Marijuana and the Teen Brain

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re aware of the growing legalization of marijuana and its acceptance for recreational use. According the 2021 Monitoring the Future Survey, thirty point five percent of high school seniors report using marijuana in the last year. Researchers have found that teenagers who only smoke marijuana occasionally, are just as likely to develop schizophrenia as those who smoke marijuana daily. Smoking the drug at these lower frequencies of less than twice a week, has the same six-fold increased risk of getting the mental disorder as those are smoking marijuana on a daily basis. Parents, marijuana is not a harmless neutral drug. Your teenagers are in a period of development where their brains are not fully formed until they reach their mid-20’s. Along with the multitude of spiritual, moral, and legal issues associated with marijuana abuse, there are physical issues as well.