Arm them with the truth.

If you’re not telling your
kid the truth about weed,
who is?

There’s a lot of buzz swirling around about cannabis. It’s in the news, dispensaries are popping up on every corner, kids at school are using it “to chill out.” Maybe you partake in it too. Your kid is hearing and seeing it all. But much of what they’re hearing is wrong.

Harmful side effects of misinformation about weed include damage to your child’s future.

  • Myth

    Weed isn’t addictive.

    Fact

    Weed dependence is real. The main active ingredient in marijuana, THC, stimulates brain cells to release the chemical serotonin, which creates a feeling of pleasure. The more you smoke, the more your brain is depleted of serotonin, leading people to use weed over and over to feel good again, or to even feel normal. Research shows that about 1 in 6 teens who repeatedly use marijuana become dependent.

  • Myth

    Weed helps you take the
    edge off.

    Fact

    Cannabis use has been linked to a range of mental health problems in teens, including depression and anxiety. Psychosis has also been seen in teens with a family history of mental disorders.

  • Myth

    It’s not as dangerous as drinking alcohol.

    Fact

    Weed slows reaction times and decreases the ability to concentrate. Driving while high doubles a person’s risk of getting into an accident.

  • Myth

    It’s pretty much legal in NM, so it’s not a big deal.

    Fact

    Legal recreational marijuana doesn’t apply to minors (under age 21), and still has legal consequences. A Minor in Possession (MIP) comes with fines and can negatively affect your child’s opportunities for scholarships.

  • Myth

    Weed is a natural medicine, so it’s good for you.

    Fact

    Like any drug, cannabis contains chemicals that affect a person’s brain. The brains of individuals under the age of 25 are still developing. Using cannabis can slow mental development in adolescents, lead to poor performance in school, and increases a teen’s likelihood of dropping out of school.

  • Myth

    Doctors prescribe cannabis to kids. Doesn’t that make it safe?

    Fact

    Cannabis naturally contains two widely used chemicals, THC and CBD. THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) is the psychoactive compound that produces a ‘high’ sensation. CBD (Cannabidiol) has no intoxicating or psychoactive properties and is used to treat epilepsy, pain and inflammation, PTSD and anxiety, multiple sclerosis, and other disorders. Adding THC into a child’s system causes nerve connections to form erratically and imperfectly, permanently damaging the brain, and is illegal to prescribe to a child in all 50 states.