Cannabis Trends and Perspectives

Cannabis has been legal for adults in Washington State since 2012, yet widespread confusion about what the science actually shows – about how it works in the body, who is using it, and how use patterns have changed – remains common. In this free health and wellness webinar, Alex Sirotzki, MPH, Public Health Educator with the Washington Poison Center, presents a clear, evidence-based overview of cannabis from a public health perspective, with no advice on how to use it. Hosted by Kristina Wigren of Stilly Valley Health Connections, this class is part of our free class recordings on health and wellness.

What’s covered in this session:

• What cannabis is and how it works in the body – a grounded overview of the plant, its active compounds, and how they interact with the body’s systems, presented without misinformation in either direction
• Legal status in Washington State – what is actually legal, for whom, and how the regulatory landscape has changed since legalization in 2012
• Modes of use – a review of the different ways cannabis is consumed, including the distinctions between smoking, vaping, edibles, and other formats, and what those differences mean from a health perspective
• Current trend data – what Washington State data shows about who is using cannabis, how use rates have shifted since legalization, and patterns of normalization across different age groups
• Washington Poison Center resources – how to reach the WAPC’s free, confidential, 24/7 helpline at (800) 222-1222 with any questions about cannabis exposure or other potential poisoning concerns