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For teenagers, even recreational use of marijuana can have bad consequences. A recent study published by the Journal of Neuroscience on the effect of marijuana on teens, shows that even small amounts of marijuana create neurological changes in the brain. The affected area of the brain are associated with motivation, attention, learning, and memory. This is a preliminary study, but it suggests that even small recreational marijuana use can have damaging effects and possibly lead to addiction.
Legalization Does Not Mean It is Safe
Marijuana use is a contentious issue because of the legalization of recreational use in Colorado and Washington. The legalization of marijuana in Colorado and Washington seems to have given people the false impression that marijuana is not harmful. On the contrary, there is plenty of evidence to suggest the opposite.
Numerous Studies Point To Damaging Effects
In a previous post on how marijuana harms youth, there is a link to another resource (fact sheet) that shows the relationship between marijuana and education problems. In another post, we discuss how marijuana can affect IQ. There are many more studies like these that point to the dangers of teen marijuana use. If you are a parent, it is a good idea to be aware of these studies and be able to talk intelligently with your teen about the dangers of marijuana.