From the Director

In the 1970s, the baby boom generation was coming of age, and its drug of choice was marijuana. By 1979, more than 60 percent of 12th-graders had tried marijuana at least once in their lives. From this peak, the percentage of 12th-graders who had ever used marijuana decreased for more than a decade, dropping to a low of 33 percent in 1992. However, in 1993, first-time marijuana use by 12th-graders was on the upswing, reaching 50 percent by 1997. Although the percentage of 12th-graders who have experience with marijuana has remained roughly level since then, there is still reason to be concerned.¹ In 1999, more than 2 million Americans used marijuana for the first time. Two-thirds of them were between the ages of 12 and 17.² Furthermore, the marijuana that is available today can be 5 times more potent than the marijuana of the 1970s.³

The use of marijuana can produce adverse physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral changes, and - contrary to popular belief - it can be addictive. Marijuana smoke, like cigarette smoke, can harm the lungs.^4,5,6 The use of marijuana can impair short-term memory,^7,8 verbal skills,⁹ and judgment¹⁰ and distort perception.^11,12,13 It also may weaken the immune system^14,15,16,17 and possibly increase a user's likelihood of developing cancer.^15,18 Finally, the increasing use of marijuana by very young teens may have a profoundly negative effect upon their development.^{9,19,20,21,22}

We hope that this research report will help make readers aware of our current knowledge of marijuana abuse and its harmful effects.

Glen R. Hanson, Ph.D., D.D.S.
Acting Director
National Institute on Drug Abuse

All materials appearing in the Research Reports Series are in the public domain and may be reproduced without permission from NIDA. Citation of the source is appreciated.

To obtain printed copies of this report, please call or write the National Clearinghouse on Alcohol and Drug Information, P.O. Box 2345, Rockville, MD 20852, 1-800-729-6686. NIDA Research Report - Marijuana Abuse: NIH Publication No. 02-3859, Printed October 2002. This page has been accessed 336927 times since 11/2/02.

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