
Raising Kids in a Cannabis World:
What Parents Need to Know
Practical Advice for Helping Kids Make Healthy Choices
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25th, 2025, Noon – 1 PM via Zoom

Cannabis seems to be everywhere! Join us for a conversation with addiction psychiatrist Dr. Shannon Caspersen about how parents can help their children make smart, informed decisions.
Moderated by psychotherapist and NYC-PIA advisory board member Geoffrey M. Golia, this webinar will discuss the risks associated with cannabis use and offer prevention guidance specifically for parents.
With the increasing decriminalization of cannabis, access to the substance is
easier than ever, including for adolescents. On September 25, Dr. Caspersen will discuss practical prevention advice and ways parents can support their children and guide them through this evolving landscape.
REGISTER FOR THIS WEBINAR TODAY
*All registered participants will receive a recording of this webinar.*
Submit your questions when you register.
Tickets are $25. Financially supported tickets are available.
Questions that will be addressed include:
- How does cannabis use impact adolescent brain development and what are the mental health implications of use?
What are some prevention strategies parents can use to protect their children from the dangers of cannabis?
How can parents have an open conversation with their children about cannabis use?
What is the impact of cannabis decriminalization and marketing on young people’s decision-making?
Submit your questions when you register for this webinar.
Our Panelist:
Dr. Shannon Caspersen, MD, MPhil
Dr. Caspersen is an Adult, Addiction, and Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. After graduating with a BS in molecular biology from Yale, and a master’s in art history from Cambridge, Dr. Caspersen attended Columbia Medical School. She completed her general psychiatry training at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell, and her Child and Adolescent Psychiatry training through the combined Cornell and Columbia program at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. She is triple board-certified in General Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Addiction Medicine.
Since 2013, Dr. Caspersen has maintained a private practice in New York City, where she treats depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and eating disorders, among other conditions, integrating psychotherapy and medication management. Along with her private practice, Dr. Caspersen serves on the faculty of Weill Cornell Medical College, where she teaches medical students, residents, and fellows, and provides psychiatric evaluations for The New York Center for Living, an outpatient substance use program for adolescents and adults located in Midtown.
She has published widely in both academic journals and textbooks, and in the popular press, including The New York Times, on a broad range of topics. In addition to her clinical and academic work, Dr. Caspersen is also a parent, which informs her compassion for and commitment to her patients and their families.
Our Moderator:
Geoffrey M. Golia, LCSW
Mr. Golia is a clinical social worker, psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, and non-profit executive. He received his bachelor’s degree in Social and Historical Inquiry from the New School University’s Eugene Lang College and his master’s degree in Social Work from NYU’s Silver School of Social Work. Mr. Golia has been providing individual and group psychotherapy for over a decade, adolescents and young adults with substance use and mental health issues. As an experienced non-profit executive and leader, he has held positions of leadership at NYC-PIA, Getting Out and Staying Out (GOSO), Turnbridge, New York Center for Living, and the New York City Criminal Justice Agency.