Is marijuana that big of a deal for our teenagers to use?

Dear Kelley,

I have three children, all teenagers. I was at my monthly PTO meeting when the topic of a marijuana outreach and education series came up as a proposed activity. Another parent suggested we have a real problem with kids smoking marijuana in our town. I don’t want my kids using any drugs, but is marijuana really that big of a deal? I know plenty of people who smoked it back in my high school years and they turned out ok. How prevalent is this?

Sincerely,

Curious Mom

Dear Curious Mom,

Thank you for your question. Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States. According to the Winnipesaukee Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS, 2017), 22.5% of high school-aged students reported past 30-day use of marijuana. It’s important to note that this is regional data. The Winnipesaukee Public Health Region consists of all of Belknap County and the Merrimack County towns of Franklin, Hill, Danbury, and Northfield.

It is also very important to understand that the marijuana being used today is not the marijuana of the past. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plant. The plant contains the mind-altering chemical THC and other similar compounds.

The amount of THC in marijuana has been increasing steadily over the past few decades. For a person who's new to marijuana use, this may mean exposure to higher THC levels with a greater chance of a harmful reaction. Higher THC levels may explain the rise in emergency room visits involving marijuana use. The popularity of edibles also increases the chance of harmful reactions. Edibles take longer to digest and produce a high. Therefore, people may consume more to feel the effects faster, leading to very dangerous results. Higher THC levels may also mean a greater risk for addiction if people are regularly exposing themselves to high doses (NIDA).

Marijuana use can have both short- and long-term effects on physical and mental health. Marijuana use by youth and young adults, whose brains are still developing, is particularly risky. According to the CDC, learning, memory, and attention are impaired after using cannabis, and the damage may last even after people stop using it. To learn more visit: CDC.gov

Sincerely,

Kelley