Marijuana
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Impacts on Your Mind & Body
Impacts on Brain Development
Your brain is actively and continuously developing until the age of 25. Consuming marijuana as a teenager can have a number of negative effects on your brain, including: - Difficulty thinking clearly and problem-solving - An increased risk of mental health issues - Problems with memory and learning - Issues with maintaining attention - Reduced coordination - Potential for developing cannabis use disorder
Lung Impacts
Smoking marijuana can cause harm to your lung tissue and damage to small blood vessels. Many of the toxins, irritants, and cancer-causing chemicals found in tobacco smoke can also be found in marijuana smoke.
Impacting Your Daily Life
Day to day, marijuana use can reduce critical thinking skills, increase appetite, all while making it harder to focus and keep up with schoolwork at home and in class. Using marijuana can potentially lead to expulsion from sports teams and loss of financial aid opportunities.
How Marijuana Impacts Neurodivergent People
ADHD
People with ADHD are three times as likely to use marijuana at some point in their lives, and their risk of developing cannabis use disorder is twice as high. Because ADHD is linked to slower development of the frontal lobes, individuals affected by it may be more vulnerable to marijuana’s impact on brain development. Marijuana can also interact poorly with certain ADHD medications in ways that increase strain on the heart. Using marijuana can potentially lead to expulsion from sports teams and loss of financial aid opportunities.
Autism
While some autistic people may find relief in marijuana use, others experience an increased risk of psychosis, agitation, and irritability. However, there currently isn’t enough research to say for sure how marijuana use impacts people with autism in the long term.
What is THC?
THC is the main psychoactive compound found in marijuana
Products can contain varying levels of potency, posing an increased risk when used.
What does "potency" mean?
Potency is a measure of how much THC is in a product. The higher the THC level, the stronger the effect. Higher potency also means a greater chance of negative reactions like anxiety, paranoia, or losing control of how you feel.
How are concentration & potency measured?
For products that are inhaled, such as concentrates and dried marijuana (flower), concentration is measured as a percentage. Back in the 1990s, the THC concentration in flower, which is typically smoked, averaged around 5%. Today, it’s usually 15–20%, and can be as high as 35%. Concentrates - like wax, rosin, shatter, and hash oil - typically contain 60–90% THC, while kief and hash range from 50–80%. Because these products are far more potent than traditional flower, their effects come on faster and more intensely, increasing the risk of negative outcomes. For edibles, THC is measured in milligrams. The state of Colorado requires marijuana retailers to sell edibles with clear single servings of 10mg of THC or less, and no more than 100mg total per product.
Dangers of high potency products
High-potency THC products, such as infused joints, vaping cartridges, shatter, wax, and other concentrates used in dabbing, can pose serious health risks, especially for young people. Frequent use of high-potency THC products can have lasting effects on mental health. Daily use is linked to a higher risk of developing psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, and may worsen symptoms for those who already have one. Additionally, these products are more likely to exacerbate anxiety disorders, lead to cannabis use disorder, and trigger episodes of psychosis and paranoia, where a person loses touch with reality.
Making Safer Choices
Don't Drive Under the Influence
Don’t drive if you’ve used marijuana, and don’t ride with someone who has. Driving high puts you and others at risk of injury, and could lead to a DUI, as marijuana can impair key driving skills like reaction time, focus, and coordination. Motor vehicle accidents can cause serious bodily injury and even death.
Laced Risk
Marijuana bought illegally can potentially be laced with substances such as fentanyl, glass, PCP, and formaldehyde, among other things.
Be Aware of the Product's Potency
Products today vary wildly in strength. A label saying "marijuana" tells you almost nothing. THC percentage matters. High-potency concentrates carry a much higher risk.
If you've never used marijuana before, your brain has zero tolerance, meaning your body could react very differently. Even experienced users can be overwhelmed by high-potency products.
Resources
Discover research-based information about high-potency cannabis. Drawing from a review of over 66,000 studies, view key trends, like rising THC levels, increased risks tied to high-concentration products, and the impact on young people and mental health.
Mile High Integrated Care Summit County provides comprehensive support services addressing trauma, substance use, and mental health.
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Individual, family, and group therapy
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Case management
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DUI education and treatment
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Peer support services
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Family wrap-around support
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Teen-focused groups
Building Hope connects you to therapists, support groups, events, and mental health navigation so you can find the right care for anxiety, depression, stress, or other emotional challenges. Building Hope helps make therapy more affordable through scholarships and hosts youth-focused programs and community events that reduce stigma and build connections.
Elevated Community Health offers affordable, caring health services that help people stay healthy in mind and body. You can get medical checkups, dental care, vision exams, and behavioral health support, including help with stress and anxiety. They also have school-based health centers right at the school, so students and families can access care easily and confidentially.
Learn more about how cannabis can affect brain development, mental health, memory, and decision-making, along with tools to help you make healthy and informed choices
Summit County Public Health provides essential services to prevent disease and protect community health, along with trusted information and referrals to help residents access care. Explore local resources, substance use prevention, and mental health support, and sign up for substance prevention and Naloxone training.
Discover clear, science-based information about marijuana and its risks. This resource covers how cannabis can impact brain development, mental health, school performance, and future goals. It also offers practical tools, peer stories, and support resources to help you navigate pressure and make informed decisions
Understand the risks of alcohol and cannabis use. Through peer stories and real-life scenarios, Outlast encourages you to think about how your choices affect their future and sense of identity.