Let’s talk about marijuana. Marijuana usage has skyrocketed within the past decade, and now several states have legalized it for either medical or recreational use. The topic has lost its lingering “taboo” label, and you wouldn’t be surprised to hear that more teenagers are now trying marijuana first before ever touching tobacco.
This sudden, new wave of acceptance for marijuana might seem unusual, considering its troubled past in DARE programs where the drug was compared to using heroin or crack. If anything, the tables have completely turned. Marijuana support now relies largely on the perception that marijuana is not harmful because it’s non-addictive, derived from a plant, and no deaths have been attributed to overdosing. The question parents often wonder is: is marijuana actually safe to use? Let’s answer that by diving deeper into the topic of marijuana, how it works, and the effects it can have.
There is no argument for this topic. Children should never come into contact or ingest marijuana. Any type of mind-altering drug could have severe effects on a developing child. Unfortunately, children are prone to getting their hands on things when a product is not stored safely or is not out of reach of them. There have been cases of children going to the emergency room due to severe adverse effects of ingesting marijuana. If you’re going to keep marijuana in your home, it’s best to follow these precautions to make sure there is no risk of your child finding it:
Keeping teenagers safe from marijuana can be much harder than keeping a child safe. Teenagers have friends, peers at school, and a social media presence that can all contribute to them being influenced into trying marijuana. In fact, teenage marijuana use is at its highest level in 30 years. Parents are no longer worried about seeing a cigarette in their teenager’s room, instead, they’re worried that it’s a joint. Let’s first talk about the many ways you can use marijuana. Having multiple ways to ingest the drug can make it harder for parents to identify what their child is really using. Here are some of the primary ways teenagers will ingest marijuana:
The most commonly used words for marijuana are “weed”, “pot”, “hash”, “grass”, “spliffs”, or the specific name of the marijuana strain being used. One thing to be extremely aware of is synthetic marijuana that can be sold in local gas stations. These synthetic strains are known as “K2” or “spice”. Despite being legal, these drugs are not real marijuana, contain other synthetic chemicals, and can be extremely dangerous to use. Some teenagers resort to getting synthetic marijuana when they’re out of money or worried about getting in trouble with the law.
Another common misconception with marijuana is that it is completely harmless and causes no negative side-effects. This notion, however, is just simply not true. Research has proven that there are both short and long-term effects of marijuana, especially in younger users. Just because marijuana is “natural”, doesn’t cause typical withdrawal symptoms, and is associated with fun effects does not mean there are no serious risks to be wary of.
Short-term usage of marijuana has been associated with:
Marijuana advocates love to talk about how marijuana is not addictive in any way and therefore is less harmful than alcohol or tobacco. While it’s true that marijuana does not cause the typical physical withdrawal symptoms seen in harder drugs, it’s quite easy to develop a dependency on marijuana to the point where it can cause interference in your daily life. About 1 in 10 people who use marijuana will become addicted. If they started using marijuana as a teenager, that statistic jumps to 1 in 6. For those who smoke daily, the risk can be as high as 1 in 2 people.
Marijuana has a significant effect on the brain’s dopamine receptors, otherwise known as the brain’s “reward system”. Using marijuana causes the THC chemical to stimulate the neurons and release higher levels of dopamine, resulting in the euphoric “high” feeling. When a person is using marijuana daily, they are getting that extra rush of dopamine regularly. If a person suddenly quits using marijuana, that loss of dopamine can trigger withdrawal symptoms, including:
Long-term marijuana use can also have concerning side-effects, including:
Some parents may think that completely avoiding the topic itself is enough to signal to their teen that it’s not acceptable. This is usually not the best approach. If you’re raising a teenager, chances are they already know what marijuana is, what it does, and who uses it. It’s extremely important that you take the time to sit down with your teen and have an in-depth talk about this drug.
The earlier you address the topic of marijuana and other drugs, the better the outcome will be. You should approach your teen with the intent of having an open, honest, and nonjudgmental conversation. Yelling at your teen and trying to threaten or scare them away from marijuana can have negative effects. Teenagers may feel misunderstood and rebel out of the way they were treated.
Creating a caring environment where your teen feels safe to talk about how they really feel can help prevent marijuana use. Children and teenagers are less likely to try marijuana if they can ask their parents for help and know their parents’ opinions on drug use. Here are some tips to remember when talking to your teen about marijuana: