This session will explore the impact of marijuana legalization on youth, focusing on the potential risks, benefits, and the role of prevention and education strategies. We will examine the latest research on how legalization influences youth behavior, mental health, and developmental outcomes. The session aims to provide attendees with a comprehensive understanding of the trends in youth marijuana use post-legalization, the effects of THC on the adolescent brain, and effective intervention and treatment strategies.
Presenter
Sara Polley, MD, FAPA, FASAM, is board-certified in child and adolescent psychiatry, adult psychiatry, and addiction medicine. She is currently the Chief Medical Officer for Ellie Mental Health and the Medical Director of mental health programs for Horowitz Health. She sees adolescents and young adults in her outpatient clinic and specializes in the treatment of complex co-occurring conditions, including psychiatric illness and substance use disorders. In addition to her clinical work, she is an appointed member of the Minnesota Cannabis Advisory Council. She works as a pediatric addiction prevention and treatment consultant and speaker for both local and national organizations.
Learning Objectives
- Participants will be able to analyze the latest trends in youth marijuana use in the context of increased state-level adult use legalization.
- Participants will be able to describe the impact of marijuana on the teen brain and adolescent development.
- Participants will be able to discuss intervention and treatment for youth marijuana use.
Content Level
All Levels.
- Beginning level courses introduce learners to a content area; include information about a condition, treatment method, or issue; and involve learning and comprehending content.
- Intermediate level courses provide information that builds on knowledge practitioners with some experience already have. These courses focus on skill-building or adding knowledge, possibly following a brief overview of basic information, and involve using information in concrete situations and understanding the underlying structure of the material.
- Advanced level courses provide content for participants who have been working in the content area and have a clear understanding of the issues. These courses cover and address the complexities involved in the work and involve synthesizing material to create new patterns or structures or evaluating material for a specific purpose.
