“Let’s Be Blunt” Cannabis Safety Awareness Campaign Brings Attention To Responsible Cannabis Use

keeping cannabis in a secure place in the home and deterring people from operating a vehicle after smoking or consuming edible cannabis products.

Regulations regarding the sale of cannabis products locally and state-wide are currently being finalized, and the first cannabis retailer on Long Island is slated to open early this year. While recreational adultuse cannabis is legal, it is critical to be aware that the following are illegal:

It is illegal for those under age 21 to consume cannabis recreationally in any form. Adults should keep cannabis products secure and away from youth and pets to prevent accidental consumption.

It is illegal to consume cannabis in a motor vehicle and to drive under the influence of cannabis. Drivers who are under the influence should get a ride from a designated driver or car service.

Speakers at the “Let’s Be Blunt: Cannabis Safety Awareness Campaign Press Conference” shared key points and messaging of the campaign, impact statements, and how the coalitions are working together to educate parents and the public on ways to secure and use cannabis responsibly.

Speakers included: Pamela Mizzi, MS, CASAC II, LMHC – Director, Long Island Prevention Resource Center at Family Service League; Hillary Alvarez, MPH, CHES – Prevention Coordinator, PACT; LoriAnn Novello, MSW, CASACt – Executive Director, Town of Babylon Cares and Lindenhurst Community Cares Coalition, Inc. (Lindy Cares); Maureen

McCormick – Special Litigation Assistant District Attorney, Suffolk County DA’s Office; Adrienne LoPresti, LCSW-R –Executive Director, YES Community Counseling Center; Tom McKevitt –Nassau County Legislator; and Rich Schaffer – Town of Babylon Supervisor.

Educational materials and messaging about properly securing cannabis can be found by visiting either of two websites: https://pactyes.org/ lets-be-blunt or https:// babyloncares.org/lets-beblunt/ About Town of Babylon Cares

Town of Babylon Cares was formed to provide an opportunity for the community’s residents, parents, youth, business owners, and organizations to come together to offer awareness, knowledge, and education to prevent underage drinking and substance misuse among youth and adults. The coalition works to create a nurturing environment and encourage citizens to take responsibility for community members. BABYLON CARES Project is designed to bring the villages and hamlets in the Town of Babylon to work together on mutually beneficial projects to create global population level change to reduce substance misuse among youth across borders. For more information or to get involved, visit www. babyloncares.org.

About Partnering in Action and Change for Tomorrow (PACT) YES Community Counseling Center’s PACT (Partnering In Action and Change For Tomorrow) is funded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services

Administration and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (SAMHSA-CSAP). PACT is comprised of five communities and school districts (Farmingdale, Island Trees, Levittown, Massapequa and Plainedge) including collaboration with Farmingdale Alcohol Drug Abuse and Prevention Team (ADAPT), Levittown Community Action Coalition (LCAC), Massapequa Takes Action Coalition (MTAC), as well as the Long Island Prevention Resource Center (LIPRC), Nassau County Police Department and National Guard Counter Drug Task Force. PACT addresses our nation’s top substance abuse prevention priorities among persons aged 9-20 – underage drinking, marijuana, and opioid use. PACT seeks to understand patterns of youth and young adult underage drinking and substance use to best address targeted prevention, training, education and outreach. For more information about how communities are working together to promote healthy youth, contact PACT at (516) 7993203, ext. 131, or email pact@yesccc.org.