Be Marijuana Free
Marijuana is the most commonly used federally illegal drug in the United States. Approximately 3 in 10 people who use marijuana also have marijuana use disorder. Marijuana use disorder includes trying but failing to quit using marijuana or giving up important activities with friends and family in favor of using marijuana. The effects of marijuana can be life changing.
Don't weed yourself out!
Clear Minds, Bright Futures: Live Free from Marijuana
How Does Marijuana Affect You?
There are health risks associated with using marijuana regardless of how it is used or your age. These health effects are:
- Addiction: use can result in Marijuana Use Disorder.
- Brain Health: adversely affects parts of the brain responsible for memory, learning, attention, coordination, and emotions.
- Heart Health: can lead to increased risk of stroke, heart disease, and vascular diseases.
- Driving: negatively affects driving causing slowed reaction times, poor coordination, distorts perception, and increased car crash statistics.
- Mental Health: can lead to social anxiety, depression, schizophrenia and more.
- Unintentional Poisoning: infused edibles, food and marijuana drink products can result in unintentional poisonings, especially in youth.
Empower, Don't Impair
Youth Without Marijuana Thrive
Approximately 1 in 10 people who use marijuana will become addicted. When they start before age 18, the rate of addiction rises to 1 in 6. In 2022, 30.7% of 12th graders reported using marijuana in the past year, and 6.3% reported using marijuana daily in the past 30 days. Compared to teens who do not use marijuana, teens who use marijuana may be less likely to graduate from high school or college. It is important for youth to be marijuana free, especially since a teen's brain is actively developing and continues to develop until around age 25!
Parents Are Prevention
Parents are the first line of defense when it comes to having open and honest conversations about the dangers of marijuana and cannabis use. Now is the time to talk with your children about the risks of using marijuana while their brains are still developing. Conversations can happen anywhere!
For youth that are 16 years old and older, it's important to have additional conversations around how marijuana and cannabis use impacts driving and is illegal in Michigan. Contrary to popular belief, drivers may not operate, navigate, or be in physical control of any motor vehicle, aircraft, snowmobile, off-road recreational vehicle, or motorboat while under the influence of cannabis in Michigan. Impaired driving is drugged driving!