Education Campaign
2025 - 2026 Education Campaign and Partner Projects
Overview
The HB 1317 Education Campaign delivers facts, evidence-based content, messaging, and skill-building to Colorado’s priority populations about the risks of high-concentration cannabis (HCC) use. The campaign reaches audiences through multiple channels, programs, and in-person events. The campaign’s unique brand and home is The Tea on THC website and its social media channels. There, visitors find audience-specific educational modules, myths and facts, podcasts, videos, posts, and an AI-powered chatbot. The partner projects described below represent the latest innovations in our campaign to decrease initiation of cannabis use, to develop and deliver positive coping and stress management skills, and to increase knowledge about today’s cannabis products. The results of this work are actively integrated into the Education Campaign.
Partner Projects
- Motivational Interviewing Skills for Friends, Families, and Caring Adults
(Project lead: Annie Collier, PhD, with Sheana Bull, PhD, Clinic Chat and Initium Health)
Community members tell us that they need to know how to talk to their kids, friends, and family members about cannabis use. In response, we are developing a program that teaches motivational interviewing skills to community members so they feel comfortable having challenging conversations about cannabis use with loved ones. We will offer the program online and provide follow-up assistance to attendees on how to apply these skills using real-life conversations.
- Science-Informed Art Exhibitions
(Project lead: Annie Collier, PhD with Initium Health)
This evidence-based approach uses art to engage and educate audiences about the health impacts of high-concentration cannabis (HCC). The project’s debut in the Denver community in Summer 2024 taught participants about the harms associated with HCC, especially as it relates to youth, pregnancy, and mental health; art patrons of all ages indicated significant learning on the topic. In the upcoming year, there will be more exhibitions throughout Colorado that engage new artists in various Colorado communities, as well as, a novel curriculum that educates middle and high school students about HCC using the arts and creative activities.
- Promoting Perinatal Wellness
(Project lead: Jenn Leiferman, PhD, with Sheana Bull, PhD, Clinic Chat)
This initiative provides accessible educational content as well as stress management and coping techniques to support healthier decisions around cannabis use. The English and Spanish-language chatbot will be delivered to patients of primary care and OB/GYN clinics via Text Messaging in the form of easy-to-understand, non-judgmental, tailored messages to those who are pregnant or postpartum.
- Tea on THC Evaluation
(Project lead: Annie Collier, PhD, with Zach Giano, PhD)
The evaluation team analyzes data from the educational campaign and partner projects to assess impacts on knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about high-concentration cannabis use as well as changes in coping skills and stress management using positive psychology. The work of this team ensures that the Tea on THC Campaign and other community-based outreach remain rooted in evidence and provides the team with feedback about how target audiences are responding to the campaign.
- Centers for Health, Work, & Environment
(Project lead: TBA)
Public comments
Project Team Accepting Public Comments Regarding The Education Campaign
With planning for the education campaign well underway, we would be pleased to receive input from the many people interested in providing thoughts concerning the campaign. To that end, please use the Public Comment form under the Contact Us tab for providing written comments. These will be considered by Dr. Collier and her team as the planning for the campaign continues. Submitted comments will be displayed below.
Submitted Comments
Comments That Have Been Submitted to The Project Team