Know the risks of marijuana

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Know the risks of nicotine

Not Buying It

Teen years are a time to explore and grow.
Don't let weed get in the way of your goals.

Brain with the words: What you need to know about marijuana and your brain. Marijuana literally changes how your brain works.

Keep your brain healthy.

brain
Before age 25, your brain is undergoing a massive growth spurt. Marijuana use can cause significant changes to the "wiring" of your brain.
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Today's weed has much more THC than a decade ago. Those high levels of THC can alter how your brain develops.

You learn and remember better without weed.

lightbulb and open book
Youth who regularly use weed are more likely to have difficulty learning, memory issues and academic challenges. You may also lack motivation and energy, and lose interest in activities you used to enjoy.

Driving high can lead to a DUI

Marijuana use is shown to harm your:

  • Reaction time
  • Short-term memory
  • Hand-eye coordination
  • Concentration
  • Perception of time and distance
Marijuana also affects your ability to judge your own level of impairment, so even though you may think you can drive, don't risk hurting yourself or others on the road.
red car
Young people who use marijuana may be more likely to experience anxiety and depression. Heavy marijuana use can also make existing mental health conditions worse. This risk is amplified for adolescents with a family history of mental illness.

If you need help now, talk with a trained crisis counselor:

Chat with a National Suicide Prevention Lifeline counselor online.

Call 988, the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for free, private help or dial 911.

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Know the risks of marijuana

Underage marijuana use can impact more than your health. There are societal and legal consequences that can affect your goals and knowing the risks can help you make the best decisions for your future.

Young person driving with the words: Got my driver's license last week...and I'm trying not to get an MIP.
Ready to hit the road this winter break? Did you know that if you get pulled over under the influence of marijuana you could get a Minor in Possession (MIP) charge and risk losing your license? Don’t take that chance.
Young person in military uniform with words: Are you planning on joining the military after high school? If you use marijuana, think again.
The military has a zero-tolerance policy regarding marijuana. Using marijuana could hurt your chances of pursuing your dream career in the armed forces. Protect your future, skip the cannabis.
Puffin smoking inside NO PUFFIN symbol with the words: Tobacco and marijuana harm mental health.
Marijuana use changes the way the brain functions. Many teens who use marijuana daily or near-daily may struggle with mental health problems such as anxiety, depression and paranoia.
A brain with two different colored sides with the words: Marijuana use changes how the teen brain works.
Marijuana use can impact brain development and affect memory, attention and thinking, making learning and retaining information harder. Save your brain. Quit or cut back.
A girl resting her head on her arms and the words: Marijuana affects the part of the brain responsible for: memory, concentration, learning ability.
Marijuana use can impact your brain in serious ways. Your brain can continue to develop in healthy ways when you quit using marijuana. Talk to your health care provider about quitting or cutting back.
Kid on the phone sitting next to car with dented fender and the words: Driving high can double the risk of a car crash.
Someone who is under the influence of marijuana might think they’re okay to drive, but marijuana also affects a person’s ability to judge their own level of impairment. If you consume, don’t get behind the wheel.
Brain with the words: Massive brain development continues until the age of 25.
Until 25, your brain is going through a major growth spurt that can make you more vulnerable to addiction. Every time you use nicotine products like tobacco or vapes, it can cause changes to the “wiring” of the brain and the pathways that are still building connections. This makes your brain more vulnerable to addiction, impulse control, and even problems with learning and memory.
Cloud of grey vapor with hazardous symbols and the words: Chemicals in vapes increase chances of cancer.

Toxic chemicals like acetaldehyde and formaldehyde are known to cause cancer and have been found in vapes. In addition, when vapes heat up, even more toxic chemicals are formed. People who vape aren’t breathing in harmless water vapor.

Young person handing a cop a license while car is being towed in background. Words read: Possession of marijuana as a minor can cost you your license and vehicle.
A school with a sign out front that reads: DRUG FREE SCHOOL ZONE. Words read: Having marijuana on school property is a crime.
Young person holds a rejection letter with the words: Using marijuana while underage risks your future.
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More Resources for You

Looking to quit or cut back?

Quitting can help you.

You can find treatment programs through the website findtreatment.samhsa.gov provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA).

You can also call the SAMHSA Treatment Referral hotline at
1-800-662-HELP.
Treatment can help you, a friend, or someone you love get back to the person you or they once were.

More marijuana facts for teens

Learn more about impacts to driving, school, addiction, and mental illness.


The National Institute on Drug Abuse shares facts about the risks of marijuana.

What you need to know about marijuana use during your teen years

Read more about harmful effects from marijuana on your health and well-being.


The Center for Disease Control and Prevention share some information about how marijuana can impact your life.

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