For years we have educated Arkansans about the dangers of marijuana use. Below are seven examples of the harm that marijuana causes.
1. Heart and Lung Risk: Regular marijuana use has been associated with lung problems and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
2. Risk of Psychosis: Marijuana use has been linked time and time again to psychosis. The risk is especially true for those who use marijuana that is high in THC.
3. Drugged Driving: Marijuana can impair cognitive and motor skills, making it dangerous to drive. States that have legalized marijuana have seen increases in drugged driving and traffic injuries.
4. Harmful During Pregnancy: Studies show marijuana use during pregnancy can result in low birth weight and increased risk of long-term cognitive and behavioral problems for newborns. Research from California shows infants were 35% more likely to die within the first year of birth if their mothers used marijuana heavily.
5. Impaired Cognitive Function and Memory: Marijuana use can hurt cognitive function, memory, and attention, particularly among teenagers and young adults. Studies have shown that regular use of marijuana can lead to impaired cognitive abilities, hindering academic and professional performance.
6. Harmful for Children: Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the harm of marijuana. Poison center reports due to children exposed to marijuana rose 245% from 2000 – 2020, according to a 2022 study from Oregon Health and Sciences University.
7. Harmful to Teenagers and Young Adults: Legalization is tied to increased marijuana use among teenagers. Researchers have found marijuana use during adolescence is associated with an increased risk for psychiatric disorders and cognitive problems. A report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found a disturbing 46% increase in self-harm rates among men aged 21 to 39 in states where marijuana sales were legalized.
All of this underscores what we have said for years: Marijuana may be many things, but “harmless” simply is not one of them.
Articles on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.
