Students are often bombarded with misinformation about cannabis use from peers and media. The purpose of this lesson is to have students approach this complex topic by understanding what cannabis is, the different forms of cannabis use, and how cannabis affects the body. Students will also discuss the risks associated with cannabis use and refusal strategies.

Learning Objectives

By hearing and participating in this lesson, students will:


  • Identify different methods of cannabis use.
  • Recognize the effects of cannabis through different methods of intake and understand how the brain and body is impacted.

  • Compare and contrast waiting to allow the brain to develop and starting drug use early.

  • Apply learned strategies to swiftly refuse cannabis substances and products from marketing and peers.

  • Feel in charge of their own choices.

Key Takeaways

  • Cannabis can be consumed by eating or inhalation.

  • Cannabis use can cause short term effects (such as memory loss, skin sensation, and altered perception) and long term effects (such as heart and lung damage).

  • Young and developing brains are particularly susceptible to damage due to cannabis use.

  • Refusing marketing and peer to peer marketing by saying no, shifting the blame, or saying you feel pressured.

  • YOU are in charge.

Click above to view the talking points for this lesson. Use the talking points alongside the Canva slides!

We suggest providing students with the Discussion Guide that they can take home and discuss with a trusted adult such as a parent/caregiver, coach, mentor, and/or a peer.

We suggest you end with a Kahoot, which can be found and easily linked to in the last slide of this OR using the link above.

We recommend using Canva to get the full-scale experience of each lesson. If you need to go offline, feel free to download lesson 1 below.

** Disclaimer: Please note that because of the conversion between Canva and PowerPoint, some fonts, images, animations and videos may not work properly. For the full experience, utilize the Canva slides above. 

Optional Activities

Below are some additional activities that you can do with your students as time allows. 

  • Jeopardy Activity

    • Instructions and activity linked here

    • Scroll down to “Lesson 1.2 - Activity 2: Can-You-Guess? Cannabis Jeopardy”

  • Keep an open environment for students to come and ask questions or circle back to the material