Teen Marijuana Use

Teen Marijuana Use = Problems Later in Life:

        In recent research, studies have found that “Teens who use marijuana daily before age 17 are more than 60% less likely to get their high school diploma than those who never used pot…”(1) Marijuana is an illegal drug also known as, “weed” and “pot”. It is a cannabis plant, and is “the most commonly used illegal drug in the world”(2). Marijuana can affect the brain in so many ways. Especially since the teenage brain is still developing. There are many consequences that come with using marijuana as a teenager. For example, “heavy marijuana use impairs teenagers’ ability to retain information and concentrate.”(3) The studies show that heavy usage of marijuana can later lead into depression. Actually, studies have proven that daily users of marijuana are seven times more likely to attempt suicide. (1) Marijuana can also make the person using make poor decisions. The mind is not in its right state and cannot think properly. There are several different reasons as to why teenagers start using marijuana. Peer pressure plays a major role in why teenagers begin to start using the drug. They see their friends doing it and think its “cool”.  Another reason teenagers start using is because they want to escape their problems, whether it is school, family or friends, teenagers believe that the drug is okay to deal with their problems. This is an issue in this day in age because teenagers shouldn’t have to turn to drugs to make them feel better. Especially when marijuana is also known as a depressant drug and leaves the person using more depressed than they were before.  This current issue is very important. Teenagers need to know the outcomes that come later in life when using marijuana.  Daily users have become more dependent on marijuana than people who use it once in awhile.  This is an issue. Teenagers should not be dependent on any kind of drug at such a young age. Marijuana can affect a teenager’s life right from the minute they start using.