Thunderbird Partnership Foundation’s Regional Cannabis

THUNDERBIRD PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION

CannabisDialogue Sessions

AFN National Cannabis Forum 2019

AFN National Cannabis Forum

Thunderbird Partnership Foundation’s

Regional Cannabis Dialogue Session



National Indigenous Cannabis and Hemp

Conference

Mission Statement

To foster dialogue and explore a variety of perspectives for reducing the

potential harms of recreational cannabis legalization within First Nation

communities.





Conference

Cannabis Regional Dialogue Sessions

Increasing dialogue opportunities about Cannabis for First Nations communities resulting from the Canadian Government announcement of planned legalization of recreational cannabis by 2018.

WHY

Funding for this project comes from the Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Secretariat of Health Canada

HOW

Ten regions participated across CanadaWHO





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Discuss Evidence Applied Within a First Nations Context

Understanding the history and current context of the community will help when starting dialogue about the potential risks and benefits of cannabis use.

These conversations are especially important around:pain management, mental health, addictions, youth, pregnant women, First Nations under surveillance with probation, parole, child welfare,community planning.





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First Nations Mental Wellness

Continuum (FNMWC)

framework





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FNMWC Mental Wellness Themes

Participant feedback has been categorized into the FNMWC themes to support future cannabis related programs and services

Culture as Foundation

Community Development, Ownership, and Capacity Building

Quality Care System and Competent Service Delivery

Collaboration with Partners

Enhanced Flexible Funding





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Harm Reduction





Harm ReductionRejecting regulated

recreational cannabis does

not reduce harms to

individuals or the community

People who use will continue to use and if their only access is the illicit market then they will continue to use with risk to their safety due to mold, pesticides, and marijuana that may be laced with other drugs

The right to health as stated in UNDRIP means that everyone has the right to health, and according to the UN Outcomes Document on the World Drug Problem, everyone has the right to treatment and prevention related to drugs

We increase harms through criminalization of people who use cannabis for personal use, such as to cope and survive




Reduce impacts of criminalization:Community By-laws banning

cannabis will be no more effective than the bylaws

banning alcohol




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Research Methodology





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Engagement Process

Follow-up Report for validation

Focus Group

Dialogue Sessions

Webinar & Cannabis Survey

Confirmation of

Participation

Follow-up Webinar,

for further validation





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Ten regional focus groups across Canada





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Focus Group Discussion Topics

1) Holding effective community conversations about cannabis

2) Defining and identifying community needs in addressing the community impacts of cannabis legalization

3) Mental health, wellness and cannabis

4) Youth and impacts of cannabis legalization





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Harm Reduction

Regional Feedback





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Regional feedback regarding cannabis and harm reduction

fell into two categories;

Regional Feedback: Harm Reduction

EducationSome participants

expressed a need for education regarding the benefits and impacts of

cannabis as well as cannabis driven harm reduction approaches

Ban CannabisSome participants

explained that some community members are seeking to ban cannabis





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National Report Recommendations:

A snapshot from regional focus groups





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Culture as Foundation

u Ensure culture is the foundation for community activities and services surrounding cannabis such as educational workshops and treatment programs

u Ensure Elders and/or language speakers are present to facilitate dialogue on the impacts of cannabis legalization

u Promote safe environments inclusive and respectful of all community members beliefs and values

Survey results also support the importance of using culture as a foundation as participants indicated that First Nations culture-based practices are important in supporting youth cannabis education.





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Community Development, Ownership, and Capacity Buildingu Develop community-based policies and initiatives to reduce the impacts of

cannabis legalization on community wellness

u Develop community-based human resource policies, particularly regarding cannabis use and the workplace

u Include all community members are included in cannabis related dialogue and decision-making

u Encourage participation in community dialogue and activities by extending personalized invitations through home visits

u Provide anonymous methods of communication to facilitate community feedback (example: comment boxes)

u Increase community access to physical safe spaces such as an existing gathering place and extend hours of wellness-based programs and services

Survey results also suggest that a number of community supports are important in promoting non-use. For example, when asked what influences youth’s decision not to use cannabis, participants indicated a number of factors relating to community development including; community and family activities, community wellness programs/initiatives, land-based activities and recreation and sport activities.





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Quality Care System and Competent Service Deliveryu Conduct culturally-centred educational workshops on cannabis

legislation and health impacts for communities and specific population groups such as youth, Elders, frontline workers and pregnant women

u Develop accessible educational material related to cannabis (brochures, flyers, social media, etc.)

u Utilize social media to further engage youth and provide accurate cannabis information

u Promote awareness and education to reduce stigma surrounding mental wellness and wellness care

u Provide support for individuals with mental wellness challenges through home visits

Survey respondents echoed the importance of providing assessible educational material as they indicated they would like to access cannabis-related resources through community conversations, print material, electronic material, and First Nations culture-based practices.





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Collaboration with Partnersu Foster collaborative relationships between community

members, educators, law enforcement and frontline wellness workers to reduce community impacts of cannabis legalization

u Engage community members, leadership, educators, police, wellness workers and youth in collaborative cannabis related program development

u Engage support for cannabis related education, training and resource development

u Network and engage with other communities to exchange cannabis related knowledge and approaches

This need for collaboration was echoed by youth survey respondents as they indicated they would like to receive cannabis related information from a variety of sources and stakeholders including parents/guardians, Elders and health care professionals.





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Enhanced Flexible Funding

Secure and maintain flexible funding to support:u cannabis and wellness related education and

awareness initiatives

u that can be allocated based on community specific needs resulting from impacts of cannabis legalization

u Need a public health approach

Adult survey results also suggest that there is a need for increased funding for cannabis related education for youth, mental health and addictions supports as well as increased funding for frontline wellness workers.





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Tool development

• Webinars • Poster & pamphlets • Fact sheets • Guidebooks• Videos • First Nation specific cannabis curriculum & trainings • Early intervention program for youth• Adult and youth survey





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Questions





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For more info:www.thunderbirdpf.org

[email protected] you


http://www.thunderbirdpf.org/

Documents

Thunderbird Partnership Foundation’s Regional Cannabis