Are the following statements FACT or CRAP?
1. You can get addicted to marijuana.
FACT – 17% of adolescents who use marijuana become addicted, and 50% of daily users become addicted. Adverse Health Effects of Marijuana Use https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4827335/pdf/nihms762992.pdf.
2. Marijuana can’t lower your intelligence.
CRAP – Heavy marijuana exposure starting in adolescence predicts an 8-point drop in IQ. Persistent cannabis users show neuropsychological decline from childhood to midlife https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1206820109
3. Your risk of addiction increases with higher potency.
FACT – The risk of addiction to marijuana use is greater if the product is high in THC concentration. Risk of Persistence and Progression of Use of 5 Cannabis Products After Experimentation Among Adolescents https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6991277/
4. In 2020, 10% of high school seniors used marijuana.
CRAP – In 2019, 22% of students were using at least monthly by the time they reached 12th grade. MONITORING FUTURE http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/pubs/monographs/mtf-vol1_2019.pdf
5. Marijuana improves your memory.
CRAP – Marijuana impairs short-term memory, making it difficult to learn and retain information. A Population-Based Analysis of the Relationship Between Substance Use and Adolescent Cognitive Development https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/pdf/10.1176/appi.ajp.2018.18020202
6. Marijuana doesn’t increase your odds you’ll use other drugs.
CRAP – Adolescent marijuana users are 2.5 times more likely to abuse prescription opioids. Prior use of alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana and subsequent abuse of prescription opioids in young adults https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3552239/pdf/nihms388189.pdf
7. Marijuana makes you a worse driver.
FACT – Marijuana decreases your reaction time, motor coordination, and driving skills. Marijuana Impaired Driving: https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.dot.gov/files/documents/812440-marijuana-impaired-driving-report-to-congress.pdf
8. Depression can increase when you use marijuana.
FACT – Marijuana increases your risk of developing depression and suicidal behavior later in life. Association of Cannabis Use in Adolescence and Risk of Depression, Anxiety, and Suicidality in Young Adulthood https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2723657
9. Students who use marijuana are more likely to drop out of school.
FACT – Young people who use cannabis are at increased risk of poor academic performance and dropping out of school. The effects of adolescent cannabis use on educational attainment: a review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11219366/
10. Marijuana can’t cause mental illness.
CRAP – Marijuana use can increase your risk of psychosis and schizophrenia 2- to 4-fold. Meta-analysis of the Association Between the Level of Cannabis Use and Risk of Psychosis https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4988731/
11. Your fertility rates can drop if you use marijuana.
FACT – Marijuana can reduce fertility due to decreased sperm counts and delayed ovulation. Association Between Use of Marijuana and Male Reproductive Hormones and Semen Quality https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26283092/
12. You’ll feel more motivated if you use marijuana for a long time.
CRAP – Long-term marijuana users have lower levels of dopamine and are less ambitious and motivated. http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/newssummary/news_1-7-2013-11-49-21
13. Marijuana lowers your anxiety.
CRAP – Those who start using marijuana frequently at a young age are more likely to have anxiety disorder in early adulthood. Cannabis and anxiety and depression in young adults: a large prospective study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17314727/
14. You might worry people are out to get you when you use it.
FACT – Using marijuana can make you paranoid and think others intend to harm you. How cannabis causes paranoia https://academic.oup.com/schizophreniabulletin/article/41/2/391/2526091
15. Marijuana isn’t harmful for your health.
CRAP – Marijuana smoke can cause symptoms of chronic bronchitis, a heavy cough, and lung irritation. What are marijuana’s effects on lung health https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/what-are-marijuanas-effects-lung-health