstanding and how it felt to move through the conflict. When you have the opportunity, share that story with the kids in your life.
  
• Pay attention to the stories you tell yourself when you feel hurt or find yourself pulling away from someone you care about, either in your personal or professional life.
  
  Consider alternative stories that might explain your feelings or the other person’s behavior, and share those different narratives with the kids in your life. Don’t wait for them to ask you (they won’t). Instead, just share with them the next time you have a captive audience.
  
• Reflect on opportunities you might have to repair a damaged relationship. Consider what you’ve done to contribute to the disagreement, misunderstanding, or hurt feelings. Share that with the kids in your life, and ask them to give you some advice before you approach the person you’re in conflict with.
  
  Then, circle back after and share how it went. You’ll be modeling the courage and thoughtfulness that conflict resolution requires, and they will feel like they are a part of the story with you.

Kids need to see the adults in their lives work conflict out in real time until it clicks for them that this is how healthy, mature people go through life. Don’t assume they will figure it out on their own.

They’re watching you to see what you do and then copying your behavior without realizing it.

If you want to teach a kid how to live well, showing them is infinitely more important than telling them. Talking, though, has its place.

1. Celebrate conflict resolution:

A common phrase says, “What gets celebrated gets repeated.” If you notice a kid making steps to resolve a conflict they’re facing, do whatever you can to praise and affirm them. When you do, they and their friends will start noticing what’s important to adults and feel proud of themselves and empowered to keep going.

2. Point out and challenge:

It’s hard to be around an adolescent for any length of time without hearing about a conflict they face. You’ll often notice what they’re doing to avoid rather than resolve that conflict. Maybe they’re talking about someone in a negative way. Perhaps they talk about how the friendship is over. You have an opportunity to act like a mirror, point out the conflict they’re in, and challenge them to move through their hurt feelings to preserve their friendship. Let them know that if a friend is important, there are always ways to find forgiveness and understanding. 

3. Share case studies:

Drawing upon stories from your own life or other kids you’ve been around, you can share the details of a real-life conflict and ask kids to give their advice on how they would resolve it. Don’t let avoidance, or becoming hateful or hurtful, be options. Rather, ask them if resolving the conflict was necessary and what steps they could take to get there. Explore with them different tactics they could try and the results of each of the possible scenarios.

4. Play the mediator:

When you notice a conflict, perhaps between siblings or students in your classroom, step in and help facilitate resolution. Best practices recommend spending a few minutes with each person before bringing them together. Let them express their hurt feelings with you, rather than the other person. Help them explore what’s underneath their feelings and examine ways they might have contributed to the conflict, either directly or indirectly. Then, bring them together, facilitate a way for both parties to share their experiences and feelings, and help them explore forgiveness, reconciliation, or a resolution. 

Conflict resolution isn’t a set of skills someone can learn through a worksheet or a teaching video. It’s something you have to experience for yourself. It helps to see it in real-time as a neutral party. It helps to have someone guide you through the process, too. 

The more a kid can learn how to resolve conflict in a healthy way, the better every aspect of their life will be.