HomeMy WebLinkAboutOttawa Public Health wants money to teach youth about cannabis - CBC News - 11/28/2018 - CBC News - 11/28/201811/28/2018 Ottawa Public Health wants money to teach youth about cannabis I CBC News
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Ottawa Public Health wants money to teach youth about
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Federal fund has only announced $61VI of $62M for education programs
111f1ianda (Pfeffer ° CIBC Nevus ° IPOstedn Nov 28, 2018 6:36 AM ET 1I ILast updated; an hour ago
IL.iisgair Collegiate students (Robyn IEyfe, IHa den Chandler, IDestiny Mcllintoslh and
Emmanuel I iassella spoke with CIBC about Ihow parents and teachers educate teens
about pot, and Ihow legalization could clhainge the coinveirsation. 1:20
Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has spent $20,000 on campaigns to counter the negative
health effects of cannabis legalization, particularly on youth — a drop in the bucket
compared to other cities.
The federal government promised millions in education funding to go along with
legalization, with commitments already worth $4.1to organizations i e city o
None of that federal money has made its way to Ottawa, however.
"We will be exploring provincial and federal funding opportunities," wrote OPH
spokesperson Robyn Muzik in an email.
"We will be submitting our public health budget to the city and province in the new
year,"
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11/28/2018 Ottawa Public Health wants money to teach youth about cannabis I CBC News
Investments in "public health promotion and prevention" tops the priorities for
Ottawa Public Health in its plan to reduce harms associated with cannabis use.
"The harms are particularly evident when cannabis is used at a young age, frequently
or while engaging in risky behaviours such as driving impaired, " it notedits 2018
am
Federal fund
Muzik said one of the places OPH will be looking for a handout is the federal
government's $62.5 -million fun ica e to local initiatives.
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The money, proposed in last year's federal budget, will support local community
organizations and Indigenous groups with "an emphasis on new ways to engage with
Canadians, especially youth and young adults."
But it has so far only handed out about $6 million.
While none directly benefit Ottawa organizations, two could benefit residents,
including:
• "Weed out the Risk" program, a national high school education program which
focuses on road safety, worth $3 million over four years and run by Mothers
Against Drunk Driving.
• "Filling the Toolbox: Equipping Educators to Address Cannabis Use in a School
Setting" developed by the Ontario Physical and Health Education Association to
help teachers discuss cannabis with students.
Some investment in education is being made on the provincial level, particularly
through the school curriculum.
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11/28/2018 Ottawa Public Health wants money to teach youth about cannabis I CBC News
Denver's differences
The OPH investment pales compared to the $150,000 set by Denver Public
Health in the first year of legalization in the state of Colorado.
Another $500,000 in city tax revenue from marijuana was spent that same year on
education programs to counter the negative impacts of marijuana.
This year, Denver hass t aside more than $3.6M fore cation programs, funded
through marijuana tax revenue.
Last year, the rate of pot consumption among 12 to 17 year olds dropped in the
state to its lowest level in a decade.
Though Ottawa and Denver are similar in size, Denver has the advantage of getting a
piece of the pot revenue pie to fund enforcement, regulation and education,
including a dedicated 3.5 per cent Denver sales tax on cannabis along withter tax
contributions from the state.
The City of Ottawa must apply for funding to various levels of government.
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