Discussing hard topics can be a daunting task, especially when you want to have a discussion with a growing teen. The legalization of marijuana and the drug issue in our community calls for discussions with teens and the protection of early experimentation.

According to Parent Up KC with Tri-County Mental Health Services Inc. and Ray County Coalition, teens who have conversations with their parents or caregivers and know their no-use expectations are half as likely to ever use drugs like cannabis compared to their peers.

Parent Up encourages and equips parents, guardians, and caring adults to use their influence to prevent youth marijuana use and its tips could help to have those uncomfortable conversations.

• Putting yourself in their shoes: Talk to teens the way you would want to be spoken to about a difficult subject. Practice refraining from judgment or anger, and instead be curious and calm, listen with respect and empathy. Be curious and openminded about their experiences.

It’s more important and effective, to listen and discuss rather than to lecture. Ask them questions about what they think about marijuana. Ask them what they know or what they’ve heard about cannabis at school or from friends. Finding out what our teens know and think about marijuana first helps us know where to start our conversations about the drug.

• Expectations: Keep an open mind, but take a firm stance. Make it clear to our area teens we care about them, so we don’t approve of them using marijuana. Tell our area youth our goal is to keep them safe from risking their safety, brain development or future.

We expect them to remain marijuana-free.

• Clear boundaries:

Express concerns and set clear boundaries so they know where parents stand. Build a foundation for a relationship with our area teens, which is honest, trusting and open. It is an important protective factor to safeguard them against cannabis and other drug use now and in the future.

• Talk often: Conversations are more likely to be successful when they take place more casually. For example, while we’re driving in the car, taking a walk or washing dishes after dinner with our teens. Sometimes, there is even something in our environment that can spur a conversation, like when we drive past a smoke shop or when watching a movie with our teen that shows drug use.

Taking advantage of these smaller moments and potential in-roads will help the conversation seem less threatening and more natural.