# data[].attributes.headline
Marijuana can trigger allergic reactions

# data[].attributes.subject
Marijuana can trigger allergic reactions

# data[].attributes.headline
42% of the people in the U.S. have tried marijuana at least once

# data[].attributes.subject
42% of the people in the U.S. have tried marijuana at least once

# data[].attributes.headline
Marijuana can be made in candy,brownies etc...

# data[].attributes.subject
Marijuana can be made in candy,brownies etc...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Most people who misuse prescription drugs get them from family, friends, and acquaintances. You can make a difference by keeping track of the medicine you have, by rethinking where and how you keep your medications in your home, and by safely disposing of any unused medications.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Where Families Find Answers on Substance Use | Partnership for Drug-Free Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Get in the Right Frame of Mind

Whether planning to discuss marijuana or other substance use, the following are keys to setting the stage for an effective conversation:

Keep an open mind. When a child feels judged or condemned, they will be less receptive to the message. Try to project objectivity and openness.

Put yourself in your kid's shoes. How would you prefer to be addressed when speaking about a difficult topic? Try to remember how you felt as a teen.

Be clear about your goals. Know what you want to get from the conversation.

Be calm and relaxed. Approaching the conversation with anger or panic will make it harder to achieve your goals.

Be positive. Approaching the situation with shame, anger or scare tactics will be counter-productive. Aim for curious, respectful and understanding.

Don't lecture. It will most likely lead to shutting down, tuning you out, anger or worse.

Find a comfortable setting. Announcing a sit-down meeting will likely be met with resistance, while a more spontaneous, casual approach will lower anxiety (including your own).

Be aware of body language. Finger-pointing and crossed arms are closed gestures, while uncrossed legs and a relaxed posture are more open.

What Do I Say?

Unfortunately, there isn't a script for talking about marijuana, but there are some common arguments and questions that you're likely to hear - and suggestions for how to respond.

They say: "I'm only doing it once in awhile on weekends, so it's not a big deal."
You could say: "What would make it feel like a big deal to you?"
Why this works: This gets them to think about the future, and what their boundaries are. It will give you insight into what's important to him or her. If use progresses and some of these boundaries are crossed, you can bring that up at a later date.

They say: "Would you rather I drink alcohol? Weed is so much safer."
You could say: "Honestly, I don't want you doing anything that can harm you. I'm interested in knowing why you think weed is safer than alcohol."
Why this works: This reminds your child that you care about his or her well-being. Expressing genuine curiosity about their thought process is going to help them open up.

Bottom Line:

The drug landscape will continue to change with the times, but the one thing that will remain constant is the need for support and information when raising a child. You're the most important, and most powerful influence in your child's life. We're here to help you along the way.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Talk about Marijuana with Your Son or Daughter

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Whether planning to discuss marijuana or other substance use, the following are keys to setting the stage for an effective conversation: Keep an open mind. When a child feels judged or condemned, they will be less receptive to the message. Try to project objectivity and openness. Put yourself in your kid's shoes.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Marijuana is at the center of a lot of debate, and there's often exaggerated and even false claims made by those on each of the opposing sides. What matters is understanding how it can impact you as a teen, and that information can be hard to find in the middle of so much hype. Laws are changing, and there's potential for new medical treatments, but these don't erase the risks.

AKA

Blunt, dope, ganja, grass, herb, joint, bud, Mary Jane, pot, reefer, green, trees, smoke, skunk, weed, hash, tea, chronic, loud

What is it?

A green and brown mix of dried flowers, stems, seeds and leaves from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. The main active chemical is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which moves quickly through the bloodstream to the brain and other organs throughout the body.

The Risks

THC acts on specific targets in the brain, called cannabinoid receptors. Ordinarily, these receptors are activated by brain chemicals similar to THC that are part of a neural communication system, and play an important role in brain development and function. Marijuana over activates this system, causing impaired coordination, difficulty with thinking and problem solving, and disrupted learning and memory.

Anything that impairs coordination and judgment, which marijuana does, increases a driver's risk of being in an accident. And when used in conjunction with alcohol, the combined result is worse than either substance alone.

Your brain goes through significant development during your teen and young adult years, and marijuana's effects on the developing brain create risks unique to that time period. Following marijuana use, a teen's decrease in cognitive abilities can last much longer than an adult's, as long as several weeks since last use. With regular use (daily or nearly daily), the alterations to the brain caused by marijuana become prolonged by frequent recurrences, which can in-turn lead to lowered learning capabilities, a shortened attention span, and weakened verbal communication skills.

There is also an association between regular and prolonged marijuana use and mental illness. A link has been demonstrated with later development of psychosis, and rates increase for those who start young. Associations have also been found with other mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts among adolescents. It's important to note that the nature of these links is still unclear. More research is needed to better understand whether there is only correlation, or whether causality may exist as well.

Long-Term Effects

Marijuana, just like any other drug, can be addictive. It affects the brain's reward system in the same way as all other drugs of addiction - and the likelihood of addiction increases considerably for those who start young. When marijuana use becomes daily, or nearly daily, alterations to the brain can actually lead to an inability to perceive any negative impact.

In addition to the possible effects on your cognitive development, marijuana smoke is an irritant to the lungs, and frequent marijuana smokers can develop many of the same respiratory problems as tobacco smokers, such as daily cough and phlegm production, more frequent acute chest illness, and a greater risk of chest infections.

The Bottom Line

Marijuana has the potential to cause problems in your daily life, or make existing problems worse. It limits your brain's effectiveness, slows down thinking, and impairs coordination and judgment. And while you're young and still maturing, marijuana could have a long-lasting, negative impact on your developing brain.

Sources

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Marijuana is at the center of a lot of debate, and there's often exaggerated and even false claims made by those on each of the opposing sides. What matters is understanding how it can impact you as a teen, and that information can be hard to find in the middle of so much hype.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Other Resources

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies in human volunteers conducted to answer specific health questions. Learn about the NIDA-sponsored clinical trials available to you

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Parents & Educators | National Institute on Drug Abuse

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Find science-based education materials and conversation starters to educate young people about drug use and health.

# data[].attributes.body
Inhaled (pipe)
smoked (joint)
Drinked
Eat

# data[].attributes.body
laughing/crying out of no where
Always hungry
Sleepy
Dizziness
Red eyes
Short term memory
Sore throat
Chest colds
Impact on lungs

# data[].attributes.body
Addiction
Overdose
accidents

# data[].attributes.body
Sometimes Illegal in some states

# data[].attributes.body
Hallucinogen: drugs that distort moods, thoughts, and senses

# data[].attributes.body
Pot
Bud
Grass
Herb
Mary Jane
Reefer
Skunk
Boom
Gangster
Kif
Chronic
Ganja

# data[].attributes.body
It comes from the indian hemp plant made 2,000 years ago 400 different types of chemicals to make it