Marijuana

Recent decriminalization and discussions of legalization of marijuana in Vermont have caused a great deal of confusion for both parents and teens. If you are reading this page, chances are you are looking for facts, ways to support your teen, or maybe you're concerned about a teen in your life who may be considering using or who you suspect is currently using.

According to the most recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey 20% of CVU students rode with a driver who had been smoking marijuana during the past 30 day, and that 27% of 11th graders and 33% of 12th graders have used marijuana in the last 30 days. Research is clear, heavy marijuana use by teens is linked to: lower grades and exam scores, students who are less likely to enroll in college, are less likely to graduate from HS or college, have lower satisfaction with life, are more likely to earn a lower income, and are more likely to be unemployed.

You have an opportunity to have a real conversation with your teen about an important health topic. You want your child to share what they know, what their thoughts and opinions are, and what their friends are doing. Please listen and then express your opinions, knowledge and concerns for their safety. The ultimate goal is to keep our kids safe, and teach them how to have fun and relax without turning to a substance that may have a real impact on their health and learning.

Learn About the Effects of Marijuana on Growing Children

Frequent marijuana use can affect the ways developing brains grow. And brains don’t finish developing until a person’s mid-twenties! For young people, marijuana is NOT harmless. As a parent, it’s important to let your child know the risks that come with using marijuana.

Using marijuana can be harmful to your child’s development. One of the best ways to prevent your child from using is by simply talking to them. Parents are the number one influence on their children’s behavior. There’s never going to be a perfect time to talk to your child about marijuana, but it’s an important conversation to have. It’s up to you to start that dialogue.

Having conversations with supportive adults makes young people much, much less likely to start using marijuana or other substances. These tricky conversations build trust, give you insight into what’s going on in your child’s life, and improve outcomes for your child.

Legalization means it’s more important now than ever to talk to your children. Find out what you should know here Talk to Your Child About Marijuana

Download this free kit What you need to know to talk with your teen about marijuana

Learn more about how to protect your child and take action from ParentUp at parentupvt.org

What Parents
Want to KNow

What TeenS
want to know
(from parents)

Why Do young people use?

Marijuana is Natural.
How can it hurt me?

Youth start using marijuana for many reasons. Curiosity and the desire to fit in are common ones. Some teens have friends who use drugs and urge them to do the same. Those who have already begun to smoke cigarettes or use alcohol—or both—are at heightened risk for marijuana use as well.
For some, drug use begins as a means of coping, but in fact, being high can be a way of simply avoiding the problems and challenges of growing up. Research also suggests that family members’ use of alcohol and drugs plays a strong role in whether children/teens start using drugs.

How do I prevent my teen
from using?

There is no magic bullet for preventing teen drug use. Research shows parents have a big influence on their teens decisions not to use, even when it doesn’t seem that way! So talk openly with your children and stay actively engaged in their lives.

Start talking early and often. Talk to your child BEFORE you suspect they are using the drug. Studies show that youth are most likely to initiate marijuana use between the ages of 13 and 15 - and during this time YOU have the most influence over their behavior.
Before you talk to your teen, get the facts and know the lingo. You don't have to know it all, but be sure you're a credible and reliable source of information.
If you think your teen has been using marijuana, ask them about it, don't wait! Kids say that losing their parents' respect and trust are the most important reasons not to use drugs.
Help your teen to understand ALL of the consequences of marijuana use - both physical and legal.

Lots of teens ask this question, and its a good one!
People (not just teens) often think that substances found in nature are automatically safer than chemicals that are made in a laboratory or a factory. It’s not that simple, unfortunately. Lots of beneficial substances are human made (medicines, for example), and lots of harmful ones come straight from the earth.

The research is clear, marijuana use interferes with thinking and memory, it can lower your IQ if you smoke it regularly in your teen years, and—as a result of these and other things—it can set you up to miss achieving your full potential in life.

did you ever use marijuana?

At one point or another, most parents are asked this question. How you chose to answer it is up to you.
However, when talking to your kids about drugs, remember: this is about them. When answering, set the expectation of a no-use norm. be clear:

that you don't support their use
that you care about their happiness and wellbeing and
that you always want them to be the most healthy version of themselves as possible.

Other things to consider when deciding how and what to say:

The potency of marijuana has increased five-fold over the last three decades.
1 in 10 people who try marijuana becomes addicted to it, developing a dependence that produces withdrawal and cravings. If marijuana use starts in adolescence, the chances of addiction are 1 in 6.
Marijuana use directly affects the brain, specifically the parts of the brain responsible for memory, learning, attention and reaction time. These effects can last up to 28 days after abstinence from use of the drug.