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Talking to Your Child About Marijuana By Madeline Schroeder Rapidly, marijuana is becoming more and more accepted in today’s world. In Colorado it is legal to possess marijuana, and as of January 1, legal for adults 21 and older to buy retail marijuana. But, there’s a good chance people younger than 21 may be exposed to the drug. According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), a 2013 study shows teen marijuana use is at its highest in 30 years, and teens are more likely to use marijuana than tobacco. As the attitude shifts toward “marijuana is no big deal,” parents face new challenges expressing the risks to
their children. AACAP advises talking to your child when he or she is in elementary or middle school in an open and honest way: - Listen, pay attention and do not interrupt - Avoid making angry or negative comments - Ask your child to give examples of the effects of marijuana - Offer information about the risks and effects To help discuss with your child the effects of marijuana, the graphic below shows what happens in the body when you consume marijuana.
What Happens When You Consume Marijuana THC is the main ingredient in marijuana and responsible for most of its effects. The content and potency controls its effect. Sometimes it can be laced with other drugs, which can cause dangerous effects. When marijuana is smoked, effects begin almost immediately and can last 1 to 3 hours. Effects from marijuana consumed in food can appear later (30 minutes to an hour) but lasts longer (about 4 hours). However, these effects vary because there is little quality control for marijuana products. For example, unlike 400 milligrams of Ibuprofen that is the same everywhere no matter where it is purchased, THC content is not the same everywhere. The amount of THC varies from place to place, therefore the effects differ as well. How marijuana will affect an individual cannot be predicted.
Blood vessels in the eyes expand, making them red.
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After inhaling, there is burning and stinging in the throat and mouth, often followed by a heavy cough.
Bronchial passages in the lungs relax and become enlarged. THC goes from the lungs into the bloodstream.
Brain cells release the chemial dopamine, which controls pleasure. This causes the euphoria or “high” feeling. It can cause a dreamlike state with little perception of time.
THC changes how the hippocampus in the brain (responsible for memory) processes information. It alters focus and judgment and affects the ability to form new memories so it can be hard to remember things that just happened.
Heart rate speeds up.
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Appetite increases, which is where the term “munchies” comes from. Medical marijuana can help treat nausea and appetite problems for people with cancer or HIV who have trouble eating or gaining weight.
Sensory perception increases (colors may seem brighter), which is why tie-dye clothing is associated with marijuana. Laughter increases, and a person may act silly for no reason. Lack of motivation often occurs, inspiring the coach potato image of stoners in movies. After “high” feeling subsides, sleepiness and sometimes feelings of depression hit.
Coordination, balance, posture and reaction time are altered. Learning, difficult tasks, sports and driving are affected. Driving after consuming marijuana can be very dangerous. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, after alcohol, THC in marijuana is the substance most commonly found in the blood of impaired drivers, fatally injured drivers, and motor vehicle crash victims. Pain is more bearable because the brain’s emotional state is altered. Medical marijuana can help people with chronic pain, like joint problems. Large doses of the drug may cause hallucinations, delusions and a loss of sense of personal identity. For some, marijuana reduces anxiety. For others, it can cause intense anxiety, fear, distrust or panic.
Long-term Effects of Marijuana Whether marijuana is addictive is debated, but there are known long-term effects for chronic users: - Poorer educational outcomes and job performance - Respiratory problems—chronic cough, bronchitis (respiratory disease where the mucus membrane is inflamed) - Risk of psychosis in vulnerable individuals
Infographic by Madeline Schroeder/Information from National Institute on Drug Abuse/Reviewed by the Adolescent Medicine Clinic at Children’s Hospital Colorado
February 2014 6 Stapleton Front Porch