1. Marijuana Padlet – What You Need to Know Summary
Padlet Link:

2. Marijuana’s Effect on the Brain
It is physically & mentally (psychologically) addictive
Marijuana causes amotivational syndrome making the user unable to motivate themselves to achieve long-term goals.
It can have stimulant, depressant, & hallucinogenic effects on the brain and body
Stimulant Effect: Increased heart rate & blood pressure
Depressant Effect: Impaired judgment & decision-making; Slowed reaction time; Decreased memory, etc
Hallucinogen Effect: Thinking/seeing things that aren’t there or irrational thought process

3. Marijuana’s Effect on the Lungs
Anything that is smoked is harmful to your lungs
Smoking marijuana can lead to all of the same lung damage as smoking tobacco cigarettes since it also has a lot (up to 4 times more) carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) and tar
Examples: Chronic Bronchitis, Emphysema, Lung Cancer

4. THC Drug compound in marijuana plant that makes someone feel high
Provides NO medical benefit
THC content is continuously rising
1960’s –THC level = 1-4%
Today- THC level = anywhere between 7% - 40% (possibly even more!)
THC is fat soluble (stays stored in the body’s fat cells)
Remember – Organs such as the Brain, Lungs, Ovaries & Testicles are mainly fat cells/tissue

5. CBD Drug compound in marijuana plant that DOES have a medical benefit
NOT FDA approved so still not tested and verified to be safe & effective
The higher the THC content, the lower the CBD content (Increased THC = Decreased CBD which lowers the medical benefits of the drug)

6. Medical Marijuana
NOT used to CURE any illness but may help to reduce signs/symptoms
NO medical marijuana is FDA approved -- even if it is prescribed and given by a doctor!
NO marijuana is FDA approved to be safe or effective (medical, recreational, pills, oils, edibles – none of it!)

7. Edibles Since they are not FDA approved you cannot trust the label
You do not know how much THC is actually in the product
Marijuana edibles are appealing to kids because they look like regular food/candy products
There have been many cases of dangerous accidental ingestion

8. Marijuana - Teen Use
Any damage done to the teen brain is more likely to be permanent (irreversible) since it is still developing & is less resilient than the fully-developed adult brain
Marijuana is a Gateway Drug
This means that it is more likely that the user will move on to use more dangerous and addictive drugs.
Not every who uses marijuana goes on to harder drugs, but nearly everyone who goes on to harder drugs started with marijuana.

9. One More Thing to Know & Consider:
Marijuana can be laced with other substances; including more dangerous & addictive drugs
Some marijuana is laced with acid (LSD), PCP, heroin, or even chemicals like formaldehyde.
This is done to achieve “return customers” and increase the “high” for customers who have developed tolerance.