Focus on: Marijuana

Marijuana can pose a particular threat to the health and well-being of children and adolescents at a critical point in their lives—when they are growing, learning, maturing, and laying the foundation for their adult years. Greater acceptance of marijuana use, compared with use of other illicit drugs, continues to underlie divergent opinions about its dangers, illegality, and potential value. As a parent, your children look to you as a role model and for help and guidance in working out problems and in making decisions, including the decision not to use drugs. Even if you have used drugs in the past, you can have an open conversation about the dangers. Having used drugs should not prevent you from talking to your child about the dangers of drug use. In fact, experience can better equip us to teach others, including drawing on the value of possible mistakes.

Know the Law: Amendment 20 in the Colorado Constitution states that marijuana can be used for medicinal purposes and that medical marijuana card-holders can possess up to two ounces of marijuana and cultivate six plants. Persons under the age of 18 years old can obtain a medical marijuana card, but only after strict approval regulations. However, marijuana is a federally illegal substance and has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat any diseases.

MARIJUANA FACTS

• Marijuana is a green, brown, or gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp plant.
• All forms of marijuana are mind-altering (psychoactive). In other words, they change how the brain works.
• Marijuana contains THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), the main active chemical in marijuana. Levels of THC are higher in today’s world. For example, one “joint” today is equivalent to smoking 3-5 “joints” in the 1960s.1
• Marijuana can contain more than 400 other chemicals, some of which are carcinogenic. In fact, marijuana smoke contains 50–70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke.2,3
• Marijuana is a federally illegal substance and has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat any diseases. However, in the state of Colorado, it is acceptable for medical marijuana cardholders to possess up to two ounces of marijuana as well as six plants.4
• Persons under the age of 18 years old can obtain a medical marijuana card only after strict approval regulations.4
• Marijuana is UNSAFE if you are behind the wheel. Marijuana compromises judgment and affects many other skills required for safe driving: alertness, concentration, coordination, and reaction time.5

OTHER FACTS

• The human brain isn’t fully mature until roughly the age of 25. That means children and adolescents are in stages of brain growth and development that leave them especially vulnerable to problems caused by drug use, abuse and addiction.6
• In Routt County, 17% of 11th grade male students report using marijuana over 40 times in the past 30 days.7
• Students in Routt County report trying marijuana for the first time as early as 12 years old or younger.7

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA ON MY TEEN?

SIGNS THAT YOUR TEEN IS USING MARIJUANA

HOW TO START THE CONVERSATION ABOUT MARIJUANA

HELPFUL RESOURCES 

 

1. 2006 NIDA Report, NIDA, InfoFacts, www.drugabuse.gov, 2006.
2. Above the Influence, www.abovetheinfluence.com
3. NIDA Fact Sheet, "Effects on Lungs", 2010, http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/infofacts/marijuana
4. The Colorado Medical Marijuana Registry, Colorado Constitution, http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/hs/medicalmarijuana/amendment.html
5. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NIH Publication No. 10-4036, Printed 1995, Revised November 1998, Reprinted April 2001, February 2007 Revised November 2002, September 2004, August 2007, March 2011
6. Colorado Department of Education, "Understand the Big Deal, How Marijuana Harms Youth", http://www.cde.state.co.us/DropoutPrevention/Resources.htm 
7. Healthy Kids Colorado Survey, Routt County, 2009-2010

How to Start the Conversation about Marijuana

WHAT TO SAY to remind your teen that he/she doesn’t have to give in to peer pressure to marijuana:
We know there is probably some pressure to start smoking pot or taking other drugs at school. A lot of people feel like this is just what high school kids do. But not all high school kids use drugs. Many don’t, which means it won’t make you weird to choose not to try marijuana. Just know that you can talk to us about anything – we won’t freak out. We want you to count on us to help you make smart decisions and stay safe, okay? Use us as the reason to say NO, if you are ever asked to try marijuana. Say something like, “I’d get in a ton of trouble if my parents (or my coach/sponsor) found out I tried pot.”

WHAT TO SAY if your teen says that Marijuana isn’t harmful, it’s a plant, and people use it as medicine:
Yes, marijuana can be prescribed by a doctor to help with pain and other discomforts. However, use of marijuana without a doctor’s prescription is illegal. People who use medical marijuana can face adverse side-effects and using marijuana can lead to serious diseases, like lung and heart dis-ease. Abusing marijuana can also be dangerous and can affect more than just you. We want you to know the facts about marijuana, so you can make the right choice.

 
WHAT TO SAY if your teen comes home smelling of marijuana:
"The response should be measured, quiet and serious--not yelling, shouting or overly emotional,” says parenting expert Marybeth Hicks. “Your child should realize that this isn’t just a frustrating moment like when he/she doesn’t do a chore you asked for; it’s very big, very important, and very serious.”
I’m really upset that you’re using marijuana. I need to get a handle on how often this has been happening. I get that you’re worried about being in trouble, but the worst part of that moment is over – I know that you’re experimenting. The best thing you can do now is to be straight with me. So, for starters, tell me what’s going on.  After the conversation, its time to set a consequence. Discuss a reasonable consequence with your teen, perhaps a loss of privileges (cell phone, ski pass, allowance, sleepovers, SPORTS). Whatever is set, make sure to stand by it!

Signs that your teen is using Marijuana

• Seems dizzy or uncoordinated 
• Very red, bloodshot eyes
• Has a hard time remembering things that just happened
• Be in possession of drug paraphernalia, including pipes and rolling papers 
• Odor on clothes and in the bedroom 
• Uses incense and other deodorizers
• Cannot explain use of allowance money 
• Has mood swings 
• Seems withdrawn, tired and careless
• New groups of friends
• Grades and attendance slipping 
• Eating and sleeping patterns changing

Effects of Marjiuana on My Teen

Short-Term Effects
Slower reflexes
Impairment of balance and coordination
Difficulty to recall and learn new information
Dulled Senses 

Long-Term Effects of Heavy Users (during childhood years)
Inability to do complex tasks 
High risk of depression
High risk of developing schizophrenia later in life 
Greater risk of lung infections
Heart Disease1,2

Possible Consequences of Possession of Marijuana in Colorado (non-card holder) -

• Interferes with or hinders ability to participate in athletics or extracurricular activities, with levels of consequences depending on your school districts’ athletic/activities policies.
• At a maximum, any person (regardless of age) who openly and publicly displays, consumes, or uses two ounces or less of marijuana commits a class 2 petty offense and, upon conviction thereof, faces a fine of not more than one hundred dollars and (notwithstanding the provisions of section 18-1.3-503) faces fifteen days in the county jail.3 
• Any person (regardless of age) who possesses more than two ounces of marijuana but no more than six ounces of marijuana commits a class 2 misdemeanor, and can face increased fines and jail time. - 1st time Juvenile (under 18) may be offered Diversion program, and case dismissed.3
• In Routt County, Diversion is an accountability program that offers juvenile offenders from the ages of 10-17 an opportunity to learn from their mistakes, provide an alternative to appearing before the Court and avoid a juvenile criminal record. If deemed appropriate and accepted into the Diversion Program, the juvenile and parent(s) sign a diversion Contract that is generally 3 to 6 months in length. The Diversion Coordinator works with the juvenile and his/her family to create a Contract that will outline the appropriate conditions based on risk assessment, criminal history, DA recommendations and the severity of the charge(s). 

1.Above the Influence, www.abovetheinfluence.com
2.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NIH Publication No. 10-4036, Printed 1995, Revised November 1998, Reprinted April 2001, February 2007 Revised November 2002, September 2004, August 2007, March 2011
3. Colorado Revised Statutes, 18-18-406: Offenses related to marijuana and marijuana concentrate, http://www.michie.com/colorado/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=main-h.htm&cp=

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Talking to your teens about alcohol, tobacco and other drugs can be difficult. But did you know that kids whose parents talk to them about drugs and alcohol use are 50% less likely to use sub-stances? The Time to Talk Parent Newsletter provides facts, resources and other tools that can help you start the conversation and keep it going. You can make a difference!

 

 

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