Posted on June 1, 2009

Marijuana is the most frequently used illegal drug in the United States, and it is especially popular among adolescents. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, nearly 98 million Americans over the age of 12 have tried marijuana at least once, and 42.3% of 12th graders have tried marijuana at least once. It is extremely important for parents to talk about marijuana use with their children, especially since kids often try it at a young age. Talking to your children about drugs isn’t easy, but the information presented here should help.

What Is It?
Marijuana is a mixture of dried shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. All forms of cannibis are mind altering and contain THC, the main active chemical in marijuana. The effect of marijuana on the user depends on the potency of the THC, which has increased since the 1970s, resulting in stronger effects. In 2006, most ordinary marijuana contained an average of 7 percent THC.

How Is It Used?
Most users roll loose marijuana into a cigarette (called a “joint” or “nail”), or smoke it in a pipe or water pipe (often called a “bong”). Marijuana can also be mixed into food or brewed into tea. Another option is to replace the tobacco in a cigar with marijuana; this is called a “blunt.” Marijuana can also be laced with other substances, such as crack cocaine and PCP.

What are the Short-Term Effects?
Some people don’t feel anything when they first try marijuana, and it make take a second or third time to feel the effects. The effects of marijuana depend on the type of cannibis and how much THC it contains, the way the drug is taken, the experience of the user, and use of other drugs and alcohol. Most people feel intoxicated, euphoric, and silly, and many users become engrossed with ordinary sounds, sights, tastes, and events. Sometimes the drug causes users to feel very hungry, which is called having “the munchies.” In addition, most short-term effects include increased heart rate, lowered blood pressure, and impairment of psychomotor coordination, concentration, and short-term memory.

Marijuana use hinders the user’s short-term memory, and even simple tasks can become difficult. Students who use marijuana may find that it is harder for them to study and perform well on tests and in class, and athletes might find that their coordination and performance are off. Driving while under the influence of marijuana is also very dangerous and can be fatal. In addition, marijuana use lowers inhibitions, which can lead to risky behaviors such as unprotected sex.

Some users can also experience a very bad reaction to marijuana, which can result in acute anxiety, paranoid thoughts, and even severe psychotic symptoms. Other bad reactions can occur when marijuana is mixed with other drugs such as cocaine or PCP.

What are the Long-Term Effects?
A 2007 study by the Canadian government found that cannabis smoke contained more toxic substances than tobacco smoke. Some researchers say that cannabis smoke poses a higher risk of lung cancer than tobacco, though this has not yet been proven. People who smoke marijuana usually inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than cigarette smokers, which increases the lungs’ exposure to toxic chemicals and irritants.

Cannabis use has also been correlated with the development of anxiety, psychosis, and depression, though this is still being debated.

Does Marijuana Lead to Other Drugs?
According to the NIDA, long-term studies of high school students and their drug-use patterns show that few young people use other drugs without first trying marijuana, alcohol, or tobacco. Though few young people use cocaine, the risk of using it is much higher for those who have tried marijuana than for those who have never tried it.

Researchers are also examining whether long-term marijuana use can create changes in the brain that increase the user’s risk of becoming addicted to other drugs, such as cocaine.

How Can I Tell if My Child is Using?
There are several signs that can help in identifying whether your child has been using marijuana. If the person is high, he or she might seem silly and giggly for no reason; have very red, bloodshot eyes; be hungrier than usual; have a hard time remembering things that just happened; and seem dizzy or have trouble walking. When the effects fade, the user can become very sleepy.

Also be on the lookout for changes in your child’s general behavior, such as withdrawal, depression, fatigue, hostility, changes in academic performance or interest in favorite activities, increased truancy, and changes in eating and sleeping habits. In addition, look for signs of drug paraphernalia such as pipes and rolling papers, odors, increased use of incense or other deodorizers, use of eye drops, and clothing or accessories that promote drug use.

How Can I Help Prevent My Child’s Drug Use?
It’s important to be actively involved in your child’s life—get to know his or her friends, their families, and the activities your child likes to be involved in. Know where your child is and whom he or she is with at all times, and enforce boundaries such as curfews. Research shows that appropriate parental monitoring can reduce future drug use, even among those who may be predisposed to drug abuse, such as children who are rebellious, have emotional disorders, or have experienced trauma and abuse. The best thing you can do is talk openly and honestly with your child about the dangers of using marijuana and other drugs.