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Fall 2025 Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practice Workshops
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F25-704 Social Work in the Age of Cannabis: Science, Equity, and Client Engagement

Total Credits: 6 Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practices CEs

Bundle(s):
Fall 2025 Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practice Workshops
Categories:
700 Professional Growth & Development |  900 Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practice |  New
Instructor:
Paulette Smith, DSW, LCSW-C
Course Levels:
Intermediate
Duration:
7 Hours 30 Minutes
Target Audience:
Social Workers, LCPCs, and Psychologists
Dates
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Description

This workshop gives social workers an in-depth understanding of cannabis science, harm reduction, and ethical considerations in practice. Participants will explore the endocannabinoid system (ECS); medical cannabis research; and systemic inequities related to cannabis prohibition, with a focus on its disproportionate impact on Black and Brown communities. Using harm reduction, trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, and anti-oppressive frameworks, social workers will gain practical tools to engage clients in informed, nonjudgmental conversations about cannabis use. The session also emphasizes policy advocacy, equipping participants with strategies to address stigma, promote social justice, and advance equitable cannabis policies. This interactive training includes case discussions, ethical decision-making exercises, and real-world applications to ensure competence in navigating this evolving field.   

 

This workshop is in accordance with and compliance with the NASW Standards with a focus on service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, competence, and social workers’ ethical responsibilities to clients, in practice settings, as professionals, to the social work profession, to the broader society. 

This workshop is in compliance with the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners’ COMAR 10.42.03.06.A(5) and with the District of Columbia Board of Social Work 17-70-7008.4.   

Maryland:  This workshop meets the license renewal requirement for Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practice for Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners’ COMAR 10.42.06.03.A.(1)(d) with a focus on social justice, racial equity, anti-racism practices.    

Instructor

Paulette Smith, DSW, LCSW-C Related Seminars and Products

Dr. Paulette Smith, MS, LCSW-C, integrates clinical mental health approaches, holistic practices, medical cannabis, and a student-centered teaching philosophy into her work, drawing on over 15 years of experience in education, social work, and counseling. She is Level 1 trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy. She has four years of experience as a patient advisor at a medical cannabis dispensary, providing direct support to patients navigating cannabis as a therapeutic option. Dr. Smith has presented on bridging the knowledge gap between medical cannabis science and social work practice, as well as exploring the connections between medical cannabis science and mental health. As an adjunct faculty member in the University of Maryland’s Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics program, she co-teaches Introduction to Integrative Health and is designing a course entitled Cannabis Prohibition and Modern Regulatory Challenges: Pathways Forward. Her work reflects a deep commitment to mental health, wellness, education, advocacy, and equity.   

Agenda & Learning Objectives

AGENDA:

8:50 – 9:00 Log on   

Morning Session – Understanding Cannabis Science & Social Justice 

9:00 AM – 9:15 AM | Welcome & Introduction 

  • Overview of workshop objectives and learning outcomes 

  • Opening reflection question 

9:15 AM – 10:15 AM | Historical & Social Justice Implications of Cannabis Prohibition 

  • The racialized history of cannabis criminalization 

  • Disparities in arrest and incarceration rates 

  • Social determinants of health and cannabis access 

Morning Activity: "The Policy Impact Challenge" (15 Min) 

  • Participants analyze a fictional profile of someone impacted by cannabis laws 

  • Small groups identify a relevant policy change and share takeaways 

10:15 AM – 10:30 AM | Break 

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM | The Science of Cannabis: ECS and Therapeutic Potential 

  • Overview of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) 

  • How cannabis interacts with ECS receptors (CB1, CB2) 

  • Research findings on cannabis and selected physical/mental health conditions 

11:30 AM – 12:00 PM | Harm Reduction Strategies in Social Work Practice 

  • Principles of harm reduction applied to cannabis use 

  • Practical tools for minimizing risk and promoting client autonomy 

  • Addressing stigma and misinformation 

12:00 PM – 12:30 PM | Ethical Considerations in Cannabis Conversations 

  • NASW Code of Ethics and cannabis-related scenarios 

  • Ethical decision-making framework 

  • Legal concerns and clinician boundaries 

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch Break 

Afternoon Session – Client Engagement & Policy Advocacy 

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM | Client Engagement: Motivational Interviewing & Trauma-Informed Care 

  • MI strategies for discussing cannabis without judgment 

  • Trauma-informed approaches for clients using cannabis for coping 

  • Role-play and case reflection 

2:30 PM – 3:15 PM | Policy & Advocacy: The Social Worker’s Role 

  • Understanding cannabis policy reform and equity programs 

  • Advocacy tools for influencing local/state-level change 

  • Examples of social work leadership in cannabis equity 

3:15 PM – 3:30 PM | Break 

3:30 PM – 4:15 PM | Afternoon Activity: Real-World Dilemmas – Ethical Cannabis Conversations 

  • Participants are given case scenarios (e.g., client on probation using cannabis, youth with anxiety using cannabis, workplace discrimination) 

  • Use ethical decision-making and MI skills to analyze and present best practices 

4:15 PM – 4:30 PM | Q&A, Final Reflection, and Closing 

  • Group debrief and key takeaways 

  • Resources for ongoing learning 

  • CEU completion and evaluations 

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Upon the completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

  • Explain the basic functions of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and its role in regulating physical and mental health.   

  • Identify at least three harm reduction strategies to support clients who use or are considering cannabis use.   

  • Analyze the historical, racial, and systemic inequities of cannabis prohibition and its impact on Black and Brown communities.   

  • Evaluate current medical cannabis research and its relevance to treating selected physical and mental health conditions.   

  • Demonstrate how to engage clients in nonjudgmental, strengths-based conversations about cannabis use using motivational interviewing techniques.  

  • Apply an ethical decision-making framework to case scenarios involving cannabis use and social work practice.   

  • Advocate for equitable cannabis policies by identifying at least two ways social workers can influence policy and community-based initiatives.   

Bibliography & References

BIBLIOGRAPHY & REFERENCES

Cannabis Science & the Endocannabinoid System
 

Atakan, Z. (2012). Cannabis, a complex plant: Different compounds and different effects on individuals. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, 2(6), 241-254. https://doi.org/10.1177/2045125312457586 

National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2021). Cannabis (marijuana) research report: What are marijuana’s long-term effects on the brain? National Institutes of Health. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana 

Pertwee, R. G. (2015). Endocannabinoids and their pharmacological actions. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, 231, 1-37. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20825-1_1

Harm Reduction & Cannabis Use 

Hawk, M., Coulter, R. W., Egan, J. E., Fisk, S., Reuel Friedman, M., Tula, M., & Kinsky, S. (2017). Harm reduction principles for healthcare settings. Harm Reduction Journal, 14(1), 70. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-017-0196-4 

Winstock, A. R., & Barratt, M. J. (2016). The 2016 global drug survey: What we learned about cannabis use. Addiction Research & Theory, 24(6), 494-502. https://doi.org/10.3109/16066359.2016.1170876 

Historical & Social Justice Implications of Cannabis Prohibition 

Alexander, M. (2010). The new Jim Crow: Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness. The New Press. Drug Policy Alliance. (2020). From prohibition to progress: A status report on marijuana legalization. https://drugpolicy.org/resource/prohibition-progress-status-report-marijuana-legalization

Kilmer, B., & Midgette, G. (2021). Cannabis legalization and social equity: Some opportunities, puzzles, and trade-offs. Boston University Law Review, 101(3), 1003-1040. https://www.bu.edu/bulawreview/files/2021/07/KILMER.pdf 

Ethics & Social Work Practice 

National Association of Social Workers. (2021). Code of ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. NASW Press. https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English

Reamer, F. G. (2018). Ethical standards in social work: A review of the NASW code of ethics. NASW Press. 

Motivational Interviewing & Client Engagement 

Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2013). Motivational interviewing: Helping people change (3rd ed.). Guilford Press. 

Tahan, H. A., & Sminkey, P. V. (2012). Motivational interviewing: building rapport with clients to encourage desirable behavioral and lifestyle changes. Professional case management, 17(4), 164–174. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCM.0b013e318253f029 

Cannabis Policy & Social Work Advocacy 

American Civil Liberties Union. (2020). A tale of two countries: Racially targeted arrests in the era of marijuana reform. https://www.aclu.org/report/tale-two-countries-racially-targeted-arrests-era-marijuana-reform 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Guidance on treating cannabis use disorder in clinical settings. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.samhsa.gov 

Trauma-Informed Care & Cannabis Use 

Harris, M., & Fallot, R. D. (Eds.). (2001). Using trauma theory to design service systems. Jossey-Bass. 

Tkach, M. J. (2018). Trauma-informed care for substance abuse counseling. Butler Center for Research. Retrieved from https://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/research-studies/addiction-research/trauma-informed-care 

Course Completion & CE Information

Category I Maryland BSWE Requirement

The Office of Continuing Professional Education at the University of Maryland School of Social Work is authorized by the Board of Social Work Examiners in Maryland to sponsor social work continuing education programs. This workshop qualifies for 6 Category I Continuing Education Units for anti-oppressive social work practices. The Office of Continuing Professional Education is also authorized by the Maryland Board of Psychologists and the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors to sponsor Category A continuing professional education. 

 

ASWB Information 

University of Maryland School of Social Work Office of Continuing Professional Education, #1611, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 2/11/2024-2/11/2027.  

To receive ACE credit, full attendance is required; no partial credits will be given for partial attendance. 

 

Certificate Access

To access the evaluation and certificate, click on the orange certificate button in your CPE account. Once you complete the evaluation, access to the certificate will be available.  

Live Interactive Webinars (Cat I) and Live Webinars (Cat II) - Allow up to 30 minutes post-training for attendance to be verified, then you will be able to access the evaluation and certificate. 

In Person Trainings - Please allow five (5) business days post-training for attendance to be verified, then you will be able to access the evaluation and certificate. 

 

Please refer to the tab "Live Interactive Webinar Policies & FAQs" for UMSSW Office of CPE policies regarding all live interactive webinar related matters. Contact our office at cpe@ssw.umaryland.edu for more information.  

Evaluation

Participants will have access to the evaluation after attendance has been verified. Evaluations will be available for one (1) week after the workshop has ended.  

After one (1) week, participants will no longer have access to the evaluation and will have to contact CPE about reactivation.

Target Audience

Social Workers, LCPCs, and Psychologists

We welcome anyone interested in the topic!

 

Live Interactive Webinar Platforms

LIVE INTERACTIVE WEBINAR PLATFORMS

The Office of Continuing Professional Education hosts Live Interactive Webinars through Zoom. This platform offers a high quality and user-friendly webinar platform for our registrants.

System Requirements:

  • Operating Systems: Windows XP or higher; MacOS 9 or higher; Android 4.0 or higher.
  • Internet Browser: Google Chrome; Firefox 10.0 or higher.

Our system is not compatible with the Safari web browser.

  • Broadband Internet Connection: Cable, High-speed DSL and any other medium that is internet accessible.

**Please have your device charging at all times to ensure that your device does not lose power during the webinar.

Course Interaction Requirements:

To participate in Live Interactive Webinars, you MUST have a device that allows you to view the presentation on screen and hear the instructor at all times. We do not allow participants to call-in from their phones or mobile devices and solely listen to the presentation. Participation in Live Interactive Webinars is mandatory.

Our webinar policies can be found on our website by clicking here.

Webinar Policies & FAQs

Click The Link to View The Webinar Policies & FAQs

https://umbsswcpe.ce21.com/Page/live-interactive-webinar-procedures-policies-4129

 

 

Code of Conduct

The Office of Continuing Professional Education at the University of Maryland School of Social Work adheres to the NASW Code of Ethics. This policy is to ensure that the training environment for social work professionals remains respectful, productive, and conducive to learning. Disruptive behavior that interferes with the learning process, disrupts the training experience for others, or undermines the integrity of the program will not be tolerated.

 

Expectations for Participant Engagement:

In alignment with the NASW Code of Ethics and the University of Maryland Baltimore Code of Conduct, participants are expected to demonstrate professionalism, which includes respecting confidentiality, maintaining a collaborative and respectful tone, and contributing positively to the group dynamic. Disclosures made during the training (e.g., case studies or personal reflections) must be handled with care and in accordance with ethical and legal guidelines.

All participants in the training program are expected to:

  • Engage actively in the learning process and show respect for the opinions and contributions of others.
  • Demonstrate professionalism in both attitude and behavior, maintaining respect for instructors, peers, and the training environment.
  • Maintain open communication by expressing concerns or disagreements constructively and respectfully.
  • Follow the guidelines and expectations provided by instructors and facilitators.
  • Support a collaborative learning environment where all participants feel valued and safe to contribute.

 

Instructors and CPE staff reserve the right to dismiss participants who do not adhere to ethical/professional principles and standards. If removed, CEs will be adjusted to reflect the time attended, unless otherwise specified. 

ADA Accommodations

If you are requesting ADA accommodations, please contact our office via email at least two weeks prior to the workshop date. Requests after that date may not be fulfilled.  

Our email address is cpe@ssw.umaryland.edu.  

Late Fees and Refunds

The base price is $130, which includes CE credit.  

Late Fee: On 09/25/25, a non-refundable late fee of $20 is added to the base price. Late fees cannot be refunded or applied to account credit.  

Cancellations: **ALL cancellations will be subjected to a $35.00 administration fee.**  To be eligible for a refund or CPE account credit, cancellations must be made at least 24 hours before the workshop. 

For more information, please read the general policies on our website.  

 

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