Seven Reasons Marijuana is Dangerous

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.

Minnesota Department of Health Issues Warning About High-Dose THC Products

Last month the Minnesota Department of Health issued a warning about illegal marijuana products containing high-doses of THC.

In a statement, public health officials wrote,

Illegal, high-dose hemp-derived products may contain hundreds of milligrams of THC per serving, and with multiple servings in a package, this can add up to thousands of milligrams of THC – far above the legal limit . . . These products are produced by a variety of manufacturers and if consumed may lead to adverse health effects, such as becoming unresponsive, seizures, or psychotic episodes.

Edibles and other substances containing high doses of THC are sometimes manufactured from industrial hemp — or cannabis.

The health department’s statement noted that illegal, high-THC products were found  in 39% of hemp retailers inspected in the state.

Marijuana edibles containing high levels of THC pose a serious risk. According to the Minnesota Health Department, they can cause:

  • Unresponsiveness.
  • Extreme anxiety or panic attacks.
  • Psychotic episodes (hallucinations, delusions or a loss of personal identity).
  • An increase in heart rate, chest pain or heart attack.
  • Sudden high blood pressure with headache.
  • Uncontrollable shaking or seizures.
  • Decreased judgment, perception and coordination that can lead to injuries.
  • Consumers are advised to contact their health care provider if they become ill or begin suffering symptoms of THC overdose after consuming a high-dose cannabinoid product.

Nationwide, marijuana products like these — including gummies, candies, and other edibles containing THC — are sending kids to the emergency room.

In 2022 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released a strong warning highlighting five serious health risks associated with Delta-8 THC manufactured from industrial hemp products. Likewise, researchers at the Oregon Health and Sciences University found poison center calls due to children exposed to marijuana rose 245% from 2000 – 2020.

Last summer the Centers for Disease Control released a report showing the number of children, teens, and young adults sent to the emergency room due to marijuana exposure increased from 2019 to 2022. The report revealed that marijuana-related ER visits surged more than 200% among children under age 11 during that time.

These drugs are dangerous — especially for children. That’s part of the reason Arkansas has taken steps to prohibit THC products made from hemp. 

Last year the Arkansas Legislature passed Act 629 by Sen. Tyler Dees (R – Siloam Springs) and Rep. Jimmy Gazaway (R – Paragould). This good law prevents Delta-8 THC and other THC varieties from being manufactured and sold via industrial hemp — or cannabis — in Arkansas. However, a group of companies that profit from Delta-8 THC are suing to block Act 629 in federal court.

Without laws prohibiting gummies, candies, and other edibles made from industrial hemp and marijuana, these drugs could send more children to the E.R. in Arkansas.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.