Marijuana, the mixture of green shredded leaves and flowers of the plant, Cannabis, has become the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States (NIH). Marijuana can be used in several ways, such as in the form of a hand-rolled cigarette or marijuana cigars, used to brew tea, or mixed into foods such as brownies (NIH). Due to marijuana being able to be used in many various forms makes it more common among drug users such as teens. Marijuana is easily accessible and generally low in cost. This causes the drug to be more prevalent in teenage and young adult drug use.
Marijuana use is very common among adolescents and young adults. There has been an increased use of marijuana by adolescents in eighth through twelfth grade. In 2014, 11.7 percent of 8th-graders reported marijuana use in the past year and 6.5 percent were current users (NIH). Nearly half of all high school seniors have used marijuana over the course of their lifetime. (MT) Teens attitude about the harmful effects of marijuana have gone down. A possible reason for the decline in age of marijuana is due to the current …show more content…
Teens’ are more receptive of the mind altering effects of marijuana. Marijuana use creates a heightened sensory perception, for example, seeing brighter colors, also marijuana causes an increased appetite, excessive laughter, and a delayed response time. Not only are teens more receptive to the effects marijuana has on the body, but also its mental effect on the brain. Young adults who smoke marijuana are more at risk for mental health effects such as doubled risk of depression and anxiety, and increased risk of developing schizophrenia later on. Teens are unaware of the risks that they put themselves at once they decide to add marijuana in their body. Marijuana stops the area of the brain that is responsible for judging which causes teens to have a various range of emotions that can become