Washington State Department of Social & Health Services – Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Transforming lives The Good? The Bad? The Ugly? The Good? The Bad? The Ugly? Marijuana one of the most misunderstood drugs of our time. Washington State Spring Youth Forum May 22,

Washington State Department of Social & Health Services – Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Transforming lives What is Marijuana? Marijuana is a green-brown mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp, or cannabis, plant It goes by many different names—pot, herb, weed, grass—and stronger forms include hash oil All forms of marijuana that contain THC are mind- altering (psychoactive), they change how the brain works Marijuana contains more than 400 chemicals, including THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (Cannabidiol) 2

Washington State Department of Social & Health Services – Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Transforming lives Marijuana Impacts on the Brain 3

Washington State Department of Social & Health Services – Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Transforming lives 4

Washington State Department of Social & Health Services – Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Transforming lives Neurotransmitter - Anandamide  Your brain has groups of cannabinoid receptors concentrated in several different places  Cannabinoid receptors are activated by a neurotransmitter called anandamide  anandamide is a cannabinoid, but one that your body makes  THC mimics the actions of anandamide, meaning that THC binds with cannabinoid receptors and activates neurons 5

Washington State Department of Social & Health Services – Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Transforming lives Adolescent Brain Adolescent Brain The teenage brain is not just an adult brain with fewer miles on it. 6

Washington State Department of Social & Health Services – Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Transforming lives Adolescent Brain Adolescent Brain The teenage brain is not just an adult brain with fewer miles on it. 7

Washington State Department of Social & Health Services – Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Transforming lives The Good? The Bad? The Ugly? 8 Medical Marijuana Retail Marijuana Popular Culture Glamorizing the use Forms Marijuana is being consumed

Washington State Department of Social & Health Services – Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Transforming lives The Good?  Medical Marijuana Uses – Nausea and Vomiting (CINV) – HIV/AIDS (anorexia) – Pain (Neuropathy, Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis) – Multiple Sclerosis (Muscular Spasticity) – Seizures (Dravet Syndrome) 9

Washington State Department of Social & Health Services – Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Transforming lives The Good?......Cont.  Medical Marijuana Patients Profile and below29% % 51 and above32% Severe pain94% Muscle spasms13% Nausea10% Cancer3% Seizures2%

Washington State Department of Social & Health Services – Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Transforming lives The Good? AMA Statement: Medical Marijuana The AMA calls for further adequate and well- controlled studies of marijuana and related cannabinoids in patients who have serious conditions for which preclinical, anecdotal, or controlled evidence suggests possible efficacy and the application of such results to the understanding and treatment of disease. 11

Washington State Department of Social & Health Services – Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Transforming lives The Bad?  Marijuana use is gaining acceptance: – “As has been well documented, I smoked pot as a kid, and I view it as a bad habit and a vice, not very different from the cigarettes that I smoked as a young person up through a big chunk of my adult life. I don’t think it is more dangerous than alcohol," 12

Washington State Department of Social & Health Services – Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Transforming lives Marijuana is Popular in Our Culture

Washington State Department of Social & Health Services – Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Transforming lives The Bad?....Cont.  Not your parents weed!  Since 1972, the average THC content of marijuana has soared from less than 1% to an average of 13% today.  It’s not the same DRUG!!!!! 14

Washington State Department of Social & Health Services – Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Transforming lives The Ugly?  Marijuana is legal both Medicinally (I-692) and Recreationally (I-502)  Edibles, Edibles, Edibles!!!! 15

Washington State Department of Social & Health Services – Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Transforming lives The Ugly?  Electronic Smoking Devices 16

Washington State Department of Social & Health Services – Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Transforming lives Where do we go from here? 17

Washington State Department of Social & Health Services – Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Transforming lives Address the Real Problem Question Time:  Do you think that Marijuana is a problem?  If Marijuana was eradicated today, would that take care of a large portion of substance abuse in your community? 18

Washington State Department of Social & Health Services – Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Transforming lives Address the Real Problem  People take drugs because they want to change something about their lives. – To fit in – To escape or relax – To relieve boredom – To seem grown up – To rebel – To experiment – Misinformation  They think drugs are a solution. But eventually, the drugs become the problem. 19

Washington State Department of Social & Health Services – Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Transforming lives Perception of Approval 58.0% of Washington youth think their parents would not feel that it would be wrong, for them to have smoked marijuana at least once in the past 30 days. 34.3% of Washington youth feel that they would be seen as cool if they had smoked marijuana at least once in the past 30 days.

Washington State Department of Social & Health Services – Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Transforming lives What Can We Do  Ask your teen’s views  Be HONEST!!!  Discuss reasons not to abuse drugs  Consider media messages  Discuss ways to resist peer pressure  Be ready to discuss your own drug use Don’t be afraid that talking about drug use will put the ideas of using in your teen’s head. 21

Washington State Department of Social & Health Services – Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Transforming lives What Can We Do  Know your teen’s activities  Establish rules and consequences  Know your kid’s friends  Provide support  Set a good example 22

Washington State Department of Social & Health Services – Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Transforming lives Questions?  Scott McCarty, Prevention Systems Project Manager, Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery – –