Healthy communities are built on trust. Trust in our neighbors, trust in our institutions and trust in the credibility of the information that guides our personal decisions. As Ohio continues to adjust to the legalization of cannabis, that trust matters more than ever.
The legalization of adult-use cannabis has reshaped the fabric of Ohio’s communities, impacting how each of us navigates our own decisions while creating new realities for parents, educators, employers, and healthcare providers alike. Legalization does not erase risk. It does not make cannabis harmless for every person in every circumstance. And it certainly does not eliminate the responsibility to help Ohioans understand the choices in front of them.
That is why Ohio’s new cannabis public education campaign is so important. Led by the OneOhio Recovery Foundation in partnership with the Ohio Department of Commerce, the initiative brings essential health and safety information directly to communities across the state. It focuses first on those who need of clear, reliable guidance most, including young people, parents, expecting mothers and families planning for pregnancy.
At Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service in Athens County, I lead the Partnership for Community-Based Prevention, which supports communities in turning prevention science into practical tools for families, schools, and local coalitions. This cannabis education campaign reflects that same work, using credible information and trusted partners to equip Ohioans to make informed, healthy decisions for themselves and their families.
For young people, the stakes are particularly significant. Adolescence and early adulthood are periods of rapid brain development, where daily choices can shape learning, memory, decision-making and mental health for years to come. Cannabis affects a developing brain differently than an adult brain. Acknowledging that difference isn’t about lecturing youth. It’s about respecting them enough to provide honest, transparent facts so they can navigate a noisy media landscape and make informed choices for their own futures.
Good prevention begins with credible information and honest conversation. Young people deserve to know what research tells us about cannabis and the developing brain. Parents and caregivers deserve practical, constructive tools to have open, meaningful conversations about substance use with their children. Schools and community organizations deserve materials that are evidence-based, culturally responsive and easy to use.
Expecting mothers and families planning for pregnancy also need clear guidance. Cannabis is sometimes discussed casually as a tool for stress, nausea or sleep, but decisions made during pregnancy deserve the highest standard of care and clarity. Families should be able to access reliable information and talk with health professionals about potential risks, safer alternatives and the best ways to protect maternal and infant health.
The same holds true for adults across Ohio. People deserve clear information on safe storage, especially in homes with children, as well as straightforward guidance on the risks of driving under the influence. Workers and employers alike benefit from understanding how cannabis use impacts workplace safety, reaction times, and shared responsibilities on the job. With cannabis products varying so widely in potency and form, making edibles particularly easy for children to mistake for treats, accessible education turns complicated policy changes into practical, everyday tools.
This is the kind of work local prevention coalitions have done for decades. They bring together community leaders, schools, health systems, behavioral health providers, families, youth and people with lived experience. They listen to local needs, translate research into action and recognize that one-size-fits-all messages rarely work because sustainable prevention depends on trust and relationships.
The goal of this campaign is not to lecture or stigmatize – nor is it to ignore a new legal landscape. The goal is to ensure legalization is paired with transparent education, shared responsibility, and dedicated support for Ohioans, their families, and their communities.
With adult-use cannabis now legal in Ohio, policy has set the framework, but real community health depends on what comes next. It relies on ensuring people have the knowledge, support and agency to make informed decisions for themselves and their families.
The OneOhio Recovery Foundation’s cannabis public education campaign is an opportunity to meet Ohioans where they are.
It offers families tools to start honest conversations, equips young people to ask informed questions, supports expecting and growing families with clear information, connects health professionals with consistent guidance, and supports communities in navigating a changing a changing environment with clarity.
Prevention starts with credible information. When it is accessible, transparent, and shared through trusted community partners, it becomes a powerful tool for well-being. Ohioans deserve nothing less.
Dr. Holly Raffle
Professor of Leadership and Public Service at Ohio University and is Faculty Director of the Partnership for Community-Based Prevention at the university’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service