It is National Drugs Facts Week, and the Novato Blue Ribbon Coalition wants to make sure people know about some of the differences in marijuana from “the old days” and what young people are running up against today.
For instance, did you know that there is a synthetic form of marijuana that is sold over the counter in some stores? Synthetic cannabis is created by spraying natural herbs with synthetic chemicals that, when consumed, allegedly mimic the effects of cannabis. It is often known by the brand names K2 and Spice. This drug can easyily send users to the emergency room, and has even caused death.
“We are seeing synthetic marijuana marketed in packages specifically for the young, to our teenagers, and to young adults,” said Bruce Goldberg who is with the San Francisco office of the Drug Enforcement Agency. “The purity, the strength, the side effects are all unknown.”
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The potency of THC (the main psychoactive ingredient in the marijuana plant) has multiplied well over 4 times since 1990. THC is also being added more frequently to food and beverages that may be attractive to kids who ingest the drug unknowingly. Things such as soda, candy and cookies that contain THC are becoming more popular for sale in many areas where it is allowed.
What the Coalition has identified that makes this a high priority issue, are prevalent attitudes that marijuana is harmless. While we are seeing reductions in teen use of alcohol and cigarettes, the opposite is true for marijuana. Results of the Monitoring the Futures survey in 2013 indicate that less than 40 percent of high school seniors nationwide said they think marijuana users risk harming themselves.
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Yet, what we know from research in animals and humans points to significant cognitive impairment and negative impacts on brain development, as well as patterns of addiction. It also affects measures of life satisfaction, success, and achievement when marijuana is used heavily, especially during adolescence. Recent studies are showing actual loss of IQ points over time with regular marijuana use.
In Novato, the rates of marijuana use for students participating in the California Healthy Kids survey are consistently higher than the state average. We clearly need to impress on young people, that while the effects of marijuana may be less immediate and less obvious than those of some other drugs, they are no less serious. It is important to steer clear of marijuana of any kind, especially while their brains are still forming all the way through to age 25.
If you would like more information about this topic or how to get involved in Coalition efforts, please visit our website: www.novatoblueribbon.org
