BEHIND THE SMOKE SCREEN

The use of marijuana is not only harmful to the user—it can also become a risk to society.

Research shows that marijuana can cause problems in daily life. A study found that young adults who use marijuana regularly were 20 times more likely to use other illicit drugs, four times more likely to be heavy drinkers and seven times more likely to be daily smokers.¹

Users were also less than half as likely as nonusers to be in romantic relationships.

A study of postal workers found that employees who tested positive for marijuana had 55 percent more accidents, 85 percent more injuries and a 75 percent increase in absenteeism.²

Marijuana can harm a person’s memory—with impact lasting for days or weeks after the immediate effects of the drug wear off. In one study, heavy marijuana users were asked to recall words from a list. Their ability to remember the words did not return to normal until up to four weeks after they stopped smoking.³

Students who use marijuana have lower grades and are less likely to get into college compared to nonusers. They do not have the same ability to remember and organize information.⁴

The teacher in the school I went to would smoke three or four joints a day. He got lots of students to start smoking, me included. His dealer then pushed me to start using heroin, which I did without resisting. By that time, it was as if my conscience was already dead.” —Veronique

WHAT DEALERS WILL TELL YOU

Whether legal or illegal, marijuana is big business, and the goal is to make lots of money.

When teens were surveyed to find out why they started using drugs, 55 percent replied that it was due to pressure from their friends. The marijuana industry and those selling the drug want to make it seem like using marijuana is harmless, that it will “help you out,” is something to “bring you up,” “help you fit in” or “make you cool.”

For the marijuana industry to thrive, they need addicted customers, as the majority of their profits come from addicts, not casual users. Since people are more likely to become addicted if they start young, much of marijuana marketing targets young people like you.

Motivated by the profits, they will say anything to get you to buy their drugs.

Drug dealers don’t care if the drugs ruin your life as long as they get paid. All they care about is money.

Get the facts about drugs. Make your own decisions.