Having Trouble Seeing this Email? View as Webpage

Using marijuana during adolescence can result in damage to a teen's rapidly developing brain, and the younger a person starts using a substance like marijuana, the more likely they are to use other harmful substances later in life. Among youth using marijuana, many of them are using high potency products known to cause mental health problems and often leading to addiction in teens.

The good news? In Jefferson County, 86% of our teens are NOT using marijuana regularly, as shown in the poster created by local teens, below. Our teens need to know that not "everyone" uses marijuana.

Open Ended Questions About Marijuana

How to Start a Conversation About Marijuana

Talk to your teen about marijuana. Ask them their perception of it, and have they hard conversations about addiction, coping and risk.

Try asking a direct question that can't be answered with a simple "yes" or "no." For example:

• What worries you about marijuana messing with kids' brain development?
• How do you handle it when (or if) you see marijuana being used by teens your age?
• Why do you think people use marijuana?

How Marijuana Affects the Young Brain

A video about marijuana and the young brain (2:55)



Jodi Gilman, PhD, is the director of neuroscience at the Center for Addiction Medicine. Her research examines how marijuana affects the teen brain. Her team's research has shown that the level of memory decline from marijuana is dependent on the age at which a young person begins using. She notes that this is a matter of public health concern as marijuana use has been shown to affect learning and has been strongly linked to the development of psychotic disorder. Advances in Motion provides health care professionals with information about the latest breakthroughs, research and clinical advances from Massachusetts General Hospital.