Ottawa urged to hold huge public education campaign about pot’s risks for youth
OTTAWA — Youth health experts are warning the federal government that its push to legalize recreational cannabis should be accompanied by extensive public-education and prevention campaigns that spell out the serious risks of pot consumption on adolescent brains.
Parliamentarians heard this message numerous times Wednesday during a House of Commons committee hearing to study the Trudeau government’s legislation to legalize marijuana.
Ottawa plans to legalize cannabis for adults 18 and older within 10 months, but some provinces and police services have warned the federal timeline is far too tight for them to properly prepare for such a major change.
Now, the government is facing demands to do everything possible to ensure young Canadians and their parents are ready for legalization.