Marijuana and teens

 As the number of states legalize the medical use of marijuana and decriminalize the recreational use of marijuana, it has become increasingly common for marijuana to be viewed simply as a harmless substance.

One of the unintended consequences of changes in the law is that teens who use marijuana on a regular basis use the changes in marijuana laws as proof that they will not experience any ill effects from their habitual marijuana use. They reason that "if adults feel marijuana use is safe, it must be safe for us as well."

Clearly, not enough information is being distributed to parents of teens about the problems associated with regular teen use of marijuana. And parents of teens are often unaware that the marijuana used by teens today is much stronger than the marijuana they used 20 years ago.

According to Susan Weiss, deputy director of Scientific Affairs at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana seized in raids now has 15 percent THC compared to marijuana seized in earlier times that had 3 or 4 percent of THC.

THC, tetrahydrocannabinol, is the main mind-altering ingredient in marijuana.

One of the most serious problems associated with teens who use marijuana regularly and rarely talked about is amotivational syndrome. The mild sensation that adults enjoy while using marijuana is what causes adolescents to lose interest in studies and productive activities that they previously enjoyed and found stimulating. Adolescents who are chronic marijuana users simply drop out of life during their developmental years when it is most important for them to participate in life.

Long-term adolescent users begin to feel that all activities are better enjoyed while under the influence. Some lose the ability to enjoy life's many little pleasures that non-users enjoy and take for granted.

Chronic adolescent users do not set career goals. They spend their time talking about the fun things their friends did while they were under the influence, who can provide the best marijuana at the best possible price, and who has the best weekend parties.

Chronic adolescent users do not learn problem-solving skills because they turn to marijuana when they encounter problems.

Chronic adolescent users, who are socially uncomfortable, do not develop healthy social interaction skills because most of their socialization takes place under the influence of marijuana. And, some chronic adolescent users, such as adults, are still able to interact socially at 13 and 14 years old because that is the age at which they stopped developing social prop 207 Arizona.

Depressed teens who use marijuana to self-medicate their depression will become more depressed over time.

The school grades of chronic adolescent users tend to drop over time because the THC stored in their brain negatively affects their short-term memory and their ability to concentrate in class.

Chronic adolescent users work their way through high school doing the bare minimum necessary to graduate and don't realize until after high school graduation how ill equipped they are to succeed in the adult world.