A Parents’ Guide to Talking with Your Teen About Marijuana

Talking to your teen about marijuana can feel intimidating, especially when emotions, mixed messages and peer pressure are involved. You don’t need a perfect script to approach this topic. You also don’t need to be an expert or know everything. What matters most is showing your child that you care and that this is an important topic. These tips can help you start in a way that keeps things open and productive.  

Teens are more likely to open up when they feel their perspective is being taken seriously, even when there’s disagreement.

Use language that shows you’re trying to understand them, such as:

• “I’m listening.”
• “I’m on your side, even if we don’t fully agree right now.”
• “Can you help me understand how you are feeling about this?”
• “We don’t have to solve this right now. Let’s take a break and come back to it later.”

The best conversations happen naturally. Consider the following approaches:  

• Talk side by side: Having these chats while driving, walking the dog or doing the dishes makes the exchange feel more casual.
• Use media as an entry point, such as a scene from a TV show or a news headline. You might say something like, “That character on the show last night was offered a vape pen. What do you think about that?”
• If your teen says something surprising, such as admitting a friend uses marijuana, pause before you respond.

This makes it easier for teens to be more open and honest.  

Sit down together and talk openly about why teens may feel drawn to marijuana, such as social pressures, curiosity and stress.   

You might ask: 

• “Why do you think some of your peers want to try it?” 

• “Do you think people use it to fit in, relax or deal with stress?” 

What they say here often reflects real pressures they’re navigating. 

Ask them to describe what they think marijuana does and how it affects people.  

You might ask:

• “What do you think marijuana does to someone’s body or brain?”
• “What effects have you seen or heard people talk about?”

You may be surprised by how much misinformation teens are exposed to online and through peers.

Focus on protecting their future rather than scaring them. Explain that the brain continues developing into the mid-20s, especially the areas responsible for judgment, decision-making, memory and emotional regulation.  

Use relatable language, such as: “Your brain is constantly being built. Marijuana can slow down the work.”

You can also explain that today’s marijuana products are much stronger than they were years ago, especially vapes, concentrates and high-potency edibles. These high-potency products increase the risks to their developing brains.

It’s important for teens to understand the mental health risks associated with early and frequent use. Research suggests that marijuana use during adolescence may increase anxiety, depression and, in some individuals, contribute to psychosis or other serious mental health challenges.

For example, try:

• “Using marijuana as a teen can impact mental health later in life. I want to help you avoid that.”
• “While it’s true that people use marijuana to cope with stress or anxiety, it can make those feelings worse for some teens.”
• “If you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious or depressed, I want us to find healthier ways to deal with it together.”

Framing it this way helps teens connect substance use with how they feel day to day and what they can do instead.

Teens need to hear why this matters to you personally. Center the message around health, safety and well-being.

Use phrases like:

• “I worry about anything that could affect your mental health, your motivation or your ability to reach your goals.”
• “My job is to protect your health while your brain is still developing.”

Teens do better when expectations are stated plainly rather than implied.

Ask your teen about whether they have ever used marijuana before, and if so, how frequently. Let them know you will not punish them for their honesty, and it’s important they disclose any prior use to you. Reinforce that your concern is about their future choices, and you can’t change the ones they have already made.

Address the topic is nonaggressive ways:

• “If you’ve used marijuana before, it’s OK to tell me. We all make bad choices and it’s my job to help you understand why it’s dangerous for you going forward.
• “I just want to know what you think the dangers are, so we can talk about it together.”

It’s also important to recognize they already may have their own beliefs about adult use, but you still need to establish boundaries and explain why cannabis use has additional consequences at their age.