Marijuana Is Dangerous to Our Youth

Marijuana is Dangerous to Our Youth

Donald J.Hagler, MD, FCP

The American College of Pediatricians warns and educates parents and adolescents concerning the grave dangers inherent in marijuana use in its statement Marijuana Use: Detrimental to Youth. Two recent very important articles have appeared in the lay press which clearly emphasize and reiterate all of the concerns and admonitions which the College has documented in this statement.

The links to the two recent articles are here: and

The first link is to an interview with addiction psychiatrist, Dr. Ed Gogek who authored"Marijuana Debunked," a handbook for parents, pundits and politicians.In this interview about his handbook Dr. Gogekreferences many of the concerns for marijuana use and addiction noted in the College position statement including IQ loss, the damage to the still developing teenage brain with less grey matter, disorganized white matter and disrupted blood flow. He emphasizes the link between marijuana abuse and inadequate performance in college and being unemployed after college. He observes that as adults, former teenage marijuana users earn less, are more likely to spend time unemployed or on welfare, and are less happy with their lives and relationships. He is concerned that decriminalization of substance abuse leads to increase marijuana use and failure of substance abusers to obtain treatment. Finally, the interview points out many of the social problems increasingly recognized and enumerated in the report entitled “The Legalization of Marijuana in Colorado: The Impact” Volume 3, September 2015.

“The Legalization of Marijuana in Colorado: The Impact” ispublished by the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area at It compiles data that reflects the effects legalization has had in this state since 2006. It allows readers to compare and contrast statistics observed from 2006 - 2009, during Colorado's early medical marijuana era, with those from 2009 to 2013 as medical marijuana commercialization grew, and also with those from the current legalized recreational marijuana era from 2013 to the present. These statistics document an increase in impaired driving and marijuana related motor vehicle deaths, increased use of marijuana by youth and adults, increased emergency room and hospital admissions secondary to marijuana use and increased diversion of Colorado marijuana to other states. They cite that between 2013 and 2014 there was a 45% increase in marijuana-associated impaired driving, a 32% increase in marijuana-related motor vehicle deaths (with a 92% increase from 2010 to 2014), as well as 29% and 38% increases in emergency room visits and hospital admissions secondary to marijuana use. By 2013, marijuana use in Colorado was 55% above the national average among teens and young adults, and 86% higher among those over age 25. Diversion of marijuana from Colorado to other states has also increased several fold.

Both publications emphasize the increase in social problems associated with substance abuse including crime, gang violence, homelessness, chronic unemployment, poverty, welfare dependency, school dropouts and higher health care costs. Family problems such as divorce, deadbeat dads, single moms, teen pregnancy, abortion, HIV and prostitution are also noted to have become more commonwith legalized marijuana use.

Additionally, Dr. Gogek points out that the stated goals of well-funded organizations, such as the Drug Policy Alliance,are to pass medical marijuana laws, then legalize marijuana, and then decriminalize or legalize all drugs. As the College has recommended, he suggests that parents contact their elected representatives and those running for office and tell them they want a candidate who opposes loosening marijuana laws in any way. The evidence is now very strong as noted in Colorado, that when marijuana laws are relaxed, teenage use goes up. Dr. Gogeknotesthat while a strong parent-child bond is the best defense against risky behavior, it is no match for a society that accepts and promotes drug use. The American College of Pediatricians strives to promote the best forchildren and adolescents, and now even more firmly re-emphasizes the grave harms encountered by our youth with marijuana use and addiction.

September 2015

American College of Pediatricians ●October 2014 ●