Marijuana

Marijuana, which can also be called weed, pot, dope, or cannabis, is the dried flowers and leaves of the cannabis plant. Marijuana is a psychoactive drug that contains close to 500 chemicals, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a mind-altering compound that causes harmful health effects. People think that because marijuana is a plant, it can't be bad for them. But dangerous drugs like cocaine, heroin, and tobacco also come from plants and are "natural" like marijuana. Over the past few decades, the amount of THC in marijuana has steadily climbed; today’s marijuana has three times the concentration of THC compared to 25 years ago.

Approximately 1 in 10 people who use marijuana will become addicted. When they start before age 18, the rate of addiction rises to 1 in 6.

While rare, a marijuana overdose is still possible. Signs and symptoms include:

Extreme anxiety or panic attacks
Psychotic reactions in which someone loses touch with reality or becomes paranoid
Decreased judgment, perception, and coordination
A fast heart rate, chest pain, or heart attack
Uncontrollable shaking or seizures
Pale skin color
Unresponsiveness
Sudden high blood pressure with headache

DO NOT:

Allow the victim to "sleep it off."
Put the victim in a bath or shower.
Leave the victim alone.
Treat the victim with home remedies - they do not work and often delay potentially life-saving medical treatment.
Delay calling 911 to clean up the scene.

Call 911 immediately if you suspect someone is experiencing an overdose.*

*A Good Samaritan law (63 O.S. § 2-413.1) was enacted in Oklahoma to provide immunity, under certain circumstances, to individuals seeking medical attention for someone who has overdosed.

Although medical marijuana is legal in Oklahoma, that does not mean it is safe. Marijuana can have negative and long-term effects, including:

Brain health: Marijuana use at a young age can cause permanent IQ loss; these IQ points do not come back.

Mental health: Studies link marijuana use to depression, anxiety, suicide planning, and psychotic episodes. It is not known, however, if marijuana use is the cause of these conditions.

Athletic performance: Research shows that marijuana affects timing, movement, and coordination, which can harm athletic performance.

Driving: People who drive under the influence of marijuana experience slower reactions, lane weaving, decreased coordination, and difficulty reacting to signals and sounds on the road.

Baby’s health and development: Marijuana use during pregnancy may be associated with fetal growth restriction, premature birth, stillbirth, and problems with brain development. THC and other chemicals can also be passed from a mother to her baby through breast milk.

Daily life: Research shows that people who use marijuana are more likely to have relationship problems, worse educational outcomes, lower career achievement, and reduced life satisfaction than people who do not use marijuana.