Pubdate: Sun, 02 Jun 2013
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)
Copyright: 2013 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc
Contact:  http://www.philly.com/inquirer/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/340
Author: Gary A. Emmett
Note: Dr. Gary A. Emmett is a pediatrics professor at Thomas 
Jefferson University.

FACTS ON EARLY MARIJUANA USE

Changes in Brain Structure, Lower Iq, Memory Disorders Are Among the Effects.

We often hear that marijuana isn't that dangerous. In reality, 
regular use of marijuana may permanently damage a teen's developing 
brain, and could lead to a reduction in IQ, other drug use, and 
mental health issues.

I heard a frightening lecture by Sharon Levy of Children's Hospital 
Boston about the effect of marijuana on the developing brain last 
month at the Pediatric Academic Societies meeting in Washington, DC.

Smoking marijuana has all the known side effects of smoking tobacco 
except nicotine addiction. So a heavy and early smoker of marijuana 
raises the odds of getting chronic lung disease and cancer. But the 
active ingredients in marijuana are dozens of cannabinoids, of which 
the best known is THC. The active ingredient of marijuana 15 years 
ago was 4 percent of the total breathed in, but through careful 
crossbreeding, cultivators have achieved an average of 9 percent or 
more. Street marijuana is now more than twice as strong as it was 15 years ago.

The cannabinoids affect the brain's pleasure centers causing 
relaxation followed by excitation, but because these active drugs are 
fat-soluble (get into body fat), the relaxation extends for a longer 
time, and when the subsequent excitation (acting hyperactively) 
occurs, the teen does not relate it to using the drug.

One problem with the legalization of marijuana is that it will become 
even more available to younger smokers, just as the legalization of 
alcohol led to wider use in teens.

Other effects of early marijuana use are:

Early marijuana users have less white matter in their brains and the 
total size of the brain is smaller. White matter affects how the brain learns.

There are fewer connections of one brain cell to another, resulting 
in slowing thinking

Early use is strongly linked to schizophrenia and other psychotic and 
anxiety disorders.

Heavy and/or prolonged use leads to lower IQ's and serious memory disorders.

A final note: smoking marijuana leads to poor driving. Teens drive 
poorly even when not intoxicated. Marijuana stays in the urine for up 
to 3 weeks. If your teen has an accident (very common) and has 
marijuana in the urine, he or she may be convicted of driving while 
intoxicated whether they were intoxicated or not.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom