Lock It Up Campaign Aims to Protect Kids from Dangers of Marijuana

Thursday June 20, 2019

In the spring of 2019, the State of Michigan awarded grant funds to organizations who can help promote the use of safety around medical and recreational marijuana for kids and teens.

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency received the grant to purchase lock boxes to provide to the community at no charge, as well as educational materials to ensure marijuana is locked up around kids now that it’s legal in the State of Michigan.

To kick off the Lock It Up campaign, the organization ordered 540 boxes to provide to all three counties with the goal to be for adults to keep marijuana out of the hands of kids. Other initiatives within the campaign include informational cards that go inside the lock boxes informing the adults about the reason to lock up weed. The informational card also educates on the prevention of accidental poisoning and protection from theft by using the box. View Informational Card

“We knew this was an important initiative in our communities with Branch, Hillsdale and St. Joseph community members, holding a total of 2,974 medical marijuana licenses,” said Rebecca Burns, Health Office of the tri-county health department. “This does not take into account the number of people who use recreational marijuana, which could also be potentially accessible to kids and teens.”

If you or someone you know would be interested in getting a lock box from the Branch Hillsdale St. Joseph Community Health Agency, go to your local BHSJ Clinic Front Desk.