Schools aren't expecting more students to show up high if the federal government moves on plans to legalize marijuana on or before July 1, 2018, says a School District 43 official.
But assistant superintendent Rob Zambrano says the months leading up to eventual legalization will be an opportunity for schools, parents and community leaders to have conversations about what is acceptable behaviour.
School District 43 already has a code of conduct that prohibits "illegal acts," including the use or trafficking of drugs, alcohol or restricted substances, and cannabis won't be allowed on school grounds. And while it's not known yet what the legal age of permitted use will be in B.C., students who are stoned, regardless of the legality of the product, won't be allowed in classrooms. (The federal government is expected to make 18 the legal age of possession.)
"It will open the conversation and create that depth of understanding about possible negative consequences," Zambrano said, "and we will continue to treat it as we do now: You're not going to come to school high."
But he said he expects schools to discuss the issue with their parent advisory councils when they review the code of conduct each year.
DRUG USE RARE
Drug use at school is rare in SD43 but students do sometimes go to school high — more frequently than they use alcohol — and when they do, they can be suspended, asked to make up for the behaviour through restorative action or recommended for treatment if dependence is a concern.
"There are students who do choose to make those decisions," he said. "There's a very low recidivism rate once we intervene. We don't always see people do it again at school."
Last week, B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Morris discussed reports that the Trudeau government plans to table a bill this month to legalize marijuana.
At an event in Surrey, he discussed how police officers will look to use some kind of screening device to test drivers who are suspected of driving high. The provinces must also decide the legal age to purchase marijuana, how the drug will be distributed and what it will cost.
In SD43 and in school communities around the province, the impending legislation is likely to generate conversations about what cannabis legalization means for individuals, family and the community, and those discussions are necessary, Zambrano said, as people seek out more information.
Marijuana use among teens has been a topic at recent drug education meetings for parents organized by the school district, and there is a lot of confusion as to whether cannabis is beneficial because it is legal for medical use or harmful because of its potential effects on young people.
HEALTH CONCERNS
Groups such as the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse say early and frequent marijuana use by youths can increase the risk of short-term cognitive impairment, under-performing in school and psychotic symptoms and disorders.
The district is also reviewing the new curriculum to see if there are opportunities to teach more drug education in schools, with special resources targeted to different age groups. Zambrano said a similar strategy will be used to incorporate more information about mental health and child abuse prevention.
"What resources are appropriate? Do teachers need training? Do we need to access outside agencies? in September we'll have a more robust and comprehensive strategy," Zambrano said.
In the meantime, there are four more drug education presentations for parents at Tri-City high schools. All of the workshops will start at 7 p.m., and the information is designed for an adult audience — not children. They will be held at:
• Dr. Charles Best, Tuesday, April 4;
• Terry Fox, Wednesday, April 5;
• Pinetree, Thursday, April 6;
• and Gleneagle, Wednesday, April 19.
