Marijuana is a psychoactive drug that comes from the Cannabis plant. It is used for medical or recreational purposes.

Health Risks 

Short-Term:

• Memory problems
• Anxiety
• Lowered reaction time
• Problems with coordination

Long-Term:

• Addiction
• Slower brain development
  • Specifically, marijuana affects the parts of the brain responsible for memory, learning, decision making, emotions, reaction time, attention, and coordination.
• Heart disease and stroke
  • Marijuana makes the heart beat faster
• Lung damage
• Anxiety and paranoia
• Potential Poisoning
  • Edibles, or food and drink products infused with marijuana and eaten, have some different risks than smoking marijuana, including a greater risk of poisoning. Unlike smoked marijuana, edibles can:
    • Take from 30 minutes to 2 hours to take effect. So some people eat too much, which can lead to poisoning and/or serious injury.
    • Cause effects that last longer than expected depending on the amount, the last food eaten, and medications or alcohol used at the same time.
    • Be very difficult to measure. The amount of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, is very difficult to measure and is often unknown in edible products. Many users can be caught off-guard by the strength and long-lasting effects of edibles.
    • It is also important to remember that marijuana affects children differently than adults. Since medical marijuana is legal in Arizona, children have accidentally eaten marijuana products that looked like candy and treats, which made them sick enough to need emergency medical care.

Treatment Options

• Behavioral Therapies