The Minnesota Department of Health is refining its prevention tactics as youth cannabis use in the state reaches new lows.
State health officials are crediting a new model of layered outreach for a 57% drop in youth cannabis use over the last 12 years.
The new data comes from a 2025 study that shows 96% of K through 12 students aren't using it.
Unit supervisor Heidi Glesmann says while those numbers are good, health experts are now pivoting their outreach towards elementary age students to combat a concerning trend of children experimenting with cannabis at younger ages.
"It's not particularly about like, talking about cannabis," Glesmann says. "It's telling them those tidbits of like, 'hey, if you see a gummy on the ground, don't just pick it up and eat it.' Maybe give it to a trusted adult."
She says the department's future initiatives will likely target outreach toward 4th and 5th grade classrooms.
"Being able to have those factoids and information is really helpful, and that's where we can come in and give that information so parents don't feel like they're kind of fumbling in the dark trying to figure out how to have that conversation with their 6 or 7-year-old," Glesmann adds.
She says they are working with schools across the state to develop new outreach programs designed for elementary-aged students.
