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Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know Revised

National Institute on Drug Abuse

National Institutes of Health

The only way to prevent your child from using drugs is to be open, talk to them, warn them, be aware of everything going on in your child’s life.

There’s a dialogue going on. If there is experimentation, I’m going to know and be able to respond.

—from the videotape, Marijuana: What Can Parents Do?

Marijuana is the illegal drug most often used in this country. Since 1991, lifetime marijuana use has almost doubled among 8th- and 10th-grade students, and increased by a third among high school seniors. Our research shows that accompanying this upward pattern of use is a significant erosion in antidrug perceptions and knowledge among young people today. As the number of young people who use marijuana has increased, the number who view the drug as harmful has decreased. Among high school seniors surveyed in 2001, current marijuana use has increased by about 62 percent since 1991. The proportion of those seniors who believe regular use of marijuana is harmful has dropped by about 27 percent since 1991. These changes in perception and knowledge may be due to a decrease in antidrug messages in the media, an increase in prodrug messages through the pop culture, and a lack of awareness among parents about this resurgence in drug useâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;most thinking, perhaps, that this threat to their children had diminished. Because many parents of this generation of teenagers used marijuana when they were in college, they often find it difficult to talk about marijuana use with their children and to set strict ground rules against drug use. But marijuana use today starts at a younger ageâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and more potent forms of the drug are available to these young children. Parents need to recognize that marijuana use is a serious threatâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and they need to tell their children not to use it.


Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know

A Letter to Parents

Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know



Glen R. Hanson, Ph.D., D.D.S Acting Director National Institute on Drug Abuse

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A Letter to Parents What is marijuana? What are the current slang terms for marijuana? How is marijuana used? How many people smoke marijuana? How can I tell if my child has been using marijuana? Why do young people use marijuana? Does using marijuana lead to other drugs? What are the effects of marijuana? What happens after a person smokes marijuana? How long does marijuana stay in the user’s body? Can a user have a bad reaction? How is marijuana harmful? How does marijuana affect driving? What are the long-term effects of marijuana? What about pregnancy? What happens if a nursing mother uses marijuana? How does marijuana affect the brain? Can the drug cause mental illness? Do marijuana users lose their motivation? Can a person become addicted to marijuana? What is “tolerance” for marijuana? Are there treatments to help marijuana users? Can marijuana be used as medicine? How can I prevent my child from getting involved with marijuana? Talking to your children about marijuana Resources


Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know


Fact: There are stronger forms of marijuana available to adolescents today than in the 1960s. Stronger marijuana means stronger effects.

Q What is marijuana? Are there different kinds? A Marijuana is a green, brown, or gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa). Before the 1960s, many Americans had never heard of marijuana, but today it is the most often used illegal drug in this country. Cannabis is a term that refers to marijuana and other drugs made from the same plant. Strong forms of cannabis include sinsemilla (sin-seh-me-yah), hashish ("hash” for short), and hash oil. All forms of cannabis are mind-altering (psychoactive) drugs; they all contain THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), the main active chemical in marijuana. They also contain more than 400 other chemicals. Marijuana’s effect on the user depends on the strength or potency of the THC it contains. THC potency has increased since the 1970s and continues to increase still. The strength of the drug is measured by the average amount of THC in test samples confiscated by law enforcement agencies. For the year 2001: •Most ordinary marijuana contained, on average, 5 percent THC.


Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know

•Sinsemilla (made from just the buds and flowering tops of female plants) contained, on average, 9 percent THC, with a range as high as 25 percent.

Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know


•Hashish (the sticky resin from the female plant’s flowers) had an average of 9 percent THC, with a range as high as 19 percent. •Hash oil, a tar-like liquid distilled from hashish, had an average of 19 percent THC, with a range as high as 27 percent.

Q What are the current slang terms for marijuana? A There are many different names for marijuana. Slang terms for drugs change quickly, and they vary from one part of the country to another. They may even differ across sections of a large city. Terms from years ago, such as pot, herb, grass, weed, Mary Jane, and reefer, are still used. You might also hear the names Aunt Mary, skunk, boom, gangster, kif, or ganja. There are also street names for different strains or “brands” of marijuana, such as “Texas tea,” “Maui wowie,” and “Chronic.” A recent book of American slang lists more than 200 terms for various kinds of marijuana.

Q How is marijuana used? A Most users roll loose marijuana into a cigarette (called a joint or a nail) or smoke it in a pipe. One well-known type of water pipe is the bong. Some users mix marijuana into foods or use it to brew a tea. Another method is to slice open a cigar and replace the tobacco with marijuana, making what’s called a blunt. When the blunt is smoked with a 40 oz. bottle of malt liquor, it is called a “B-40.” Lately, marijuana cigarettes or blunts often include crack cocaine, a combination known by various street names, such as “primos” or “woolies.” Joints and blunts often are dipped in PCP and are called “happy sticks,” “wicky sticks,” “love boat,” or “tical.”

Q How many people smoke marijuana? At what age do children generally start? A recent government survey tells us: • Marijuana is the most frequently used illegal drug in the United States. Over 83 million Americans over the age of 12 have tried marijuana at least once. • Over 12 million had used the drug in the month before the survey.


Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know


Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know



Q How can I tell if my child has been using marijuana?


There are some signs you might be able to see. If someone is high on marijuana, he or she might: • seem dizzy and have trouble walking; • seem silly and giggly for no reason; • have very red, bloodshot eyes; and • have a hard time remembering things that just happened. When the early effects fade, the user can become very sleepy. Parents should be aware of changes in their child’s behavior, although this may be difficult with teenagers. Parents should look for withdrawal, depression, fatigue, carelessness with grooming, hostility, and deteriorating relationships with family

Fact: Research shows that nearly 50 percent of teenagers try marijuana before they graduate from high school.

Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know


members and friends. In addition, changes in academic performance, increased absenteeism or truancy, lost interest in sports or other favorite activities, and changes in eating or sleeping habits could be related to drug use. However, these signs may also indicate problems other than use of drugs. In addition, parents should be aware of: • signs of drugs and drug paraphernalia, including pipes and rolling papers; • odor on clothes and in the bedroom; • use of incense and other deodorizers; • use of eye drops; and • clothing, posters, jewelry, etc., promoting drug use.

Q Why do young people use marijuana? A Children and young teens start using marijuana for many reasons. Curiosity and the desire to fit into a social group are common reasons. Certainly, youngsters who have already begun to smoke cigarettes and/or use alcohol are at increased risk for marijuana use. Also, our research suggests that the use of alcohol and drugs by other family members plays a strong role in whether children start using drugs. Parents, grandparents, and older brothers and sisters in the home are models for children to follow.

Some young people who take drugs do not get along with their parents. Some have a network of friends who use drugs and urge them to do the same (peer pressure). All aspects of a child’s environment—home, school, neighborhood—help to determine whether the child will try drugs. Children who become more heavily involved with marijuana can become dependent, making it difficult for them to quit. Others mention psychological coping as a reason for their use —to deal with anxiety, anger, depression, boredom, and so forth. But marijuana use is not an effective method for coping with life’s problems, and staying high can be a way of simply not dealing with the problems and challenges of growing up. Researchers have found that children and teens (both male and female) who are physically and sexually abused are at greater risk than other young people of using marijuana and other drugs and of beginning drug use at an early age.

Q Does using marijuana lead to other drugs? A Long-term studies of high school students and their patterns


Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know


Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know



Q What are the effects of marijuana? A The effects of marijuana on each person depend on the: • type of cannabis and how much THC it contains; • way the drug is taken (by smoking or eating); • experience and expectations of the user; • setting where the drug is used; and • whether drinking or other drug use is also going on. Some people feel nothing at all when they first try marijuana. Others may feel high (intoxicated and/or euphoric). It is common for marijuana users to become engrossed with ordinary sights, sounds, or tastes, and trivial events may seem extremely interesting or funny. Time seems to pass very slowly, so minutes feel like hours. Sometimes the drug causes users to feel thirsty and very hungry—an effect called “the munchies.”

Q What happens after a person smokes marijuana? A Within a few minutes of inhaling marijuana smoke, the user will likely feel, along with intoxication, a dry mouth, rapid heartbeat, some loss of coordination and poor sense of balance, and slower reaction time. Blood vessels in the eye expand, so the user’s eyes look red. For some people, marijuana raises blood pressure slightly and can double the normal heart rate. This effect can be greater when other drugs are mixed with marijuana; but users do not always know when that happens. As the immediate effects fade, usually after 2 to 3 hours, the user may become sleepy.

Q How long does marijuana stay in the user’s body? A THC in marijuana is readily absorbed by fatty tissues in various organs. Generally, traces (metabolites) of THC can be detected by standard urine testing methods several days after a smoking session. However, in heavy, chronic users, traces can sometimes be detected for weeks after they have stopped using marijuana.

a strange setting, may suffer acute anxiety and have paranoid thoughts. This is more likely to happen with high doses of THC. These scary feelings will fade as the drug’s effects wear off. In rare cases, a user who has taken a very high dose of the drug can have severe psychotic symptoms and need emergency medical treatment. Other kinds of bad reactions can occur when marijuana is mixed with other drugs, such as PCP or cocaine.


Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know

Q Can a user have a bad reaction? A Yes. Some users, especially someone new to the drug or in

Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know


Q How is marijuana harmful? A Marijuana can be harmful in a number of ways, through both immediate effects and damage to health over time. Marijuana hinders the userâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s short-term memory (memory for recent events), and he or she may have trouble handling complex tasks. With the use of more potent varieties of marijuana, even simple tasks can be difficult. Because of the drugâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s effects on perceptions and reaction time, users could be involved in auto crashes. Drug users also may become involved in risky sexual behaviors, which could lead to the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Under the influence of marijuana, students may find it hard to study and learn. Young athletes could find their performance is off; timing, movements, and coordination are all affected by THC. Some of the more long-range effects of marijuana use are described later in this booklet.

Q How does marijuana affect driving? A Marijuana affects many skills required for safe driving: alertness, the ability to concentrate, coordination, and reaction time. Marijuana use can make it difficult to judge distances and react to signals and sounds on the road.

Fact: Marijuana has adverse effects on many of the skills for driving a car. Driving while high can lead to car accidents.

Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know


There are data showing that marijuana can play a role in crashes. When users combine marijuana with alcohol, as they often do, the hazards of driving can be more severe than with either drug alone. A study of patients in a shock-trauma unit who had been in traffic accidents revealed that 15 percent of those who had been driving a car or motorcycle had been smoking marijuana, and another 17 percent had both THC and alcohol in their blood. In one study conducted in Memphis, TN, researchers found that, of 150 reckless drivers who were tested for drugs at the arrest scene, 33 percent tested positive for marijuana, and 12 percent tested positive for both marijuana and cocaine. Data also show that while smoking marijuana, people show the same lack of coordination on standard â&#x20AC;&#x153;drunk driverâ&#x20AC;? tests as do people who have had too much to drink.

Q What are the long-term effects of marijuana? A While all of the long-term effects of marijuana use are not yet known, there are studies showing serious health concerns. For example, a group of scientists in California examined the health status of 450 daily smokers of marijuana but not tobacco. They found that the marijuana smokers had more sick days and more doctor visits for respiratory problems and other types of illness than did a similar group who did not smoke either substance. Findings so far show that the regular use of marijuana or THC may play a role in cancer and problems in the respiratory and immune systems.


Lungs and airways People who smoke marijuana regularly may develop many of the same breathing problems that tobacco smokers have, such as daily cough and phlegm production, more frequent chest colds, a heightened risk of lung infections, and a greater tendency toward obstructed airways. Cancer of the respiratory tract and lungs may also be promoted by marijuana smoke, since it contains irritants and carcinogens. Marijuana smokers usually inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer, which increases the lungsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; exposure to carcinogenic smoke. Thus, puff for puff, smoking marijuana may increase the risk of cancer more than smoking tobacco does.


Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know

Immune system Our immune system protects the body from many agents that cause disease. It is not certain whether marijuana damages the immune system of people. But both animal and human studies have shown that marijuana impairs the ability of T-cells in the lungsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; immune defense system to fight off some infections.


Q What about pregnancy: Will smoking marijuana hurt the baby?


Doctors advise pregnant women not to use any drugs because they might harm the growing fetus. One animal study has linked marijuana use to loss of the fetus very early in pregnancy. Some scientific studies have found that babies born to women who used marijuana during their pregnancy display altered responses to visual stimulation, increased tremors, and a high pitched cry, which may indicate problems with nervous system development. During pre- and early school years, marijuana-exposed children have been reported to have more behavioral problems and difficulties with sustained attention and memory than nonexposed children. Researchers are not certain whether any effects of marijuana during pregnancy persist as the child grows up; however, because some parts of the brain continue to develop into adolescence, it is also possible that certain kinds of problems will become more evident as the child matures.

Q What happens if a nursing mother uses marijuana? When a nursing mother uses marijuana, some of the THC is passed to the baby in her breast milk. This is a matter for concern, since the THC in the motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s milk is much more concentrated than that in the motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s blood. One study has shown that the use of marijuana by a mother during the first month of breastfeeding can impair the infantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s motor development (control of muscle movement).


Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know



Q How does marijuana affect the brain? A THC affects the nerve cells in the part of the brain where


Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know


Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know




Q Can a person become addicted to marijuana? A Yes. While not everyone who uses marijuana becomes


Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know

addicted, when a user begins to seek out and take the drug compulsively, that person is said to be dependent on the drug or addicted to it. In 1999, over 220,000 people entering drug treatment programs reported marijuana as their primary drug of abuse, showing they needed help to stop using. Some heavy users of marijuana show signs of dependence because when they do not use the drug, they develop withdrawal symptoms. Some subjects in an experiment on marijuana withdrawal had symptoms, such as restlessness, loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, weight loss, and shaky hands. According to one study, marijuana use by teenagers who have prior serious antisocial problems can quickly lead to dependence on the drug. That study also found that, for troubled teenagers using tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana, progression from their first use of marijuana to regular use was about as rapid as their progression to regular tobacco use, and more rapid than the progression to regular use of alcohol.

Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know


Q What is “tolerance” for marijuana? A “Tolerance” means that the user needs increasingly larger doses of the drug to get the same desired results that he or she previously got from smaller amounts. Some frequent, heavy users of marijuana may develop tolerance for it.

Q Are there treatments to help marijuana users? A Up until a few years ago, it was hard to find treatment programs specifically for marijuana users. Treatments for marijuana dependence were much the same as therapies for other drug abuse problems. These include behavioral therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy; multisystemic therapy; individual and group counseling; and regular attendance at meetings of support groups such as Narcotics Anonymous. Recently, researchers have been testing different ways to attract marijuana users to treatment and help them abstain from drug use. There are currently no medications for treating marijuana dependence. Treatment programs focus on counseling and group support systems. From these studies, drug treatment professionals are learning what characteristics of users are predictors of success in treatment and which approaches to treatment can be most helpful. Further progress in treatment to help marijuana users includes a number of programs set up to help adolescents in particular.

Some of these programs are in university research centers, where most of the young clients report marijuana as their drug of choice. Others are in independent adolescent treatment facilities. Family physicians are also a good source for information and help in dealing with adolescentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; marijuana problems.

medical use of marijuana. Under U.S. law since 1970, marijuana has been a Schedule I controlled substance. This means that the drug, at least in its smoked form, has no commonly accepted medical use. In considering possible medical uses of marijuana, it is important to distinguish between whole marijuana and pure THC or other specific chemicals derived from cannabis. Whole marijuana contains hundreds of chemicals, some of which may be harmful to health THC, manufactured into a pill that is taken by mouth, not smoked, can be used for treating the nausea and vomiting that go along with certain cancer treatments and is available by prescription. Another chemical related to THC (nabilone) has also been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating cancer patients who suffer nausea. The oral THC is also used to help AIDS patients eat more to keep up their weight. Scientists are studying whether marijuana, THC, and related chemicals in marijuana (called cannabinoids) may have other medical uses. According to scientists, more research needs to be done on marijuanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side effects and potential benefits before it can be recommended for medical use.


Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know

Q Can marijuana be used as medicine? A There has been much debate in the media about the possible

Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know


Q How can I prevent my child from getting involved with marijuana?


There is no magic bullet for preventing teenage drug use. But parents can be influential by talking to their children about the dangers of using marijuana and other drugs, and remain actively engaged in their childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives. Even after teenage children enter high school, parents can stay involved in schoolwork, recreation, and social activities with their childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s friends. Research shows that appropriate parental monitoring can reduce future drug use, even among those adolescents who may be prone to marijuana use, such as those who are rebellious, cannot control their emotions, and experience internal distress. To address the issue of drug abuse in your area, it is important to get involved in drug abuse prevention programs in your community or your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s school. Find out what prevention programs you and your children can participate in together.

As this booklet has shown, marijuana can pose a particular threat to the health and well-being of children and adolescents at a critical point in their livesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;when they are growing, learning, maturing, and laying the foundation for their adult years. As a parent, your children look to you for help and guidance in working out problems and in making decisions, including the decision not to use drugs. As a role model, your decision to not use marijuana and other illegal drugs will reinforce your message to your children. There are numerous resources, many right in your own community, where you can obtain information so that you can talk to your children about drugs. To find these resources, you can consult your local library, school, or community service organization. The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) offers an extensive collection of publications, videotapes, and educational materials to help parents talk to their children about drug use. For more information on marijuana and other drugs, contact: National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, P.O. Box 2345, Rockville, MD 20847, 1-800729-6686 (TDD number 1-800-487-4889), and/or visit NIDAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Web site at


Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know

Talking to your children about marijuana

Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know


Selected Resources and References

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) NIDA's mission is to lead the Nation in bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction. It does so by supporting over 85% of the world's research on drug abuse and ensuring the effective dissemination and use of this research to improve drug abuse and addiction prevention, treatment, and policy. For general inquiries, contact NIDAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s public information office at (301) 443-1124 or visit the NIDA Web site at and NIDA publications are available through the National Clearinghouse on Alcohol and Drug Information. National Clearinghouse on Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) NCADI provides access to educational publications from NIDA and other Federal agencies. Staff provides assistance in English and Spanish and has TDD capability. Call 1-800-729-6686 or visit the NCADI Web site at Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) CSAP, a part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, provides national leadership in the development of policies, programs, and services to prevent the onset of illegal drug, alcohol, and tobacco use. CSAP publications are available through the NCADI. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) CSAT, a part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, supports treatment services, research dissemination and adoption, and operates the National Treatment Referral Hotline (1-800-662-HELP). CSAT publications are available through the NCADI.

Feel free to reprint this publication in any quantity you wish.

Tips for Parents • Be a good listener • Give clear no-use messages about drugs and alcohol • Help your child deal with peer pressure to use drugs • Get to know your child’s friends and parents • Monitor your child’s whereabouts • Supervise teen activities • Maintain an open and honest dialogue with your child

Fact: Marijuana is the most frequently used illegal drug in the United States. Fact: Nearly 50% of 12th-graders have tried marijuana at least once. Fact: Marijuana smoking affects the brain and leads to impaired short-term memory, perception, judgment, and motor skills.

U . S. DEPA RTMENT OF HEA LTH AND HUMAN SERV I C E S NIHPublication No. 02-4036 Printed 1995 Revised November 1998, 2002 Reprinted April 2001