Women's Health     Healthy Kids     Teen Health    

Marijuana is going mainstream…but does that make it safe?



Six insights all parents should know

Six insights all parents should know about marijuana


As marijuana is made legal in more parts of the country, it’s becoming more normalized than ever before. And teens and young people have taken notice (despite most states’ attempts to limit exposure to young people). Now that it is deeply engrained in our culture, even parents might be wondering what’s the big deal if their children become regular marijuana users.


Dr. Larry Walker says it’s a big deal indeed. Teens who use cannabis are at risk for a range of serious mental and health-related problems.


“Parents and young people alike may believe that marijuana use is not problematic, but that couldn’t be further from the truth where teens and adolescents are concerned,” says Dr. Larry Walker, interim director of the National Center for Cannabis Research and Education (NCCRE) at the School of Pharmacy at the University of Mississippi. “Starting marijuana, especially in one’s early years, sets a pattern that can be devastating. We know enough to know that drug abuse in young people changes the way their brains develop.” 


Parents need to push back against the culture that convinces children that this addictive drug is safe, says Dr. Walker, who is the latest featured guest on The Mayo Lab Podcast with David Magee, which serves as a single source of research-based guidance for parents, educators, and students. (Listen at https://themayolab.com and on Apple and Spotify.) Marijuana is more powerful—and often more dangerous and addictive—now than it was in recent decades.


Here are six insights parents should know about modern marijuana use and their children.


Street marijuana is far more potent than it used to be. Teens and young adults need to know that this isn’t your mother’s or your grandmother’s mild marijuana. Modern marijuana is far more potent. Dealers and experimenters are finding new ways to strengthen the drug and rapidly distribute it to the brain. Dr. Walker shares that since the early ’90s, the potency of marijuana, which was then running from 3 or 4 percent, is now approaching an average 20 percent (and many samples are much higher than that). 


There’s been almost a tenfold increase in the potency of marijuana, not to mention other changes that may be going on as we’re breeding the plants and selecting them. Someone who isn’t well accustomed to using modern marijuana is vulnerable to experiencing serious problems due to its potency alone.  

 

“Parents today have no idea what their children face using street marijuana,” says podcast host and student wellbeing activist David Magee, who, in his role as director of operations at the William Magee Institute for Student Wellbeing focuses on helping students with alcohol and other drug education and support. “And many students themselves are duped, unsure of what’s happening to them or why. I hear it all the time, and it’s the single most surprising thing I learn from so many students I get to engage with from throughout the country.”

 

Legal or not, marijuana can be highly addictive. Though it does not create dramatic withdrawal symptoms like heroin or crack, cannabis causes serious withdrawal symptoms, and many users are surprised to find that they cannot stop without professional help. Magee, whose late son William struggled with drug addiction before dying of an accidental drug overdose, recalls how marijuana slowly took over his son’s life.


“Some may not have physical withdrawals, but rather emotional withdrawal symptoms,” says Magee. “My son wrote journal entries describing how emotionally difficult it was for him to separate himself from marijuana. Because for him, it had become a ritual that began when he woke up, continued at midday, and concluded at night so he could go to sleep. And I hear the same things from students I talk to in middle schools and at colleges and universities. It becomes this daily part of their life that feels harmless. But over time it grows and takes them over.”


READ MORE: The 411 on marijuana use and cardiovascular health

 

There’s a link between marijuana use and mental health struggles. A number of studies show that there is an exaggerated incidence in mental health and mood disorders in teens who are chronic marijuana users. Young people are much more susceptible to issues that range from  depression, addiction problems, aggression, and schizophrenia, says Dr. Walker. 

 

Early marijuana users may struggle more later on in life. A study from New Zealand that has monitored the educational, economic, and social success, and mental health of marijuana users suggests that early users of the drug fare worse in adulthood in a number of areas. For example, they earn less money, have more family problems, have more addiction problems, have more societal adjustment problems, and perform worse on IQ tests. 

 

The lesson we can take from this is that we not only need to keep our children away from marijuana, says Dr. Walker, but also we need to educate and caution them about the associated risks of using this drug.

 

Marijuana isn’t the “magic cure” for anxiety that many believe it is… Marijuana is often touted as a treatment for various anxiety disorders, causing some parents to look the other way if their teen uses it for that reason. But Dr. Walker wants parents to know that while cannabis might alleviate anxiety symptoms in some people, it is far from being a silver bullet. “Marijuana may lower anxiety in some users, but in others, it can create an anxiogenic reaction,” he says. “This could be due to the users’ genetics, or the dose, or other factors.” Either way, it isn’t for everyone, and especially not for young people who may be struggling with their mental health. 
 
…And medical marijuana is problematic too. While marijuana does have some legitimate health benefits (such as easing nausea in cancer patients) there are still issues with making it legal. Overall, medical cannabis companies have limited medical oversight; the range of products is wide and very variable; some states have better programs than others; and there is little guidance available about dosing, management of patients, and treatment protocols. 

This can contribute to issues like unwanted side effects, abuse problems, and addiction problems in users, including young people. The bottom line: even if your child uses marijuana for a medical reason (for example, anxiety), they can still end up using too much or using it too often. 
 
“It's important that parents, teachers, and organization promoting health and wellness get on the same page about their messaging around marijuana,” concludes Dr. Walker. “It’s not about legality. Legal or not, today’s marijuana is unsafe for children, teens, and young adults. But understanding this truth is power. When young people and the people who love them know the truth, they can avoid going down a road that leads to suffering.”

Larry Walker is Interim Director of the National Center for Cannabis Research and Education, and Director Emeritus of the National Center for Natural Products Research (NCNPR) at the University of Mississippi. He has been a member of the faculty of the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy for 41 years. A Tennessee native, he took undergraduate degrees in biology at Oglethorpe University (Atlanta, GA) and in pharmacy at Mercer University in Atlanta. His doctoral training was in Pharmacology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.


David Magee is the best-selling author of "Things Have Changed: What Every Parent (and Educator) Should Know About the Student Mental Health and Substance Misuse Crisis" and Dear William: A Father’s Memoir of Addiction, Recovery, Love, and Loss"—a "Publisher’s Weekly" bestseller, named a Best Book of the South, and featured on CBS Mornings—and other nonfiction books. A changemaker in student and family mental health and substance misuse, he’s the creator and director of operations of the William Magee Institute for Student Wellbeing at the University of Mississippi and a frequent K–12 and university educational and motivational speaker, helping students and parents find and keep their joy. He hosts "The Mayo Lab Podcast with David Magee".



Other articles by HVP News Reporters


  • Understanding 'Warning Strokes'

    What to expect if you experience stroke symptoms, even if they disappear

    Diagnosing a transient ischemic attack (TIA), sometimes called a “warning stroke,” can be challenging because symptoms often disappear within an hour. However, it’s important to seek emergency assessment to help prevent a full-blown stroke. read more »
  • Managing your family's year-round health

    Protect everyone from infectious diseases

    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaccines help create protective antibodies that fight off infections. read more »
  • What to know about Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

    treatment can help control symptoms and improve quality of life

    Each year, an estimated 500-1,000 people nationwide are diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). While there’s currently no cure, treatment can help control symptoms and improve quality of life. read more »
  • Bring back family bonding this fall

    3 ways to free up busy schedules to spend time with loved ones

    Busy fall schedules often leave little time for the things that matter most – sharing special moments with those you love. This year, as time seems to speed up during another school year, making family bonding a priority in your household can start with a few simple tricks. read more »
  • Top tips for a more organized kitchen

    Save time and money

    Better organization in the kitchen means spending less time searching for the right ingredient or tool so you can have more time for savoring meals with family and friends, and more time for personal pursuits. read more »
  • 6 small, kind gestures to make a big impact each day

    Performing acts of kindness improves individual well-being

    Everywhere you look, you can see moments of kindness. From a friend sending a thoughtful text message to a stranger holding the bus for someone running late or a person paying for someone else’s coffee, acts of kindness happen every day. read more »
  • Keeping babies safe

    Tips to help prevent some of the biggest dangers

    Tips to help prevent some of the biggest dangers for babies include safe sleeping habits, product recalls, baby proofing & car safety read more »
  • Tips to get tour student prepped for college entrance exams

    Help get your teen ready

    Is the SAT or ACT on the horizon for your high schooler? A lot of emphasis is placed on college entrance exams, and your child may be anxious about their scores. read more »
  • More than two-thirds of Americans plan to get a flu shot this season

    CVS Pharmacy® and MinuteClinic® encourage consumers to get an annual flu shot and stay up to date on routine vaccinations

    CVS Health® (NYSE: CVS) is prepared to meet patients' vaccination and other preventive health care needs as flu season approaches. CVS Pharmacy® and MinuteClinic® are offering the annual flu vaccine at locations nationwide. CVS Pharmacy is also offering the new respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, which has been approved for adults ages 60 and up. read more »
  • 10 phrases to say to children every day

    Instill valuable life skills and boost their self-esteem

    As parents, you play a pivotal role in shaping your child’s character, confidence, and overall development. Every interaction is an opportunity to instill valuable life skills and boost their self-esteem. read more »