Today's Marijuana
Today's marijuana is not safe (or legal) for teens and young adults under age 21. The super high THC levels are associated with IQ loss, increased anxiety, psychosis, and emergency room visits. The brain is still maturing until age 25, and marijuana can hurt its development. Learn more below! Email to join our monthly Marijuana Committee (1st Thursdays at 4pm).
TNP's Top 10 Facts
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Jordan's Recovery Story
Fairfield County native Jordan, a college student, shares how he started using marijuana in his teen years and why he sought recovery.
Did you get our Marijuana Postcard?
Click image to download both sides of the postcard.
FAQ: The New Marijuana
What is the "new" marijuana?
Marijuana today has been bred to be much stronger than in the past. Adults who used it when they were in school were using a much less potent drug.
The amount of THC--the ingredient that gets you high--tripled from the 1970s to the 1990s and tripled again between 1995 (4%) and 2014 (12%). In CT, marijuana plant products will be sold at up to 30% THC.
Plus, today's marijuana is commonly vaped or used in concentrated form (dabs, wax, shatter), which can have up to 96% THC. THC levels over 10% can produce anxiety, agitation, and even psychosis. In CT, concentrates can be sold up to 60%.
Who in Norwalk is using marijuana?
In our 2021 surveys in Norwalk, 15% of adults and 6% of teens reported using marijuana. (In comparison, in our 2018 youth survey, 14% of teens used marijuana.)
Our 2021 youth survey took place during COVID, so teens had less access to substances. The highest level of marijuana use was 12% of 12th graders. The vast majority of Norwalk high schoolers (94%) did NOT use marijuana.
However, Norwalk teens believe marijuana is less risky than other drugs.
Norwalk teens who are more likely to use marijuana than their peers include: boys, LGBTQ youth, students experiencing depression, those with IEPs and those with financial strain.
What is dabbing? wax? shatter?
These terms refer to using marijuana extracts or oils that are chemically concentrated from the plant. These concentrates are extremely potent, with 70% or more THC content, so they get the user much higher. The side effects are also much stronger than using the dried plant. FYI: CT hospitals are seeing more people come in with marijuana-induced psychosis as a result of these products.
Dabbing refers to smoking or vaping THC extracts or oils concentrated from the marijuana plant.
Wax is a THC concentrate that is at least twice as potent as dried marijuana leaf. Because it is so strong, it can cause nearly instant highs, as well as hallucinations, extreme changes in behavior, and even overdoses.
Shatter is a hard, glass-like, and clear, shatter is a form of concentrated oils from the marijuana plant.
How does marijuana affect your health?
If you smoke marijuana, it affects your lungs and heart just like tobacco. The secondhand smoke is also dangerous to people around you. Learn more from the CDC.
Marijuana affects your brain because it contains THC, a psychoactive drug that affects memory, learning, attention, judgment, and emotions. In adults, the effects usually last while they're high, but effects are dangerous for users under age 25, because their brains are still maturing.
Teens and young adults who use marijuana several times a week and/or use it at high strengths (like dabbing) are at risk of: losing 6-8 IQ points permanently; having temporary psychosis; developing schizophrenia; becoming addicted to marijuana or other drugs in the future.
It is possible to overdose on marijuana. Edibles and concentrates increase the risk.
What about medical uses of marijuana?
The federal government does not allow marijuana for any purposes, due to concerns over safety and inadequate research to support its use for medical purposes.
CT is among 38 states (as of 2021) that have legalized "medical marijuana." Visit the state webpage here.
Medical marijuana is only available to CT residents who are certified by a doctor to have certain conditions. (As of 2021, CT has identified 38 qualifying conditions for adults and 10 for children.)
Medical marijuana consumers get a certificate from the doctor which they take to a medical marijuana dispensary.
The certificate does not specify a method of use, dosage, or frequency of use for different conditions; it just allows the client to select a product.
Important: Medical marijuana is only intended to be used by the person who has the certificate. It should not be shared.
Does marijuana/CBD help with stress?
Many people report that marijuana helps them relax. Did you know it's the CBD ingredient in the plant that can help with anxiety, while the THC ingredient can actually increase anxiety? So vaping concentrates (which are mostly THC) is likely to make anxiety worse. That explains why some people thinks their stress comes back after using marijuana.
While marijuana/THC is illegal, CBD is legal because it cannot get you high. CBD is not regulated, so studies have found that some products for sale contain virtually no CBD, while others may contain some THC. Safer products will have a Consumer Lab, NSP or USP logo.
If you feel like you need marijuana to relax, it may be time to change whatever's stressing you out so much. A SMART Recovery support group can help you learn skills to make positive changes in your life. Also consider meditation apps like Calm or Headspace or practicing yoga to manage your stress!
Is marijuana addictive?
Contrary to popular belief, marijuana is addictive.
Overall, one in 10 users develops an addiction.
Among people who begin using before the age of 18, 1 in 6 develops an addiction.
Heavy users may develop withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping while trying to quit use. Learn more at NIH.
Does marijuana affect driving skills?
Marijuana significantly impairs your ability to drive. Multiple studies have found that the risk of being involved in a crash significantly increased after marijuana use. In a few cases, the risk doubled or more than doubled!
About cannabis & CT's new law
In this 7 minute video presented at our January 2022 legislative forum on cannabis, we explain what everyone should know about today's marijuana and CT's state law. To learn about Norwalk's proposed ordinance, visit our September 2022 blog post.
