Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
With the legalization of commercial pot statewide and the mixed messages it can present to students, members of a marijuana youth education organization say students are in need of information and resources on the subject.
Through its Institute of Cannabis Research, Colorado State University-Pueblo administrators and faculty are discussing a possible partnership with the Marijuana Education Initiative to provide an opportunity to research this reality-based education tool for the benefit of the entire state.
CSU-Pueblo President Lesley Di Mare said Tuesday that faculty and staff have had preliminary meetings with administrators of the Marijuana Education Initiative in the hopes of collaborating on marijuana education and intervention curriculum.
"This is just one example of interest from the local community and beyond regarding research and education projects from our Institute of Cannabis Research," Di Mare said.
"We look forward to partnering with organizations such as MEI who aspire to support the communities in which we live."
The first pot-focused education course for students in Colorado provides educators, schools, communities, and families with information and resources to better understand and confront the challenges associated with the changing dynamics created by legalized marijuana. "We are thrilled that CSU-Pueblo has the Institute of Cannabis Research. You can research medical (aspect) and biology and the growing of marijuana and the life, but we think, as educators, the really big impact is the impact on youth," said Molly Lotz, a Steamboat Springs school counselor and co-creator of the initiative.
"We want to use the research institute, which is basically in our own backyard in our home state, and try and collaborate with them. We can provide for them our data to drive prevention efforts not only in Pueblo, but in other communities that have been impacted by legalization and commercialization (of marijuana) and they can research our effectiveness at the same time."
Lotz, who created the curriculum for the program along with Sarah Grippa, said the initiative fills a need for post-legalization, marijuana-specific curricula that shifts the dialogue and approach to adolescent drug prevention. Marijuana laws and views are changing across the country and Lotz said the program is committed to providing youth with progressive education to accompany this change. The program, which has received national media attention, is being sold to schools and parenting groups, according to the initiative's website.
Lotz said she met with faculty at CSU-Pueblo and the provost about the program last week.
"They said they were all extremely interested in researching the effectiveness of this curriculum," Lotz said.
Lotz said the initiative does not take a political or ethical stance on the legalization of marijuana or adult marijuana use.
"We really highlight the difference between youth use and marijuana's impact on youth and we really don't look at anything as far as adult use," Lotz said.
"We want to make sure that youth, educators and parents are all informed on what the latest research is saying and that goes with everything including medical marijuana and how it could be used as medicine. Students will be aware that marijuana is being researched and has some quite remarkable capabilities to impact medical conditions."
She said the program does not want to vilify the cannabis industry.
The curricula can be delivered to health class students in high school, middle school and even elementary school, Lotz said.
She said the program is committed to supporting communities, schools, families, and organizations, by providing standards-based curricula, materials, and training to help navigate marijuana legalization.
The program also is committed to challenging youths' misconceptions to promote a healthy and accurate understanding of the impact of marijuana use on the developing body and brain.
"The relationship with Pueblo is just beginning, but I think it's going to be a really significant relationship."
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Pot-Focused Education Impact May Be Studied At CSU-Pueblo
Author: Anthony A. Mestas
Contact: (719) 544-3520
Photo Credit: Glen Stubbe
Website: The Pueblo Chieftain
Through its Institute of Cannabis Research, Colorado State University-Pueblo administrators and faculty are discussing a possible partnership with the Marijuana Education Initiative to provide an opportunity to research this reality-based education tool for the benefit of the entire state.
CSU-Pueblo President Lesley Di Mare said Tuesday that faculty and staff have had preliminary meetings with administrators of the Marijuana Education Initiative in the hopes of collaborating on marijuana education and intervention curriculum.
"This is just one example of interest from the local community and beyond regarding research and education projects from our Institute of Cannabis Research," Di Mare said.
"We look forward to partnering with organizations such as MEI who aspire to support the communities in which we live."
The first pot-focused education course for students in Colorado provides educators, schools, communities, and families with information and resources to better understand and confront the challenges associated with the changing dynamics created by legalized marijuana. "We are thrilled that CSU-Pueblo has the Institute of Cannabis Research. You can research medical (aspect) and biology and the growing of marijuana and the life, but we think, as educators, the really big impact is the impact on youth," said Molly Lotz, a Steamboat Springs school counselor and co-creator of the initiative.
"We want to use the research institute, which is basically in our own backyard in our home state, and try and collaborate with them. We can provide for them our data to drive prevention efforts not only in Pueblo, but in other communities that have been impacted by legalization and commercialization (of marijuana) and they can research our effectiveness at the same time."
Lotz, who created the curriculum for the program along with Sarah Grippa, said the initiative fills a need for post-legalization, marijuana-specific curricula that shifts the dialogue and approach to adolescent drug prevention. Marijuana laws and views are changing across the country and Lotz said the program is committed to providing youth with progressive education to accompany this change. The program, which has received national media attention, is being sold to schools and parenting groups, according to the initiative's website.
Lotz said she met with faculty at CSU-Pueblo and the provost about the program last week.
"They said they were all extremely interested in researching the effectiveness of this curriculum," Lotz said.
Lotz said the initiative does not take a political or ethical stance on the legalization of marijuana or adult marijuana use.
"We really highlight the difference between youth use and marijuana's impact on youth and we really don't look at anything as far as adult use," Lotz said.
"We want to make sure that youth, educators and parents are all informed on what the latest research is saying and that goes with everything including medical marijuana and how it could be used as medicine. Students will be aware that marijuana is being researched and has some quite remarkable capabilities to impact medical conditions."
She said the program does not want to vilify the cannabis industry.
The curricula can be delivered to health class students in high school, middle school and even elementary school, Lotz said.
She said the program is committed to supporting communities, schools, families, and organizations, by providing standards-based curricula, materials, and training to help navigate marijuana legalization.
The program also is committed to challenging youths' misconceptions to promote a healthy and accurate understanding of the impact of marijuana use on the developing body and brain.
"The relationship with Pueblo is just beginning, but I think it's going to be a really significant relationship."
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Pot-Focused Education Impact May Be Studied At CSU-Pueblo
Author: Anthony A. Mestas
Contact: (719) 544-3520
Photo Credit: Glen Stubbe
Website: The Pueblo Chieftain
