Purpose
Students will learn about how to identify credible resources and how to analyze health claims regarding cannabis as a cure for cancer.
Preparation
Materials Needed: Computer, Internet Access, Projector (optional)
Handout: Cannabis in the News Articles, Cannabis in the News Slides (optional), Credibility Factsheet (1 per group or 1 per student if possible), Cannabis in the News Worksheet ( 1 per student)
Procedure
Educators will need to print out the articles in the download. Two articles are true; the rest are not. Teacher Talking Points are provided below.
1. Break up the class into small groups of 4-5 students, there should be a total of 6 groups.
2. Give each student in the group the same article to read (there will be 6 articles read by the entire class, each group will only be reviewing one article).
3. After each student has read the article, tell the class to discuss the article as a group.
4. Open the discussion questions to the entire classroom.
5. Each group provides an answer as to whether they believe their article is true or false.
6. Show and review the Credibility Factsheet PowerPoint slide to the class.
7. Have the students review what they wrote based on the information in the slide.
8. Ask each group if they would like to change their answer and provide a reasoning for why or why not.
9. Tell the students that only two articles are true (Articles 1 and 4). Identify the groups that have the true article.
11. Wrap-Up
Teacher Talking Points:
- As a warmup to today’s topic, let’s do a share out about what you may have heard or read about the health claims of cannabis. What health claims (good or bad) have you heard about cannabis? Where have you heard these claims?
- Today we will be investigating some articles found on the internet about health claims regarding cannabis. These articles claim that cannabis can cure cancer.
- Together as a class and in small groups, you will evaluate these articles and try to determine if the article is true or false. Use this worksheet for your discussion (pass our Cannabis in the News worksheet). Let’s get started (give them 15-20 minutes to complete)
- Now that you had some time to discuss among your group, let’s hear what each group came up with.
- Great job everyone. Now I’m going to show you a slide that will help you decide how credible or true your article is. Let’s review the slide.
- Now that we’re done with the slide, take a look at your article. Review your decision, do you want to change your answer or not? Take a few minutes to decide.
- Did anyone change their answers? Why or why not?
- So, of all the articles read in class today, only two of the articles are true! The two true articles are “Study: CBD from marijuana plus chemotherapy tripled cancer survival in mice” and “Pot doesn’t cure cancer and stop saying it does, FDA says.” What do you think about that? (Wait for any responses or reactions).
- Based on one of the true articles, there seems to be some potential health benefits from cannabidiol or CBD. What do you think are some next steps for figuring this out? (Wait for any responses or reactions).
- All these articles were selected based on a study that looked at the top ten most popular news articles referencing cannabis and cancer on social media. These all circulated on Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, and Pinterest. What do you think about that? (Wait for any responses or reactions).
- Who do you think benefits from all of the health claims that go around online? (Wait for any responses or reactions).
- Commercial companies benefit from people believing that cannabis products have unlimited medicinal properties because they are more likely to sell those products. The media companies posting all of these stories also benefit because they are about a “hot topic” that many people are interested in reading, so they can get more web traffic by reporting on these health claims.
- Who do you think is potentially harmed from all of the health claims that go around online? (Wait for any responses or reactions).
- Average people are misinformed by them. People with health conditions who do not seek proper medical attention and instead turn to cannabis products to cure or treat their conditions. Young people who mistakenly believe that these products are harmless and decide to use them.
- That just goes to show you how difficult it can be for those of us who are not researchers to receive the unbiased facts. Today’s activity is meant to give you some skills as “detectives” which you can apply next time you’re looking for health information on the Internet.