9781422276952

chapter 1 The Effects of Marijuana on the Mental Health of Teens There is no doubt that using marijuana can negatively affect a person’s mental and emotional state. Despite its growing popularity and legalization in some states in the United States and other countries, marijuana can also be addictive. The risk of mental addiction is one of the most important things to consider, even when using marijuana as an adult. Because the teen brain is still growing, it is unsafe for teens to use marijuana or be exposed to secondhand smoke from marijuana at any time. All states and other countries have passed marijuana laws designed to keep young people away from marijuana.

What are the harmful mental effects of mari- juana use, and what can teens learn about marijuana that can help them avoid marijuana use? This chapter answers these questions and focuses on the mental health effects of marijuana on teens.

Colorado was the first state in the U.S. to legalize marijuana for recreational use, but it is illegal for people under age twenty-one to buy, have, or use it.

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