SAMMn CAN HELP YOU GET EDUCATED ABOUT CANNABIS  

Smart Approaches to Marijuana Minnesota (SAMMn; www.sammn.org) is offering educational events for prevention groups, government agencies, non-profit organizations, corporations, clinical service providers, schools, law enforcement and local community groups who want to educate their communities, staff and employees on issues surrounding cannabis legalization in Minnesota and the health impacts when cannabis is used.

How does a SAMMn educational event work? You pick a topic from the list below that best fits your interest and need. Presentations will be led by an expert, science-driven, engaging, virtual or in-person, and at a length that suits you.  Some adjustment to the content can be negotiated. A Certificate of Attendance will be provided and we will work with you about offering CEUs.  

We seek a donation to SAMMn that fits your budget.  For an in-person training, reimbursement to the speaker for travel costs is required.

Topics and proposed content

1. Cannabis Use and Teen Brain Development

  • ·       Overview of brain development processes during the teen years

  • ·       Recent trends in cannabis use among adolescents

  • ·       How THC can harm brain development

  • ·       Cannabis use and risk to mental health, school success and other psychosocial development

 2. Mental Health and Cannabis Use

  • ·       Association of THC and risk to mental heath; focus on psychosis, depression and anxiety

  • ·       How THC elevates risk for mental and behavioral disorders

  • ·       Profiling the risk when cannabis use is initiated during adolescence

  • ·       Is cannabis medicine for mental illness?

 3. Addressing Adolescent Cannabis Use Disorder in a Clinical Setting

  • ·       Keys for therapists and counselors when treating teens with a Cannabis Use Disorder

  • ·       Screening and assessment tools

  • ·       Intervention and treatment strategies and approaches

  • ·       Aftercare issues

4. Community Strategies to Manage Minnesota's Legalization of Cannabis

  • ·       Overview of Minnesota’s current cannabis legislation

  • ·       Features of the legislation that allow for community influences

  • ·       Identifying and implementing safety guardrails in your community

 5. Cannabis Prevention Approaches for Schools

  • ·       Overview of best school-based prevention practices

  • ·       Overview of Minnesota’s cannabis prevention statute

  • ·       Finding an existing prevention program that fits your school

  • ·       Implementation issues

 6. Home Base: Cannabis Prevention Resource for Parents

  • ·       Goals of this prevention resource for families

  • ·       Description of the resource’s content

  • ·       How to train parents to use this program in the home

 7. The Plant and Cannabinoids: THC, CBD and synthetics

  • ·       Broad review of the cannabis plant and its compounds

  • ·       Differences and similarities of THC, CBD, semi-synthetics and synthetics

  • ·       Issues pertaining to potency and route of administration

  • ·       Health risks and medicinal value of the plant’s compounds

To get more details and reserve a training, contact SAMMn member Ken Winters, PhD at winte001@umn.edu .  

You may also want to invite Heather and Randy Bacchus to give a presentation about their tragedy of losing their son to the devastating effects of cannabis induced psychosis.  For more information, visit https://www.beextraordinarybeyou.com .

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SAMMn (www.sammn.org) is a non-profit, state-wide community coalition. As a state branch to the national SAM, we are dedicated to educate citizens and legislators about the current science regarding cannabis’ use and harms for the purpose of protecting the health and safety of Minnesotans.