Pubdate: Mon, 27 Jan 2014 Source: Tulsa World (OK) Copyright: 2014 World Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.tulsaworld.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/463 Author: Bill Sherman Page: D3 LEGAL POT GETS PARENTS TO PREP FOR 'THE TALK' "What's that smell?" a 10-year-old girl asked her mother as they walked toward a Colorado rec center. That question launched the first of what probably will be many conversations that mother will have with her daughter about marijuana, now legal in Colorado. The mother began to research what was being written about how to talk to kids about pot, and she found very little material, presumably because adults are still figuring it out. She did find one article, written by Suzanne S. Brown in the Denver Post, that addressed some of the questions teens are asking about pot. Here are some excerpts: Pot isn't addictive, is it? Dr. Paula Riggs, director of the Division of Substance Dependence at the University of Colorado Denver's School of Psychiatry, said the drug has a similar effect on the brain as other drugs of abuse, like heroin and cocaine, and that no scientist in the field would have any qualms about calling it addictive. Isn't it basically harmless? Medical professionals say marijuana is bad for brain development, which continues into the 20s. Riggs cited a study that showed people who used regularly as teens and young adults permanently shaved six points off of their IQ scores. Sheryl Ziegler, a counseling psychologist who runs The Child & Family Therapy Center in Denver, said teens who use pot habitually have problems with motivation, attention and learning. Pot also increases the rates at which people engage in other risky behaviors, like sex, drinking and taking other drugs. Isn't it safer to drive while high on pot than on alcohol? Ziegler said THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, stays in the system longer than alcohol and impairs reaction time, memory and decision-making. My parents smoked it - why shouldn't I? Ziegler said parents fear admitting they used pot will give their children license to use it. She said parents must decide how much to reveal about their past, but she encourages being open and engaged with kids. She said today's pot is stronger. Pot doesn't cause cancer, does it? A Mayo Clinic report found that marijuana smoke has 50 to 70 percent more carcinogens than tobacco smoke, and it is commonly inhaled deeper and held longer than tobacco smoke. Dr. Christian Thurstone, who runs a teen drug abuse program at Denver Health, said avoiding pot is the best policy. He says parents should encourage activities that build self-esteem, like sports, debate or youth group. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt