This new campaign aims to debunk all weed myths

Cannabis misinformation is one of the main problems that has plagued the drug since we learned of its existence. Now a university in Canada is hoping to educate younger demographics at risk of cannabis abuse. The program hopes to debunk weed myths and help shape the future generation and their perception of weeds.

This new Humber College project, conducted in collaboration with the Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy and the Canadian Public Health Association, is called Weed Out Misinformation and was developed by the colleges’ cannabis researchers and students.

According to the project’s website, the campaign started after conducting a survey of 1,600 Canadian consumers who were asked how they obtained their cannabis information. According to The Star, the researchers found that there were few opportunities for young people who wanted to learn more about cannabis and that they were distrustful of public educational efforts.

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Weed Out Misinformation encourages honest conversations that prioritize science and remove the stigma associated with the drug. It is aimed at consumers between the ages of 18 and 30.

“In our initial research, we found that young people feel stigmatized and want access to reliable sources of information about cannabis,” said Daniel Bear, the study’s lead researcher and professor in the Humber School of Social and Community Services. “For too long the focus has been on potential harm to discourage consumption, but this approach has failed to reduce consumption and protect consumers. This new campaign debunks myths and offers young cannabis users a safe space where discussion about it feels normalized.”

Today’s young adults are growing up in a changed cannabis landscape; While the drug is more normal and accepted than in the past, there is still a lot of misinformation surrounding it and few places that provide the answers in a scientific, unbiased, and trustworthy way.

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In the case of young adults, these types of programs could be incredibly helpful as they target the demographic that is most at risk of experiencing the negative side effects of cannabis.