Facts & Risks
Educate Your Family on Dangers of Marijuana Use
Marijuana use comes with real risks that can impact a person’s health and life.
Whether marijuana is smoked, vaped, or eaten, there are adverse effects associated with use in any form.
Studies have found marijuana is an addictive, harmful, and mind altering drug. It over-activates parts of the brain and negatively affects brain development. Marijuana leads to physical health problems, mental health problems, and risk of addiction.
With the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana throughout the United States, marijuana potency has increased exponentially. Concentrates are not the traditional joint of the past. Concentrates are highly potent, THC-rich forms of marijuana that can be vaped, dabbed, and used in edibles.
Exposure to high levels of THC, the chemical in marijuana that causes impairment, increases the risks of physical dependence and addiction. Higher doses of THC are more likely to produce anxiety, agitation, paranoia, and psychosis.
Arizona Parents: Do you need tips on how to talk to your child about the new recreational marijuana laws? Download these talking tips today.

Surgeon General Advisory
– VADM Jerome Adams, the first Surgeon General Advisory on marijuana since 1982

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Almost 30% of teens have used marijuana - this is TOO many!
Latest Studies
Cannabis-Involved Traffic Injury Emergency Department Visits After Cannabis Legalization and Commercialization | JAMA | 9/6/2023
Key Points
Question Have cannabis-involved traffic injury emergency department visits changed after cannabis legalization and the subsequent commercialization of the cannabis retail market (ie, store and product expansion) in Ontario, Canada?
Findings In this cross-sectional study capturing 426 cannabis-involved traffic injury emergency department visits, annual rates of cannabis involvement increased by 475.3% over 13 years. After accounting for time trends, legalization with restrictions was not associated with increased cannabis involvement during traffic injury emergency department visits; however, market commercialization, which overlapped with the COVID-19 pandemic, was.
Meaning These findings suggest that cannabis-involved traffic injuries have increased over time and that the commercialization of cannabis markets may result in further increases.
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Prevalence of Cannabis Use Disorder and Reasons for Use Among Adults in a US State Where Recreational Cannabis Use Is Legal | JAMA | 8/29/2023
Key Points
Question What is the prevalence of cannabis use disorder (CUD) among primary care patients who use cannabis in a state with legal recreational cannabis use, and does prevalence differ by reason for use?
Findings In this cross-sectional study, weighted prevalence of any CUD did not vary by reason for cannabis use, whereas the prevalence of moderate to severe CUD did. Prevalence of moderate to severe CUD was higher in those who reported nonmedical use only or both medical and nonmedical use.
Meaning In this study, CUD was common among patients who use cannabis in a state with legal recreational cannabis use, with moderate to severe CUD most prevalent among patients with any nonmedical use.
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NIH-funded study in macaques suggests cannabis use during pregnancy may alter offspring DNA expression | NIH | 7/20/2023
Offspring of female nonhuman primates given a cannabis product during pregnancy had changes in their DNA expression like those seen in human children with autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to a small study funded by the National Institutes of Health. The changes involved addition of chemicals known as methyl groups to DNA, which switch genes on or off without changing their structure. The findings suggest that children whose mothers consume edibles or other products containing Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive substance found in cannabis, could experience permanent developmental changes.
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Recommendations for Reducing the Risk of Cannabis Use-Related Adverse Psychosis Outcomes: A Public Mental Health-Oriented Evidence Review | Taylor & Francis Group | 7/14/2023
Abstract
Objective: Cannabis use is increasingly normalized; psychosis is a major adverse health outcome. We reviewed evidence on cannabis use-related risk factors for psychosis outcomes at different stages toward recommendations for risk reduction by individuals involved in cannabis use.
Methods: We searched primary databases for pertinent literature/data 2016 onward, principally relying on reviews and high-quality studies which were narratively summarized and quality-graded; recommendations were developed by international expert consensus.
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Suicidality risk after using cannabis and cannabinoids: An umbrella review | Taylor & Francis Group | 7/10/2023
Abstract
The increasing prevalence and burden of suicide have led to numerous studies to identify its risk factors. Cannabis is the most common illicit substance detected in suicide victims’ toxicology tests. This study aims to identify and appraise systematic reviews investigating suicidality after using cannabis and cannabinoids. Seven databases and two registries were searched without restrictions for systematic reviews investigating cannabis effects on suicidality. AMSTAR-2 was used for quality assessment and corrected covered area and citation matrix were used to determine overlap. Twenty-five studies were included, of which 24 were on recreational use and one was on therapeutic use. Only three of the studies on recreational use reported no effect or inconsistent results. Evidence generally showed a positive association between cannabis use and suicidal ideation and attempt among the general population, military veterans, and bipolar or major depression patients. A bidirectional causal association between cannabis and suicidal ideation was also mentioned. Moreover, a younger age of initiation, long-term use, and heavy consumption were reported to be associated with even worse suicidal outcomes. On the contrary, current evidence indicates that the therapeutic cannabis is safe. In conclusion, the literature supports the cannabis-suicidality association in recreational use but considers cannabidiol safe for treatment. Further studies with quantitative and interventional approaches are recommended.
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Latest NEWS Commentary
ER visits for children sickened from marijuana surged during the pandemic | NBC | 7/13/2023
The number of young people consuming toxic levels of marijuana edibles or smoking pot to the point that they require emergency help shot up dramatically during the pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday.
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Experimental drug shows promise for marijuana addiction | NBC | 6/8/2023
Experts say the results from a small trial show promise for an experimental pill that could help treat cannabis use disorder, an addiction nearly 14 million Americans struggle with. This comes as 23 states have legalized recreational marijuana use, making it more widely available.
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Marijuana linked to mental health risks in young adults, growing evidence shows | NBC | 5/26/2023
Over the last decade of diagnosing countless young patients with new psychotic disorders, one striking result has stuck out for New York City psychiatrist Dr. Ryan Sultan.
“Of all the people I’ve diagnosed with a psychotic disorder,” he said, “I can’t think of a single one who wasn’t also positive for cannabis.”
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Cannabis use in first trimester has ‘significant’ harmful effects on a fetus | Popular Science | 5/16/2023
According to a small study, pregnant people using any form of cannabis should consider stopping due to potential harm to the fetus, even very early into pregnancy. The study published May 16 in the journal Frontiers in Pediatrics looked very closely at the first trimester of pregnancy and found a “significant” decrease in birth weight of about one-third of a pound.
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Psychosis, suicidal thoughts, scream-vomiting: Alarm sounded about high-potency THC products | Washington Times | 5/10/2023
Karen Randall, an emergency physician in Colorado, says “scromiting” cases were rare several years ago. Now she is seeing at least one per day.
Scromiting is shorthand for scream-vomiting, a condition that inflicts patients who use marijuana with high concentrations of tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, the psychoactive substance in cannabis.