Op-Ed: Marijuana is bad for children

You probably see some people on the streets smoking joints or weed. But would you be upset if you found kids doing it instead? You may wonder why those kids would do such a thing, considering they already know how bad it is for you. Or do you?

 If you didn’t already know, marijuana can cause serious health issues. According to Jesse Greenspan, heavy consumption of marijuana can lead to an increased risk of clogged arteries and heart failure. It can also lead to male fertility problems. But one minor side effect is short-term memory loss. 

Maia Szalavitz had confirmed that those who start taking marijuana at a young age are most likely to become addicted. This could cause respiratory problems, an increased risk of certain cancers at an early age, and can cause anxiety and paranoia.

Studies on marijuana also suggest that consuming too much will worsen or trigger schizophrenia, psychosis, and depression in youth and that it affects behavior and academic performance.

A common side effect is having red eyes and a dry mouth. Inhaling it can also cause the user to experience delusions.

Now that you already know the bad consequences of consuming marijuana, you’re probably wondering why kids still do it if it can cause such serious problems. Well, here are some reasons kids still need to inhale this drug.

Many people use marijuana for pleasure and relaxation. Plus, according to Jesse Greenspan, it is said that marijuana has effectively zero risk of life-threatening overdose, unlike opioids. They say the drug is to help decrease chemotherapy-induced nausea, calm epileptic seizures, ease the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, and serve as a sleep aid. 

I have already known that Marijuana is bad for you based on how it has affected people my age or younger. I have seen them become more paranoid and desperate as they kept inhaling the addicting drug. The strong scent as they sat near me and the dazed, red eyes they have after lots of inhalation of a blunt. And learning more of what it does to you, especially kids, it is more dangerous than I thought.

Recent studies also hint that inhaling weed can slightly reduce the opioid dependency rate. They also found that it performs better than a placebo. Studies have also shown that sometimes marijuana can relieve pain. Though the effectiveness for pain relief can vary depending on the individual, the type of pain, and the dosage used.

But according to Maia Szalavitz, most kids who take marijuana do it out of curiosity and interest in novelty/ openness to experience, with a strong drive to seek intense sensations and a willingness to take risks without considering the consequences. Over time, if kids use marijuana consistently, this can lead to kids having an addiction.

Kumu Kanani, a biology teacher, said that kids who use pakalolo (marijuana), if not used for pain, can dull their senses and not keep them sharp enough to respond well. If kids use weed consistently, their bodies will not function well.

“If users (kids) constantly use pakalolo, they become less interactive with the world around them and more interactive when only wanting the sense of pakalolo and the high that it gives them. And their bodies don't react well to everything else,” Kumu Kanani said.

Kumu Kanani also said that she had met kids who do marijuana. She had said that they do this to escape reality and feel the relaxing sensation to numb away stress and other negative emotions.

In conclusion, children should not do marijuana because it will affect their mental and physical health. It can also affect their lifestyle and their future.