What's the Deal With Cannabis?

There’s a big difference between an adult brain and a teen brain. The brain is still developing until age 25. Research shows that using cannabis even once can affect brain development—and could result in a lower IQ and impaired memory and concentration, says Joseph Lee, M.D., of the Hazelden Betty Ford treatment centers. When teens smoke cannabis regularly, it increases their risk for depression too.

When you vape cannabis, you’re inhaling more than just THC. Scientists have discovered that the mist you inhale can contain dangerous chemicals and tiny metal particles that settle in your lungs, causing inflammation and making it hard to breathe. Investigators, who’ve been trying to solve the mystery of what’s made more than 2,000 people sick and killed at least 39 others since March 2019, think a likely culprit is vitamin E acetate, a thickener that illegal sellers add to THC-laced cartridges.

No. Edibles—foods infused with cannabis—come with their own serious risk: THC overconsumption. (Edibles have even been blamed in some deaths!) The reason? Even if the cannabis comes from an official store (called a dispensary) and you know how much you’re eating, you don’t know how that amount will affect you. Once someone eats cannabis, it can take a long time to feel it, which often leads the person to eat even more. Then the drug’s effects—from nausea to hallucinations—hit all at once, says Dr. Lee. 

Just because something is legal doesn’t mean it’s good for you (case in point: alcohol and cigarettes). Even in the 33 states where it’s legal to buy, sell, and use cannabis if you’re 21 or older, there are a lot of restrictions around buying, selling, and using it. These rules—like having to purchase products from dispensaries— are designed to help keep people safe. 

CBD is another name for cannabidiol, the second-most-prevalent chemical found in cannabis plants. It doesn’t have the mind-altering and addictive properties of THC (though it’s still illegal for anyone under 21 to purchase it). Some people say CBD-only products make them feel calmer or help with pain, but many doctors argue that not enough research has been done to prove CBD products are effective. We do know that cannabidiol can work as medicine for some people who have seizures.

The fact that cannabis can harm your brain and lungs is very real (and scary). Doctors are alarmed that THC levels in cannabis keep increasing. For example, before the 1990s, a flower (what people smoke in a joint) contained about 2 percent THC, but today, some might have as much as 28 percent. In concentrated liquid or wax form, THC levels can be dangerously high.

“I’m not into it” is fine, but if you feel like you need a better excuse, blame your parents (“If they ever find out, I’ll be grounded forever”), your schoolwork, or some other commitment (“I need to be 100 percent for my paper/game/whatever”). If you’re talking to someone you know well, you might want to share that you’re worried about how it might mess with your body and brain— just don’t turn it into a lecture.

Yes. Someone high on cannabis may look totally fine, but the chemicals in the drug slow down motor coordination and cloud judgment—both of which can seriously impair someone’s driving ability.