Canopy Growth Corporation (“Canopy Growth” or the “Company”) (TSX: WEED) is proud to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy (CSSDP) and Parent Action on Drugs (PAD) to launch the next phase of its ongoing Corporate Social Responsibility program. The partnership will support parents and educators in their ability to communicate with youth, and educate older youth directly to make healthy, responsible decisions about cannabis use. This initiative builds on the Corporate Social Responsibility work Canopy Growth has previously conducted with MADD Canada and the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition around cannabis-impaired driving.
“We want to build a contemporary business that contributes to its communities and its stakeholders in a meaningful way. Listening to Canadians, we know that legalizing cannabis for recreational purposes has raised concerns over increased youth use and an increased need to communicate with young people in a modern, no-nonsense way,” says Mark Zekulin, President, Canopy Growth. “Working with partners like PAD and CSSDP, we have the pieces in place to make a difference in this important area.”
The objective of the 2-year project is for PAD to develop interactive e-tools that educate and support informed conversations and decision-making taking into account the relationship between cannabis use and adolescent brain development. Young Canadians consume cannabis at a higher rate than their peers in other industrialized countries, where 21% of youth aged 15-19 years old, and 31% young adults aged 20-24 report using cannabis at least once in 2015. By strictly regulating cannabis production and distribution, policy-makers hope to decrease youth usage rates by focusing on fact-based prevention and education efforts, as well as controlling access points and availability. As a private sector company, Canopy Growth can contribute by supporting educational efforts such as this.
PAD, along with its extensive network and reach, brings thirty years experience developing and providing evidence-based resources and programs for youth, families and professionals concerned with substance use and resiliency. Through their extensive reach and commitment, adults and youth across Canada will have access to the tools they need to have informed conversations about cannabis use and associated risks.
“The legalization of recreational cannabis does not reduce the potential harms it may have on our youth. It may create an environment of normalization,” says Joanne Brown, Executive Director of PAD. “With legalization comes a need and responsibility to ensure that youth, parents, and those who work with youth have evidence-based information on the risks and realities of cannabis use. This partnership provides a unique opportunity for PAD to develop electronic tools that will allow easy access to up-to-date information on cannabis.”
Read More