Cannabis Use Guidelines and Recommendations for Ontario’s Campuses

June 13, 2018 from 1:00 to 2:00pm EST

With the approaching legalization and regulation of non-medical cannabis, Ontario colleges and universities are in need of relevant information related to cannabis legalization and regulation, mental health, harm reduction, and best-practices in engaging with students regarding substance use. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health, Canadian Mental Health Association and the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development have partnered to develop a tool-kit for campus professionals to support the implementation of health-based interventions which aim to reduce risks and harms associated with cannabis use. This presentation will provide participants with an overview of the tool-kit, information related to cannabis use, developing and implementing campus cannabis use frameworks, and best-practices in promoting Canada’s Lower Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines among students.

Presenters

Pearlyn Ng is the Research and Knowledge Exchange Coordinator at the Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health (CICMH) based at the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division. CICMH is a is a partnership project involving Colleges Ontario, the Council of Ontario Universities, the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance, the College Student Alliance and the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division. Pearlyn runs all the knowledge sharing activities at CICMH – such as hosting webinars and writing toolkits – to help Ontario’s colleges and universities enhance their capacity to support student mental health and well-being.

Jean Hopkins, MSW, MSc is a Policy Analyst for the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division. She leads the addictions and complex care portfolio where she focuses on drug policy and substance use treatment as it relates to community mental health and addictions in Ontario. Jean has previously worked as a clinical social worker in the addictions and mental health sector, and has an MSc from McMaster University’s Global Health program.

Tamar Meyer is a Supervisor in the Provincial System Support Program’s (PSSP) Knowledge Exchange team based at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. She has extensive background in health promotion, public health and integrated knowledge translation with a specific focus on mental health promotion and substance use prevention. She has a commitment to building strong and meaningful partnerships and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders. Tamar holds a Master of Arts in Sociology from York University.