3 Questions Linn County Middle School Students Ask about Marijuana

The Linn County Alcohol and Drug Prevention Program has provided substance use prevention classes in Linn County schools for over 20 years. We asked instructors Sarah Daniels and Shannon Snair to share common questions middle school students have about marijuana, and how to answer them.

Is marijuana bad for my mental health?

There is strong evidence marijuana use significantly increases the risk of mental health problems. Youth, who’s brains are still developing, are at a higher risk for schizophrenia (a type of mental illness where people might see or hear things that aren’t there), depression, and anxiety.

It also may be more likely for someone to have a psychotic reaction (such as hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking). Basically, someone who is experiencing these types of symptoms has a harder time understanding what’s real and what isn’t.

Learn more about youth marijuana use and mental health

Can people get addicted to marijuana?

They can! Marijuana use can lead to the development of a substance use disorder, a medical illness in which the person is unable to stop using even though it’s causing health and social problems in their life.

Learn more about youth marijuana use and addiction

Could marijuana change my performance in sports or activities or make me do something “stupid”?

Yes, it could! Like what we said above, a youth’s brain is still developing until around the age of 25. Marijuana use directly affects the parts of the brain responsible for memory, learning, attention, decision making, coordination, emotions, and reaction time. All the things you need to perform well om school, sports and other activities!

Marijuana can cause permanent IQ loss of as much as 8 points when people start using it at a young age. These IQ points do not come back, even after quitting marijuana.

Marijuana can also affect your lungs. Someone might be more likely to develop a daily cough or have a higher chance of getting a lung infection. Like tobacco smoke, marijuana smoke can have toxins and chemicals that can harm the lungs. This would make it harder to breath during your daily physical activities.

Learn more about the effects of youth marijuana use