Cannabis Café talks all things cannabis Oct. 11

Do you have questions about cannabis but don’t know where to go for reliable answers? Are you interested in upcoming legislation changes and want to chat about them?

No matter your experience level with cannabis, you’re welcome to join an open conversation about cannabis culture, consumption and knowledge — UCalgary's Cannabis Café: Conversation and Information Series. Together, the campus community can navigate recreational and medicinal use in an informed way.

Reduce stigma and harm through open conversation

With the goal of harm reduction, the Cannabis Café provides students a space for candid and non-judgmental discussion about cannabis. These discussions, led by trained peer facilitators, will also help participants gain better understanding of the facts related to cannabis and its use.  

“This is an opportunity for people to talk openly about a topic that’s controversial,” says Alex Klassen, harm reduction support advisor. Klassen developed the event along with Jacqueline Smith, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Nursing, and Joel Mader, a research associate in the Faculty of Nursing.

“Knowing students are hungry for more information, we can talk about what the science looks like and what the lower-risk guidelines are right now,” says Klassen. “There’s a lot of general confusion about recreational use, medicinal use, and lower-risk use.”

Cannabis Café will be held Oct. 11, 3 to 5 p.m. in UCalgary’s Women’s Resource Centre (MSC 482). Those planning to attend can register online. This event is presented by the SU Wellness Centre and supported by the Campus Mental Health Strategy.

Campus Experience with Cannabis survey gives direction

The Cannabis Café responds a need that many students expressed for more education surrounding cannabis.

Smith led a team that developed a survey to engage UCalgary students about their experiences with cannabis. This survey sheds light on what support students will need moving forward.

“We captured an incredible window of time with students, based on the legalization of cannabis coming up in October,” Smith explains. “By nature of their age, students are vulnerable to the effects of cannabis, which is a psychoactive substance. We know that students are stressed, and they’re telling us that they’re self-medicating. So we want to provide education so they can make the most informed decisions.

“The most important outcome of the survey was that 60 per cent of students said they wanted more education surrounding cannabis and other substances, which informed the Cannabis Café.”

The Cannabis Café takes place during UFlourish, a four-day event that builds mental health and resilience at UCalgary. The week includes many opportunities to learn, play, connect, and interact — and to contribute to positive mental health. You can follow the conversation on social media at #UFlourish2018. 

The University of Calgary’s Campus Mental Health Strategy is a bold commitment to the importance of mental health and well-being of our university family. Our vision is to be a community where we care for each other, learn and talk about mental health and well-being, receive support as needed, and individually and collectively realize our full potential. If you think you need help, please visit resources here. If you think someone you know needs help, find more information here.

Interested to find out more about this topic?

• Download the Cannabis Facts and FAQs ebook to learn the basics, including risks, medicinal benefits and safety considerations 
• Learn more about the latest research into how cannabis affects the systems in your body