There is a misconception by teens that marijuana is safe. The recent CNN poll said that only 1 of 5 teenagers felt marijuana was unsafe. This recent confusion stems from the legalization of marijuana for ADULTS WITH TERMINAL ILLNESSES OR CHRONIC INCURABLE PAIN not adolescents.
Please read below:
September 5, 2013 – Washington, DC – New report indicates what medical professionals have known all along, pot is dangerous. Hopefully someone drops this press-release on the desk of CNN’s Dr. Gupta who had led the viewing pubic to believe that marijuana is safe.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney (ret.) Monte Stiles, speaking later this month at the 1st Annual National Marijuana Policy and Strategy Conference,“this study is especially important to get out to the general public. The combination of reduced perception of harm and increased use bodes ill for the future of our children, families and communities.”
Today’s finding, (reported by: http://www.drugs.com/news/marijuana-not-safe-review-finds-47202.html) include the following key points:
- Researchers found that marijuana could be especially harmful for teenagers, since it affects the addiction processes in their developing brains.
- “Of the illicit drugs, cannabis is most used by teenagers since it is perceived by many to be of little harm. This perception has led to a growing number of states approving its legalization and increased accessibility. Most of the debates and ensuing policies regarding cannabis were done without consideration of its impact on one of the most vulnerable population, namely teens, or without consideration of scientific data”
- …”the current evidence suggests that it has a far-reaching influence on adult addictive behaviors, particularly for certain subsets of vulnerable individuals.”
- “When the first exposure occurs in younger versus older adolescents, the impact of cannabis seems to be worse in regard to many outcomes such as mental health, education attainment, delinquency and ability to conform to adult role.”
- “Individuals who will develop cannabis dependence generally report a temperament characterized by negative affect, aggressivity and impulsivity, from an early age. Some of these traits are often exacerbated with years of cannabis use, which suggests that users become trapped in a vicious cycle of self-medication, which in turn becomes a dependence.”