Cannabis
Cannabis is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States. [5]
Did you know?
The potency of today's cannabis has increased significantly over the past few decades. [2, 3]
The amount of the main mind-altering chemical, THC, is considerably stronger, as it's been modified to have increased effects.
Plant cannabis products:
1970s: 1-3 % THC
1990s: 4% THC
Current: 18-23% THC
Extracts and concentrates:
Extracts and concentrates commonly used in various types of vaping or dabbing devices, tinctures, topicals, and edibles can contain an average of 50% up to 90% THC.
So what does this actually mean?
For someone new to the drug, it may mean exposure to higher concentrations of THC, with a greater chance of a negative or unpredictable reaction.
For those more experienced with cannabis, it may mean a greater risk for addiction if they are exposing themselves to high doses on a regular basis.
Cannabis is addictive. [2, 5]
Approximately 1 in 10 adult users become addicted.
When use starts in adolescence before age 18, the rate of addiction rises to 1 in 6.
Cannabis accounts for the largest percentage of treatment admissions - almost 50% among those 12 to 17 years old.
In addition, the increasing strength of cannabis is leading to higher rates of addiction and mental health concerns.
Note: Cannabis, which may also be called marijuana, weed, or pot, refers to the dried flowers, leaves, stems, and seeds of the cannabis plant.
methods of consumption
smoking
Usually via joint, pipe, or bong.
Users roll loose cannabis into a cigarette ("joint") or smoke it in a pipe or water pipe ("bong") or in a cigar ("blunt")
vaping
Vaporizers heat cannabis to release its THC and vapor is inhaled
Dabbing/Hash Oil
THC is extracted from cannabis creating hash or honey oil (a goey substance), wax or butter (soft, lip balm-like substance), and shatter (a hard, solid substance)
The production of dabs is a dangerous process in which butane gas is used to extract the THC.
edibles
Beverages or food
Can be mixed into food or brewed as tea and ingested. In states where cannabis has become legalized, more edibles are being sold, including baked goods and candy that closely resemble well-known foods (e.g., brownies, chocolate, cookies, gummy bears).
Why some teens use cannabis. [2,4]
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Curiosity
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Peer pressure
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To fit in
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To relax
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To have fun
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To alter their perspective
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Those who have already begun to smoke cigarettes or use alcohol, or who have untreated mental health conditions (such as depression, anxiety, or ADHD), or who have experienced trauma are at increased risk for cannabis use.
It is unsafe to drive after using cannabis.
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Cannabis is the most prevalent illegal drug detected in:
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Impaired drivers
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Fatally injured drivers
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Motor vehicle crash victims
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Driving under the influence:
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Slows reaction time
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Lack of motor coordination
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Inability to maintain speed/lane
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Impaired time and distance estimation
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Smoking cannabis is just as harmful as smoking cigarettes. [1]
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Cannabis smoke and tobacco smoke are actually rather similar.
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Benzopyrene, a carcinogen, is found in both cannabis and tobacco smoke, but in greater concentrations in cannabis smoke.
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Cannabis smoke typically is inhaled more deeply into the lungs and held in 4x as long as tobacco smoke, giving toxins greater access to the cardiovascular system.
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Cannabis contains over 400 chemicals, and smoking cannabis elevates heart rate, suppresses the production of hormones regulating the reproductive system, and unequivocally impairs lung function.
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All use equals risk, and the healthiest environment for teen lungs is a smoke-free one.
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Smoking cannabis is NOT safer than smoking tobacco.
Cannabis hurts people.
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Sometimes people believe cannabis is safe because it is a natural plant from the earth which is most often used in its natural form. The body does not know or care whether a drug is man-made or grown in the ground.
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A large variety of addictive substances, from the nicotine in tobacco to the opium in poppies, come from nature.
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Cannabis, even in its most natural forms, has been proven to carry both health and safety risks.
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Toxicity from edibles
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Edibles give users a different kind of high than the one they get from smoking cannabis, largely because it is absorbed through the stomach instead of the lungs.
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Addiction
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Quality of life
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Negative impact on school and job: reduced grades, enrollment gaps, and lower income as adults
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Short-Term Effects of Cannabis Use
(while using or right after using): [2, 3, 4]
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Altered senses (e.g., seeing brighter colors)
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Altered sense of time
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Changes in mood
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Impaired body movement
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Difficulty with thinking and problem-solving
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Impaired memory
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Increased heart rate
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Hallucinations (when taken in high doses)
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Delusions (when taken in high doses)
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Psychosis (risk is highest with regular use of high potency cannabis)
Like any other drug, cannabis's effects on a person depends on many factors, including the person's previous experience with the drug or other drugs, biology (e.g., genes), how the drug is taken, and the drug's potency (its strength).
Signs to Watch For: [4]
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Declining school work and grades
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Abrupt changes in friends
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Abnormal health issues or sleeping habits
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Deteriorating relationships with family
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Less openness and honesty
You know your child best. If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't.
Helpful Resources:
Note: Cannabis, which may also be called marijuana, weed, or pot, refers to the dried flowers, leaves, stems, and seeds of the cannabis plant.