A 2020 National Institute of Health research study indicates that Marijuana use is at a 40-year all-time high, especially through vaping for 19 to 30-year-olds. It can be a difficult topic and conversation to approach. As pastors or caregivers, we may feel ill equipped to even start a conversation.

The narrative of marijuana or cannabis as a harmless drug is being reinforced by the legalization of recreational marijuana in many states, with many or most to follow. And medical marijuana is seen as a valid treatment for many people in managing pain.

As a counselor who has worked with clients struggling with substance use disorders for the past thirty years, I have experienced the use of marijuana to be a very complex issue that has always seemed to take on a life of its own. And there is growing evidence that it may be more harmful than originally thought. Trying to reduce marijuana use to a matter of legal vs. illegal completely dismisses the science showing harmful consequences of THC use specifically in the brain, in addition to lived experiences of millions of people from all parts of the world. So how are we to think about this complex topic within the current cultural trend? And how do we engage in a thoughtful conversation with others? In this tool, I want to offer a foundation for you to feel confident in having thoughtful conversations around marijuana.