MARIJUANA AND YOUR TEEN

Teens may engage in marijuana useage because they believe that marijuana is a benign substance. Many teens tell me that they see on the internet and they hear from their peers that marijuana is "fun" and "everybody uses it". I have heard teens tell me that since marijuana is "legal" in Colorado and California that it can't be bad for you. From the teen perspective, I can see their point. However, marijuana has detrimental effects on the developing teen and young adult brain. Research has been released showing a greater risk for development of serious mental illness. Brain scans on marijuana-exposed young brain shows that the size of the brain can become smaller with marijuana use. Just google the article "Smoking Pot Shrinks the Brain." This is important information for any teen to know – and parents also. Discuss with your teen the ramifications upon their mental health from marijuana use. Dr Debra