Statistics from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2010 notes the following: 1) 1.7 million Americans over age 12 struggle with marijuana abuse or dependence, 2) 9% of people who try marijuana develop abuse or dependence, and 3) 17% of people who try marijuana develop abuse or dependence if they try it before age 18. What are the Risks to Marijuana Use? 1) Availability – 81% of youth in treatment reported they knew someone with a medical marijuna license, 2) 49% of these youth obtained marijuana from someone with a medicatl marijuana license; 3) lowered cognition, anxiety, accidents, risky sex, aggression, brain structure changes, school drop out and addiction.

These are some common effects you might see if a young person is using marijuana. This list is from the NIDA Research Report released in September 2012.  1) Euphoria; 2) Relaxation; 3) Heightened sensory perception; 4) Altered perception of time; 5) Increased appetite; 6) sleepy or depressed; 7) sometimes anxiety, fear, panic, distrust; 8)  paranoia and psychosis; 9) lowered cognition, anxiety, accidents, risky sex, aggression, brain structure changes, school drop out and addition.