Cannabis
Know the Facts
- Cannabis refers to all products derived from the cannabis plant, while the word marijuana refers specifically to parts or products from the plant that contain substantial amounts (more than 0.3%) of the mind-altering chemical tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, 2019)
- Marijuana is the most commonly used federally illegal drug in the United States (CDC, 2024)
- An estimated 19% of Americans (52.5 million people) used marijuana at least once in 2021 (CDC, 2024)
- On average, THC concentration in cannabis products has increased 3-fold between 1995 and 2014, from 4% to 12% (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2019)
- Use of high potency products is associated with greater risk of psychosis (Forti et al., 2019)
- High potency marijuana users show five times higher risk for symptom onset of cannabis use disorder (Arterberry et al., 2019)
- Cannabis-related emergency department visits in the United States have increased by more than 300% between 2006 (12.3 visits per 100,000 population) and 2018 (54.2 visits per 100,000) (Roehler et al., 2022)
Youth
- In 2022, 30.7% of United States 12th graders reported using marijuana in the past year and 6.3% reported using it daily in the past 30 days (CDC, 2024)
- In 2022, 6% of eight graders, 15% of 10th graders, and 21% of 12th graders reported vaping cannabis in the last year (CDC, 2024)
In the Beach Cities
- 8.5% of Beach Cities 11th graders reported vaping marijuana or THC in the past 30 days in 2023.
- 26.5% of Beach Cities 9th graders reported it is “very easy” or “fairly easy” to obtain marijuana
- Since 2018, the perception of risk/harm of occasional and daily use of marijuana has declined among Beach Cities 7th, 9th and 11th graders
Source: California Healthy Kids Survey, 2019 – 2024
Health Impacts of Cannabis Use
Dangers of Underage Cannabis Use
- Cannabis use interferes with brain development which can disrupt cognitive functions that are important for academic performance and activities such as driving and sports. These functions include:
- Learning and memory
- Pleasure and reward
- Motion and motor control
- Appetite
- Sleep
- Reproduction and fertility
Short-Term Adverse Effects
- THC overactivates certain brain cell receptors, resulting in effects such as:
- Altered senses
- Changes in mood
- Impaired body movement
- Difficulty with thinking and problem-solving
- Impaired memory and learning
- Overdose symptoms including:
- Difficulty breathing
- Lethargy
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Loss of coordination
Long-Term Effects
- Increased risk of mental health issues including:
- Depression
- Social anxiety
- Psychosis
- Schizophrenia
- Suicidal ideation or behavior
- Chronic bronchitis and injury to cell linings of the large airways. Symptoms include:
- Chronic cough
- Phlegm production
- Acute bronchitis
Sources: National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2020; CDC, 2021; SAMHSA, 2021
Cannabis and Youth Series
State of our Health: Cannabis and Youth
Cannabis and Youth: What Beach Cities Students Want Parents to Know
Cannabis and Youth: Influencing Factors in the Beach Cities
Cannabis and Youth: What Health Providers Want Parents to Know
Resources
- Visit www.bchd.org/resources for health-related information and referrals or call BCHD’s Assistance, Information and Referral Line at (310) 374-3426 and press option 1, Monday – Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Los Angeles County Department of Public Health: The Substance Abuse Prevention and Control program leads and facilitates the delivery of a full spectrum of prevention, treatment and recovery support services proven to reduce the impact of substance use, abuse and addiction in Los Angeles County.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Marijuana and Public Health: Teens
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: Marijuana – Facts Parents Need to Know
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Promoting and implementing prevention and early intervention strategies to reduce the impact of mental and substance use disorders in America’s communities.
- Children’s Hospital Colorado: Talking to Your Kids About Marijuana
Stay Connected
Sign up to get interesting news and updates delivered to your inbox.
