Teenage Health and Marijuana
There are laws set in place that make it illegal for people under the age 21 to consume Marijuana and there are reasons for that. As much fun as it might be, Marijuana is a substance that must be consumed safely and responsibly by individuals with fully developed brains. An action that cannot be done by teens.
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Below are the effects of recreational underage Marijuana consumption.
Brain Development
Until the age of 21, the brain is in a developmental period making it vulnerable. The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) says that individuals who regularly consume THC (the primary ingredient in marijuana) as teenagers have been found to have neurological impairment. Some of these include areas of the brain that control alertness, memory, and learning.
Addiction
According to the NEJM, 1 in 6 people who started smoking marijuana as a teenager will become addicted. Studies have also shown that early marijuana use leads to addiction of other drugs. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) says that animals who were exposed to marijuana in adolescence have been found to have enhanced reactions to other drugs.
Lifestyle
Marijuana impairs cognitive functions during intoxication and for a couple days after use. Coupled with school activities, this affects a student's ability to function at the best of their capability while in school. Not preforming to the best of their ability can have severe effects on one's education, which can in turn effect the rest of their future.
Longterm Health
The NEJM states that smoking marijuana is associated with inflammation of large airways, increased airway resistance, and lung hyperinflation. They have also reported that consistent marijuana use has been associated with increased risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack) and stroke. The NIDA has also stated that long-term marijuana use can lead to the development of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome, which causes individuals to have cycles of severe nausea, vomiting, and dehydration.