Cannabis

Talking Pot with Youth: A Cannabis Communication Guide for Youth Allies- Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
Grades 8-12 (Youth aged 14-24)
This guide takes a harm reduction approach to talking with youth about cannabis. It provides background information, including frequently asked questions and a set of exercises to engage youth in meaningful discussions and conversations about cannabis.

Cannabis: What Educators Need to Know –  CAMH and SMHO
This information sheet helps educators to have informed conversations with students about cannabis.  (French)

Lower-Risk Cannabis use Guidelines for Youth – CAMH
This education resource was developed by youth, for youth and provides information on safer ways to use cannabis using evidence-based recommendations. (French)

Cannabis Education Resources - Health Canada
Information about cannabis and the law, educational resources for teachers & educators, youth and young adults, parents, and Indigenous peoples and communities. Links to other useful cannabis education lessons and programs. (French)

Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction – Cannabis
Fact sheets (Clearing the Smoke), videos, reports, statistics, infographics.

Impaired Driving (alcohol or drugs) - Ministry of Transportation Ontario-MTO
Penalties associated with driving impaired. (French)

10 Questions About Cannabis Use And Your Student (French) – Teen Mental Health Literacy
Infographic of 10 common questions about teen cannabis use from the Understanding Substance Use Series.

Lessons and Activities

Cannabis Education Activity Plans  – OPHEA
Grades 5 to 12
Cannabis education resources to help students develop the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions to support their health and well-being. The Cannabis Education Resources include: a Resource Database, Q & A Column, Elementary and Secondary Discussion Guides, and Activity Plans (FRENCH)

Talking about... Series - Educational Resources  - Lung Health Foundation
Grades 7-12
Part of a resource series based on substances to facilitate critical discussion with youth in a fun and informative way. Activities establish existing knowledge about cannabis, explore perspectives and opinions, and demonstrate decision making skills around cannabis. 

Cannabis - Mental Health Literacy
Resource for teachers, students, parents, and school clinicians about cannabis. Includes a short video  'Cannabis, Teens and Mental Health' (4:08 sec) about the use and effects for teens, parents, and educators.

Cannabis & Mental Health - Youth Rex
Is an online resource about cannabis created by youth for youth. Educators can access a mentor’s guide around mental health and cannabis and includes activities to help youth build resilience for managing stress, skills to problem solve, critically think, communicate and collaborate with others using games, poems, articles, videos and reflection. Students can complete a 90-minute certificate course where they will learn how to support a friend, the effects of cannabis on your overall well-being, hear from youth with lived experiences, policy and legislation, and the effects of cannabis use. French version (May need to turn on French subtitles for YouTube videos).

Substance Use- Interactive Jenga Trivia Game  – Windsor Essex County Health Unit
Grades 9-12
The Jenga Trivia Game is an interactive, hands‑on learning activity designed to help students build knowledge and skills related to substance‑use prevention. Students remove the blocks and answer questions about substance use. Have students play 1:1 or in teams to earn points. Contact your school’s Public Health Nurse or the Comprehensive Health Promotion Department at chp@wechu.org to borrow this activity.  (French)

Refusal Skills Activity – WECHU
Grades 4-8
Classroom activities that allow students to practice their refusal skills when being faced with challenging situations related to substance use.  (French)

Refusal Skills Activity-PHE Canada
Grades 4-8
Health education learning activity designed to help students practice assertive communication and develop the confidence to say “no” in unsafe, uncomfortable, or high‑pressure situations. The activity uses scenarios and role‑playing to build refusal, negotiation, and boundary‑setting skills.

Mental Health and Addictions Nurse- Home and Community Care Support Services
Mental Health and Addictions Nurses provide early intervention, psychoeducational support and therapeutic strategies that address specific mental health and addiction needs for youth. A school, hospital, community agency, or self refer online or by calling 519-258-8211 or 1-888-447-4468

Get Help with Substance Use- WECHU
A list of local and provincial resources to support those struggling with alcohol, cannabis or other substance use.  

AMANI Mental Health & Substance Use Program- Windsor Essex Community Health Centre
Offers culturally responsive and affirming mental health and substance use health support for Black, African, and Caribbean youth, ages 12–29, alongside their families and caregivers, throughout Windsor and Essex County. Call 519-962-2264 or email amani@wechc.org or visit the AMANI website.

Youth Wellness Hub
For youth aged 12-25 offering walk-in mental health services, substance use and addiction services, access to a Nurse Practitioner for primary care, and community social services. The Youth Wellness Hub also offers recreational activities and peer support. Site locations in Windsor, Amherstburg and Leamington.

Kids Help Phone
Confidential telephone or web chat services for children and youth, including mental health information, crisis support, professional counselling, peer support, and more. Call  1-800-668-6868 or text 686868, 24 hours/7 days a week. Services available in English and French.

ConnexOntario
Mental health, addiction, and problem gambling services. Call (1-866-531-2600), text, email, chat or search for services in your community. ConnexOntario can also provide basic education about mental health, drug, alcohol, and problem gambling treatment services.  

Windsor-Essex County Youth Services Card
Find local services for youth in Windsor-Essex County. 

Cannabis: What Parents/Guardians and Caregivers Need to Know - CAMH and SMHO
This information sheet on cannabis provides information about cannabis, cannabis legalization, risks, problem signs, how to help your child and where to get more information and support. For parents/caregivers of youth in grades 5 to 12.

Substance Canada
Access evidence-based information on youth and substance use, along with resources, tools, and support. Live help is available 24/7 via the Parent Support Hub to help you prevent/address/overcome a young persons problematic substance use by phone or online chat. Learn how to set the stage to have an open dialogue with a pre-teen or teen. Check out the Cannabis Talk Kit (French).  

Healthy Schools Recognition Program  
Gives your school the tools to promote and enhance the health and well-being of students, school staff, and the broader school community. Contact your school nurse, call the Comprehensive Health Promotion  Hotline at 519-258-2146, ext. 1555 or email chp@wechu.org to find out more about supporting your school in achieving a Healthy Schools Certification. (French)

Smoke- Free Ontario Act (SFOA), 2017
The SFOA, 2017, regulates the sale, supply, display and promotion of tobacco products and vapour products, as well as the smoking of tobacco, the use of e-cigarettes to vape any substance, and the smoking of cannabis. If your school requires signage, complete the SFOA, 2017 signage order form.

Submit a Complaint for tobacco, smoking, vaping, or cannabis – WECHU
The SFOA is enforced locally by Tobacco and Vaping Enforcement Officers (TVEOs). If you have questions, contact the TVEO assigned to your school at ext. 3100 or submit a complaint online. Local municipalities have bylaws in place offering further protections.

Blueprint for Action: Preventing substance-related harms among youth through a Comprehensive School approach
This toolkit is for school communities, those working in the education system, and those who support youth, in addition to Canadian school stakeholders. The Blueprint model supports school community members in planning and carrying out a wide range of strategies for preventing substance-related harms among youth. These strategies include upstream prevention, harm reduction, stigma reduction, and equity-oriented approaches. 

School Board Policies
School boards can set policy that influence the social & environmental norms students experience. Please refer to your specific school board and/or school’s policies and code of conduct on tobacco, vaping, cannabis, and substance use for further information. Individual schools should speak to their school boards about whether they can develop individual school policies.

Youth Mental Health & Addiction Champion Toolkit – RNAO
Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) partnered with public health units, School Boards, SMH ASSIST and provincial youth-based organizations to develop a peer based youth mental health initiative. The partnership resulted in the development of the toolkit to support the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based, youth-led mental health promotion and substance misuse prevention initiatives in school settings. The toolkit includes guiding frameworks, how to build your team, youth training content, event planning, and evaluation tips.

MADD Canada
Visit Madd Canada to access school presentations and awareness campaigns to inform students and communities about the dangers and consequences of driving impaired. 

Announcement PSAs

• Don’t Drive High Guess what this animal is saying– MADD – Audio clip
• Swerve- MADD Impaired Driving video PSA.
• Bong- MADD Impaired Driving video PSA.
• Infographic: Marijuana: We’d like youth to know - RCMP