Pot abuse during teen years impairs critical thinking and memory functions, a new research reveals.
The study by researchers at the National Institute of Drug Abuse also suggests that the harmful effects of marijuana persist even after users stop smoking pot.
"It is important to alert the public that using marijuana in the teen years brings health, social, and academic risk," Dr. Nora D Volkow, lead author and NIDA Director, said in a press release. "Physicians in particular can play a role in conveying to families that early marijuana use can interfere with crucial social and developmental milestones and can impair cognitive development."
Researchers explained that negative effects of marijuana are more on teens as their brain grows constantly in adolescence.
According to the study results, marijuana abuse impairs critical thinking and memory functions are also impaired. This is even among those who smoke pot for just a few days.
Researchers said that a NIDA-supported '2013 Monitoring the Future Survey' found that 6.5 percent of 12th graders smoked marijuana daily or near-daily. Moreover, 60 percent of teens think that regular marijuana use will not cause any harm.
For the study, the researchers concentrated on the consequences of second-hand marijuana smoke, long-term impact of prenatal marijuana exposure, the therapeutic potential of the individual chemicals found in the marijuana plant and the effects of marijuana legalization policies on public health.
Researchers opined that marijuana will widely be used for medicinal and recreational purposes as more number of states are planning to legalize pot. This will result in more substance abuse among teens leading to health issues.
