NORTHAMPTON — A panel will tackle the issue of recreational marijuana use and its effects on the adolescent brain during a community education forum next week
The Oct. 26 event will serve to educate and engage with community members ahead of the Nov. 8 ballot question on whether to legalize recreational marijuana use in Massachusetts, according to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office,
The Northwestern District Attorney’s Office said Monday that the panel discussion, which is free and open to the public, would feature Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan; Jo McGuire, co-chair of the International Marijuana Education Committee; Ruth Potee, a Greenfield-based addiction specialist; and Sen. Jason Lewis, D-Winchester, who leads the Special Senate Committee on Marijuana.
The forum is being presented by the University of Massachusetts Health Promotion and Policy office, Massachusetts Prevention Alliance, and Northampton Area Pediatrics. It will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Northampton Senior Center at 67 Conz Street.
Forum attendees can expect to hear panelists discuss the effects of marijuana use on the adolescent brain as well as findings from the Massachusetts Special Senate Committee on Marijuana.
“Educating parents, grandparents and the public about the impact of marijuana on teen brain development and other social costs is critical to making a well informed decision on whether legalization should take place,” Sullivan said in a news release.