Should Marijuana Use Among Teens?

Research has found that teenagers who used cigarettes were twelve times more likely to graduate to marijuana use. A similar study conducted by Denise Kandel (1992) revealed that use of marijuana affects dopamine levels in the brain in a similar way to nicotine. Cigarette smoking facilitates consumption of other substances. Smoking cigarettes initiate juveniles into the sensation of drug inhalation, which desensitizes them from the feeling of smoke clouding their lungs. This paper finds that marijuana pervades the life of a juvenile tobacco smoker. Teenagers who smoke cigarettes

In this article, whether or not prenatal marijuana exposure (PME) contributes to marijuana use at age fourteen is studied. Over the years the use of marijuana and its effects on adolescents has increased. There have been attempts to prevent the use of marijuana among adolescents, but in order to prevent something you have to know the reason for the occurrence. “Among preteens and adolescents, PME predicted poorer performance on tests of memory, attention, and executive functioning” (Day, Goldschmidt & Thomas, 2006). In addition to PME, factors such as: child management practices,

Marijuana has its strongest long-term impact on young users whose brains are developing and maturing. Researchers see a decline in verbal ability as well as general knowledge in children between ages 9-12. (National Institute on Drug Abuse August

Within Friese and Grube, they state that Marijuana is the most commonly used drug among teens in the US and with the access to medical marijuana, teens have only increased their use (34). Research also argues that with legalization, recreational use would suggest to adolescents that marijuana is safe and normal (Friese and Grube 34). This finding suggests teen use might increase (Friese and Grube 34). Therefore, since research shows a defeat in executive functioning and processing with use of cannabis (Battistella et al.), it is essential that adolescences decrease their use since the teen brain is still maturing (Crean et al. 5). As well, there is evidence that teenagers who use cannabis in early years have more significant cognitive problems than their peers (Crean et al. 2). Furthermore, in Friese and Grube findings, they argue that a typical drug free environment is crucial for teens’ development (37) since an environment with accessible marijuana will encourage marijuana use and increase risks of negative consequences in their adulthood and health (Friese and Grube 33). Therefore, legalizing the recreational use of cannabis could potentially have a large harmful effect on

"Unfortunately, much of what is known about the human pharmacology of smoked marijuana comes from experiments with plant material containing about 2% THC or less, or occasionally up to 4% THC. In addition, human experiments typically are done in laboratory settings where only one or two smoked doses were administered to relatively young, medically screened, healthy male volunteers well experienced with the effects of marijuana. Females rarely participated in past marijuana research because of prohibitions (now removed) against their inclusion. Thus the clinical pharmacology of single or

One of the biggest issues since legalization of marijuana in Colorado is the effect it has on our youth and future generations. In a report posted regarding the cause and effect on teenagers using marijuana Krista Lisdahl, director of the Brain Imaging and Neuropsychology lab at University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, talks about the changes in the THC levels from the seventies to now. She also talks about how through modern technology it is possible to physically see the difference in the brain when a teenager is

The effects of marijuana have been examined in several studies that focused on long-term structural differences, cognitive impairments, prenatal risks and neural functioning deficits. Long-term structural abnormalities include reductions in the volume of the hippocampus, amygdala and nucleus accumbens, where these structures also exhibited changes in density and shape. Participants in several studies showed impairment in memory, learning, concentration, coordination, as well as decreased motivation. Marijuana has addictive properties and has dramatically increased in potency over the last decade, which has led to an increase in marijuana-related fatal car accidents and to an increase in emergency room visits. On the contrary, the non-psychoactive

It seems every decade marijuana studies show that it has no side effects on users, in turn it become more available like when some states in America had legalized it. Dr Kevin M. Gray believes that the only side effect of smoking weed is the physical addictions it causes, he believes that over 51% of all teens have used weed at least once and the biggest problem we are facing with this rapidly growing drug use is only addiction. Dr Marshall M. Gay believes that the health effects of weed isn’t that much as smoking cigarettes and doesn’t see it a threat to people’s health. “More than half (51%) of adolescents reported that marijuana is fairly or very easy to obtain.2 this ease of availability may have contributed to a recently reported "reverse gateway" from cigarettes use to marijuana”. The more ignored belief is that marijuana can lead to a variety of developmental, mental and physical side effects. The effects of smoking weed can extend to those of smoking cigarettes “studies show regular marijuana use can lead to many of the same

“Drugs are bad for you,” a constant reminder everyone is told from the day they are born to the day that they die. As a child one doesn’t understand why drugs are bad; he just knows not to do them. Growing up some people begin to realize: although it’s against the law some people are still going to find a way to get them. There are good and beneficial drugs, and then there are drugs that are bad and malignant. One of the commonly misunderstood benefitting drug is Marijuana. In today’s society, most children and teens are taught to believe that any drug is a bad and most drugs can be. Marijuana, in contrast, is healthier and more beneficial than what society gives it credit for.

On top of jeopardizing the development of my brain; marijuana can also interfere with attention, motivation, memory, and learning; when it is used heavily. Another thing that I was really interested about and something that I never really thought about before; was that teens use marijuana to fill a void in their life. This void could be something small or it could also be something that has a lot of effect on their life. I also found it really interesting to read all the different studies that have been done by scientists; and the different conclusions that they have come up with and the statistics behind the research. However, being required to write this paper has really opened up my eyes on just how detrimental marijuana can be not only to my health; but also to the development of my brain without me even being aware of it. By providing real life studies and examples it has also helped me to gain a better understanding of how effective marijuana will not only be to me now; but also, how much of an affect it can have on me years down the

First, opponents of medical marijuana argue that the principal constituent of marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), one with more than 60 active ingredients in marijuana, which can bind to cannabinoid receptors on nerve cells and influences them, which are interfering thinking, concentration, memory and cognitive abilities on the brain over time. Thus, marijuana should not be legalized for medical purposes. However, THC in marijuana has medical benefits. A recent study by University of Saskatchewan shows that “Most ‘drugs of abuse’ suppress neurogenesis. Only marijuana promotes neurogenesis.” The study has also proven that THC in marijuana can protect and promote the growth of new brain cells from inflammation and oxidative stress (Leaf Science, 2014). Also, the Center for Mental Health Research at Australian National University researched on nearly 2000 marijuana users in age 20 to 24. After 8 years, they found that there was a little negative long-term effect on cognition and the brain within marijuana users (Time magazine). In fact, compared to modern pharmaceuticals, marijuana is viewed as a medicinal potential that proved to be more an effective treatment since it is natural and contains unique chemical compounds as THC. Prescribing

The development that takes place during the first eighteen years of life is essential in determining how one will handle going on each day. Traveling through these phases, individuals develop coping skills, critical thinking, problem solving, social skills and much more. The adolescent years are most crucial in preparing them for adulthood or college life because it is the skills, emotions and mentality they experience here, that will follow them into adulthood. Unfortunately, the effects that substance use has on the developing teenage brain can also carry over into adulthood and the rest of their life. With recent moves to legalize marijuana, we can expect to see an increase in cannabis use among teens due to increased availability, greater

The use of marijuana for medical purposes has stimulated debate for many years. Some people find it beneficial, and believe it is the best way to relieve their chronic pain. There are a growing number of people who think marijuana is safe and think it should be legalized in small quantities for recreational use. Despite its illegality, marijuana has continued to be used by many people. Though some discount it as a harmful substance, there are many others who worry about increased criminal behavior, addiction and other health problems that can arise from its use. But more importantly they are concerned about the message teenagers would get if marijuana was legalized for recreational use. Since marijuana is a natural product many people may

This article from 2014 briefly discussed the adverse effects of marijuana usage, making a point to mention that adolescents who regularly use marijuana are especially at risk since their brains are still undergoing active changes and developing. Some evidence has shown that habitual, long-term marijuana usage can lead to addiction and dependency, as well as withdrawal. Teens whose brains are still developing are more susceptible to adverse effects from marijuana use when compared to mature, fully developed brains. Notably, neural connectivity in specific brain regions can become impaired, leading to deficiencies in memories and learning. This article also states that marijuana could potentially be a gateway drug, as users seek to find more

In this paper, we will be looking at three different case studies based on cannabis and what happens when introduced to psychology. The first case study was done by a GENIPE group out of Spain in 2015. They studied the use of cannabis and cognitive function during the first episode psychosis. In the second case study, you will be looking at the developmental cascade model for adolescent substance use from infancy to late adolescence by Eiden, Rina D.; Lessard, Jared; Colder, Craig R.; Livingston, Jennifer; Casey, Meghan; Leonard, Kenneth E. Lastly from 2016. In the third study, 3 psychologists from the University of Memphis; Yurasek, Dennhardt, and Murphy conducted a randomized controlled trial of a behavioral economic intervention