Marijuana | National Institute on Drug Abuse

Marijuana | National Institute on Drug Abuse

HHS HealthBeat (January 3, 2013)

Teens and marijuana

Take the Next Step The Effects of Marijuana

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.
What teenagers have been saying about marijuana recently is worrying experts in the field. The 2012 Monitoring the Future survey of eighth, 10^th and 12^th graders reports continued high use of the drug, along with a drop in the teens’ perception of its potential harm. At the 12^th grade level, for instance, only 44 percent saw regular use as harmful.
Researcher Lloyd Johnston of the University of Michigan, who leads the study, gives 12^th graders as an example:
“If you’re looking at a class of 30 kids, two of them are heavy pot smokers, on average. And given the increasing information about the consequences of that – including dependence, including brain damage, including the effect on IQ – that is really of concern.”
The study is supported by the National Institutes of Health.
Learn more at healthfinder.gov.
HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: January 3, 2013

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Brief Description

Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the U.S. It is made up of dried parts of the Cannabis sativa hemp plant.

Street Names

Pot, ganga, weed, grass, 420

Effects

Short-term effects of marijuana use include euphoria, distorted perceptions, memory impairment, and difficulty thinking and solving problems.

Statistics and Trends

In 2009, 28.5 million Americans age 12 and older had abused marijuana at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. Source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration Web Site). The NIDA-funded 2010 Monitoring the Future Study showed that 13.7% of 8th graders, 27.5% of 10th graders, and 34.8% of 12th graders had abused marijuana at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. Source: Monitoring the Future (University of Michigan Web Site).

Latest Science

• Message from the NIDA Director - Marijuana’s Lasting Effects on the Brain, (September 2012)

Related Publications

Marijuana (DrugFacts)

Revised December 2012.
Offers facts about marijuana, including how it is used, its effects on the brain and overall health, treatment options, and the potential of marijuana as a therapy for various health problems. En Español

Marijuana (Topics in Brief)

Revised December 2011.
Provides a brief update on the research on marijuana use, including its health effects, the potential for addiction, treatment, and marijuana in medicine.

Marijuana: Facts for Teens

Published April 2001. Revised March 2011.
Presented in question-and-answer format and targeted to teens, provides facts about marijuana and its potential harmful effects. En Español

Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know

Published April 2001. Revised March 2011.
Brochure, in question-and-answer format, that provides facts about marijuana for parents and offers tips for talking with their children about the drug and its potential harmful effects. En Español

Marijuana Abuse (Research Reports)

Published October 2002. Revised September 2010.
Explores the latest research on marijuana, including the scope of marijuana use in the U.S., health consequences, its effects on every-day activities, available treatments. En Español

Is Marijuana Medicine? (DrugFacts)

Published July 2012.
Offers facts about marijuana's viability as a legal medical treatment. En Español

Marijuana (Mind Over Matter)

Published January 1997.
Explains how THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, causes changes in the brain that affect memory, emotions, balance, and judgment. En Español

View more related publications

Related NIDA Notes Articles

• Adolescent Smoking and Drinking at Historic Lows (July 2012)
• Elevated Rates of Drug Abuse Continue for Second Year (June 2012)
• Tobacco Smokers Have High Probability of Transition to Dependence (April 2012)
• Home Visits by Nurses to Low-Income First-Time Mothers Yield Enduring Benefits (April 2012)
• Program Helps Troubled Boys Reduce Substance Abuse (December 2011)
• Individual Differences in Decisionmaking Style May Predict Teen Problems (December 2011)
• Brain Responds to Marijuana Cues in Familiar Manner (March 2011)
• Teenage Marijuana Use Is on the Rise (March 2011)
• Physical Activity May Prevent Substance Abuse (March 2011)
• Drug Abuse at Highest Level in Nearly a Decade (December 2010)

View more related NIDA Notes

Related News Releases

• Regular marijuana use by teens continues to be a concern (December 2012)
• NIDA creates easy-to-read website on drug abuse (February 2012)
• Cigarette and alcohol use at historic low among teens (December 2011)
• Teen marijuana use increases, especially among eighth-graders (December 2010)

Related Resources

• Marijuana Lesson Kit - A kit to educate teenage students about the health consequences of improper prescription drug use. The kit includes enough copies for 30 students.
  Order Individual Publications:
  • Marijuana: Facts for Teens
  • Marijuana: Download the Facts Poster (Teaching Guide)
  • Heads Up: Real News About Drugs and Your Body- Year 11-12 Compilation for Students
  • Heads Up: Real News About Drugs and Your Body- Year 11-12 Compilation for Teachers
• Marijuana’s Lasting Effects on the Brain, (Message from the NIDA Director, September 2012)
• NIDA for Teens: Marijuana

Other Resources

• MEDLINEplus Health Information on Drug Abuse - National Library of Medicine, NIH
• www.abovetheinfluence.com - Office of National Drug Control Policy
• healthfinder.gov - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services