Even the smallest amount of THC can impact your driving and pose a risk to everyone on the road.
Marijuana laws, Safety, and Toxicity
The Laws
Marijuana is still illegal for teens in all 50 states. Whether it’s smoked, vaped, or consumed there are lasting consequences to a youth’s academic and cognitive development. Marijuana dulls attention, memory, and learning skills; making students who use it more likely to drop out of high school or college. Long-term, repeated use can lead to addiction and usage of other drugs.
Consequences and Risks
The Office of Cannabis Management has resources for parents and young adults on laws, health effects, impaired driving, and other important topics related to cannabis. Parents and mentors: You can impact whether the young people in your life consume cannabis. Start the conversation with them early and have it often. Make sure they understand the consequences and the negative impact it can have on their growing, developing brain. Pre-teens, teens, and young people in their early 20s tend to seek out new experiences and engage in risky behaviors, like using cannabis.
Marijuana Toxicity Levels and Impacts
The CDC provides information and resources on the health effects of marijuana toxicity. Children, adults, and pets can mistake marijuana products, particularly edibles, for regular food or candy. Consuming marijuana can make children very sick. They may have problems walking or sitting up or may have a hard time breathing. Since marijuana use has been legalized in some states, accidental marijuana poisonings in children have increased, sometimes requiring visits to the emergency room or hospitalization.
Johnny’s Ambassadors website provides information on topics related to High-THC Marijuana, the effects of marijuana on youth, impact of marijuana on the adolescent brain, and the relation between marijuana and mental health.
Impaired Driving
If you feel different, you drive different.
You can’t drive safely if you’re impaired. That’s why it’s illegal everywhere in America to drive under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, opioids, methamphetamines, or any potentially impairing drug–prescribed or over the counter. Driving while impaired by any substance – legal or illegal – puts you and others in harm’s way. Learn the latest research on drug-impaired driving, misconceptions about marijuana use, and what you can do to make smarter choices to drive safely.
If you or someone you know is put in a bad situation with getting behind the wheel while under the influence STOP DWI is there to help. They have a downloadable phone app called “Have a Plan” which provides resources to help you plan your night, find a safe ride, and more, so you never gave to risk getting behind the wheel while impaired. Don’t drive. Get a ride!
Campaign Support
This campaign is supported by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award funded by ONDCP. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ONDCP, CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
