Adolescents and Marijuana

Marijuana remains illegal under federal law; however, the national landscape continues to evolve as states enact voter referenda and legislation regarding the possession, use, and cultivation of marijuana and its associated products.
Domestic use of marijuana remains high and is likely to increase as the prevalence of state legalization continues to lower the perception of risk to users and potential users.
THC extraction laboratories continue to produce marijuana concentrates such as hashish, hash oil, and kief, which have gained popularity in the United States.
Marijuana concentrates are often ingested through e-cigarettes and vape devices.
Marijuana concentrates are also in edible products like cookies, brownies, and gummy candies, as well as topical lotions, tinctures, capsules, and patches. These new forms
of marijuana present challenges to law enforcement, educators, and parents, as they are easier to conceal and ingest than traditional leafy marijuana.
The popularity of marijuana use, the demand for increasingly potent marijuana and marijuana products, the potential for substantial profit, and the perception of little risk motivate diverse traffickers and criminal organizations to cultivate and distribute illegal marijuana throughout the United States.

Aunt Mary, BC Bud, Blunts, Boom, Chronic, Dope, Gangster, Ganja, Grass, Hash, Herb, Hydro, Indo, Joint, Kif, Mary Jane, Mota, Pot, Reefer, Sinsemilla, Skunk, Smoke, Weed, and Yerba.

Smoked as a cigarette or in pipe or bong
Smoked in blunts (cigar emptied of tobacco and filled with marijuana, and sometimes mixed with additional drugs)
Mixed with food (edibles)
Brewed as tea

The brain is not fully developed until age 25. (National Institutes of Health)
Adolescent marijuana use is associated with increased prevalence of psychotic, mood, and addictive disorders and with short and possibly long-term impairments in cognition, and academic performance.(National Institutes of Health)
Regular use of marijuana by adolescents has led to negative effects on brain development up to age 25, in areas of attention, motivation, memory, and learning. National Institutes of Health)
A New Zealand study demonstrated that heavy smoking of marijuana in teens resulted in an average loss of 8 IQ points. .(National Institutes of Health)
Students who smoke marijuana are more likely to drop out of high school.(National Institutes of Health)
In 2017, teens 12-17 reporting frequent use of marijuana showed a 130% greater likelihood of misusing opioids.(US Department of Health & Human Services: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
Research shows that 1 in 6 teens who repeatedly use marijuana can become addicted.(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
From 2017-2018, marijuana use increased to 63% in 8th and 10th graders and 53% in 12th graders.(Smart Approaches to Marijuana, May 2019)
States that have legalized marijuana have seen high rates of marijuana related driving fatalities, emergency room visits, expansion in the criminal market, increased crimes and juvenile offenses, and increased workplace problems.(Smart Approaches to Marijuana, May 2019)

Edibles take longer to digest and produce a high. Therefore, youth may consume more to feel the effects faster, leading to an increase in dangerous results.(National Institutes of Health)
Edibles come in candy, cookies, ice cream, etc. which are attractive to youth. Edibles also mimic tobacco by coming in bright colors, packaging, etc.(Smart Approaches to Marijuana, May 2019)
Taken in large doses, marijuana edibles can lead to anxiety attacks, paranoia, and hallucinations. Several case reports involving kids who took edibles found that respiratory insufficiency can also be a major side effect in young children.(Drug Abuse, American Addiction Centers)

Vaping Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) does not replicate the unmistakable odor of marijuana that is associated with traditional smoking.
- Any flavoring can be added to mask the THC smell
Higher concentrations of THC (the active ingredient in marijuana) create a greater exposure to marijuana’s psychoactive effects.
- THC affects a person’s memory, pleasure, movements, thinking, coordination, concentration, sensory, and time perception.
About 4% of 12th graders say they vape THC daily. (National Institutes of Health)
2014 average THC potency was 11.5% vs. 20.6% in 2016 according to Washington state statistics.(Smart Approaches to Marijuana, May 2019)
Higher THC levels may be attributed to the
increase in emergency room visits connected to marijuana. (National Institutes of Health)
Higher THC levels may also mean a greater risk of addiction if people are regularly exposing themselves to high doses.(National Institutes of Health)
As of February 18, 2020, a total of 2,807 people have been hospitalized or died in connection to e-cigarette or vaping associated lung injury (EVALI), which is strongly linked to the addictive component in THC vaping products.(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Dab, also known as a wax or glass, is a highly concentrated form of THC.
Dabbing is a process of vaporizing concentrated marijuana by placing it on a heated plate of metal and inhaling the vapors.
- Can be inhaled through pipe smoking or through “dab pens”, similar to vaping.
New trend among teens that is attracting both heavy users and new users due to the enhanced high and effects it gives off.
According to an open source survey, about 50%
of 18-24 year olds use or know someone that dabs