UW-Stout students think that 88% of their peers are using marijuana, but the reality is much different. A recent survey of UW-Stout students found that just 17% had used marijuana in the past month.
“I was shocked by that. I would have never guessed it was that low,” said Abbi Schlueter, a graphic design major who recently created marijuana education posters for campus.
Schlueter hopes that her peers around campus will take note — and take the information to heart — when they see the poster she created titled “Is Everyone Actually Doing It?” The poster is one of eight she developed about the negative impacts of using marijuana. The 11- by 17-inch posters, in buildings around campus, are sponsored by the university’s Chancellor’s Coalition for Alcohol and Other Drugs.
“Educating students on how marijuana can affect them is the most important part of the project. I want to grab their attention,” said Schlueter, a junior from Mount Hope in southwestern Wisconsin.
The series has five posters that raise the question “Is it Worth … ” followed by research pointing out that marijuana:
- Slows brain activity
- Affects brain gray matter
- Lowers IQ six to eight points
- Affects academic success
- Makes users feel sluggish
Two other posters titled “What’s in Your Gummy” alert students to “be aware of the effects of edible marijuana.” The posters have innocuous-looking, colorful products shaped like fruit and bears.
A recent ABC News report said “edibles might seem safer than vaping or smoking, but they also carry unique risks,” citing research from the Canadian Medical Association.
The edibles posters refer students to the Dunn County Partnership for Youth for more information. The “Is it Worth … ” posters cite research from national organizations.
“The posters are built around the research and give them validation,” Schlueter said.
They are a timely reminder that marijuana use comes with risks, as states around the U.S. legalize or relax rules regarding its use.
“This poster series provides resources for students to make informed decisions regarding the potential use of marijuana and THC-related products,” Nate Kirkman, assistant Dean of Students and Coalition chair who helped direct Schlueter.
Schlueter created the posters while employed as a student designer for the Counseling Center.