Whether you’re a teacher, a professional working with youth, or a caring adult in your community whom youth trust, it’s important to be equipped with the right information.
Educational resources
It’s illegal for anyone under age 21 to purchase, possess, or use retail cannabis. The Colorado Comprehensive Health Education Standards outline how teachers can address substance misuse and cannabis prevention in age-appropriate ways.
- Colorado Comprehensive Health Education Standards. (Colorado Department of Education website)
The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) Standards & Instructional Support Team worked with teachers across the state to develop the Comprehensive Health Education Instructional Unit Samples. These unit samples link to the substance misuse prevention standards. New resources are being added often, so keep checking back for more resources for teachers.
- Comprehensive Health Education Instructional Unit Samples. (Colorado Department of Education website)
Additionally, the CDE has resources and handouts available under Substance Misuse-Cannabis.
- Substance Misuse-Cannabis. (Colorado Department of Education website)
School and organizational policies
The Tobacco Free Schools Law includes retail cannabis in the prohibition language. RMC Health worked with school districts to provide training, education, and technical assistance to review and revise current policies to comply with the updated law.
- RMC Health. (RMC website)
More resources for evidence-based curricula
- National list of evidence-based curricula that prevent or reduce youth cannabis use. (SAMHSA website)
- Washington State Institute for Public Policy’s cost-effectiveness breakdown of youth cannabis prevention programs. (Washington State Institute for Public Policy website)
Child abuse or neglect concerns
If you, as a health care provider, have a suspicion of abuse or neglect (i.e., that the health or welfare of a child is threatened), it’s your duty as a mandatory reporter to report it.
You can learn more about the signs of child abuse and neglect from the Colorado Department of Human Services or access the mandatory reporter training. Call the Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline with suspected abuse or neglect concerns: 1-844-CO-4-KIDS.
- CO4Kids. (CO4Kids website)
- Mandatory Reporters Training. (Colorado Office of Children, Youth & Families website)
If you’re unsure if cannabis use is a concern for the welfare of a child, contact your local Department of Human Services directly to ask questions.
You can download shareable resources about youth and cannabis, tips for parents, and tips for youth-serving professionals.
- Shareable resources. (webpage)