Cannabis Awareness
Cannabis: Legal for Adults, but NOT Safe for Children
It's a fact: 84% of Connecticut teens choose not to use cannabis.
Cannabis is a mind-altering substance that can pose serious risks for children, teens, and young adults. Because the brain continues to develop into the mid-20s, exposure to cannabis during adolescence can interfere with normal brain development and functioning.
As cannabis has become legal for adults and more widely available in high-potency forms, understanding the risks for young people is more important than ever. Early cannabis use increases the likelihood of dependence and can affect thinking, attention, memory, coordination, and motivation. These impacts may make it harder for youth to succeed in school, sports, and everyday activities.
Cannabis use during adolescence has also been linked to mental health challenges, including increased anxiety, mood changes, and in some cases more serious mental health symptoms. Avoiding cannabis use while the brain is still developing supports healthier outcomes now and into adulthood.
Simply put, legal for adults does not mean safe for teens.
Cannabis and Youth: The Basics
- Today’s cannabis is much stronger than it was decades ago, making the effects more intense and less predictable for young people.
- Cannabis can slow reaction time and impair coordination, increasing the risk of accidents, injuries, and unsafe driving.
- Using cannabis regularly during adolescence can affect motivation, making it harder for teens to stay engaged in school, activities, and future goals.
- Teens who use cannabis are more likely to struggle with focus, memory, and learning, even when they are not actively high.
- Early cannabis use increases the likelihood of developing cannabis use disorder later in life.
Cannabis & Youth : Key Facts
- Cannabis use has been linked to increased anxiety, panic, and paranoia in teens, especially with high-potency products.
- For some youth, cannabis use can worsen existing mental health conditions or trigger serious mental health symptoms.
- Edibles and vaping products often lead to overuse because it is harder to tell how much THC has been consumed.
- Because cannabis affects judgment, teens who use it are more likely to take other risks, including mixing substances or riding with impaired drivers.
- Legal for adults does not mean safe for teens. Youth brains are still developing, making them more vulnerable to long-term effects.
BE IN THE KNOW ABOUT CANNABIS IN CONNECTICUT
In Connecticut, cannabis is legal for adults 21+ but there are limits regarding possession and the growing of marijuana plants.
Just like with tobacco and alcohol, it is illegal for anyone under 21 to purchase, use, or possess cannabis.
If you choose to use cannabis, purchase it from a licensed dispensary. All products from licensed sellers are tracked in a statewide seed-to-sale system and are tested so consumers can know exactly what they are buying. Illegally purchased marijuana may contain harmful contaminants and toxins.
Source: https://beintheknowct.org/
Understand what’s permitted in Connecticut when it comes to buying, carrying, and using cannabis; the way it impacts your mental and physical health; and signs of problem use.