The Truth About Marijuana ("Tips for Teens" Series)

Slang

Weed, Pot, Grass, Reefer, Ganja, Mary Jane, Blunt, Joint, Roach, Nail

Get the Facts...

Marijuana affects your brain. THC (the active ingredient in marijuana) affects the nerve cells in the part of the brain where memories are formed.

Marijuana affects your self-control. Marijuana can seriously affect your sense of time and your coordination, impacting things like driving. In 1998, nearly 77,000 people were admitted to emergency rooms suffering from marijuana-related problems,⁽¹⁾ an increase of more than 373 percent since 1991.

Marijuana affects your lungs. There are more than 400 known chemicals in marijuana. A single joint contains four times as much cancer-causing tar as a filtered cigarette. ⁽²⁾

Marijuana affects other aspects of your health. Marijuana can limit your body's ability to fight off infection. ⁽³⁾ Long-term marijuana use can even increase the risk of developing certain mental illnesses. ⁽⁴⁾

Marijuana is not always what it seems. Marijuana can be laced with other dangerous drugs without your knowledge. "Blunts" -- hollowed-out cigars filled with marijuana -- sometimes have substances such as crack cocaine, PCP, or embalming fluid added.

Marijuana can be addictive.  Not everyone who uses marijuana becomes addicted, but some users do develop signs of dependence. In 1995, 165,000 people entered drug treatment programs to kick their marijuana habit. ⁽⁵⁾

Q:  Isn't smoking marijuana less dangerous than smoking cigarettes?
A:  No. It's even worse. One joint affects the lungs as much as four cigarettes. ⁽⁸⁾

Before You Risk It...

Know the law. It is illegal to buy or sell Marijuana. In most states, holding even small amounts of marijuana can lead to fines or arrest.

Get the facts. There is NO proof that smoking marijuana is healthy and tons of evidence that it is not healthy. Smoking any substance -- tobacco, marijuana, or crack cocaine -- increases your risk of developing pneumonia and other illnesses. ⁽⁶⁾

Stay informed. It has not yet been proven that using marijuana leads to using other drugs. But, very few people use other drugs without first using marijuana. Teens who smoke marijuana are more likely to try other drugs, in part because they have more contact with people who use and sell them.

Know the risks. Using marijuana or other drugs increases your risk of injury from car crashes, falls, burns, drowning, and other accidents.

Keep your edge. Marijuana affects your judgment, drains your motivation, and can make you feel anxious.

Look around you. Most teens aren't smoking marijuana. According to a 1997 study, four out of five 12- to 17-year-old youths had never even tried marijuana. ⁽⁷⁾

Q: Can people become addicted to marijuana?
A: Yes. Research confirms you can become hooked on marijuana.

Know the Signs...

How can you tell if a friend is using marijuana? Sometimes it's tough to tell. But there are signs you can look for. If your friend has one or more of the following warning signs, he or she may be using marijuana:

• Seeming dizzy and having trouble walking
• Having red, bloodshot eyes, and smelly hair and clothes
• Having a hard time remembering things that just happened
• Acting silly for no apparent reason

What can you do to help someone who is using marijuana or other drugs? Be a real friend. Save a life. Encourage your friend to stop or seek professional help. For information and referrals, call the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at 800-729-6686.

The bottom line:  If you know someone who uses marijuana, urge him or her to get help. If you're using it -- stop! The longer you ignore the real facts, the more chances you take with your life.

It's never too late. Talk to your parents, a doctor, a counselor, a teacher, or another adult you trust.

Do it today!

Q: Can marijuana help cure cancer?
A: No. Some people with cancer, HIV/AIDS, and other diseases claim to experience relief from pain and other symptoms that they attribute to marijuana use. Scientific research has not yet confirmed these benefits and more research on this topic is being done.

For footnote references, see the Web site at www.health.org.

Information provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol & Drug Information -- http://www.health.org.   Order this brochure from their Web site -- http://store.health.org/catalog/drugs.aspx.