The Increasing Use of Marijuana among High School Students (With relation to O’

Posted by Nitish on November 16th, 2020

Marijuana is a psychoactive drug that is common all over the United States of America and some other countries across the world. While Marijuana is known to have several medical benefits especially in treating major ailments like Cancer, HIV, ADD, ADHD, anxiety, Glaucoma, Arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, depression, etc, it is also a very dangerous drug which has many unhealthy side effects, especially among the youth. This article is based on O’Connor’s study of an insight into the increasing use of marijuana in high schools, all across the United States of America. O’Connor’s study is mostly based on concerns regarding American high-schoolers. The article also talks about the distress prevalent against the lenient rules, regulations, and restrictions against the use and selling of marijuana, especially in the black market. There is increasing concern over the psychological and physical harm caused by this drug on students belonging to high school, barely aged between 14-18. The study states a very good reason for being against the marketing and production of marijuana among the youth of the nation.

Usage of Marijuana in High School

A scientific perspective as discussed in the study shows the harmful effects of marijuana consumption on an adolescent’s brain. The study also concerns itself with the comparison of teenagers consuming alcohol and inhaling tobacco through smoking cigarettes against smoking and inhaling marijuana.

The study relates that marijuana use is pretty prevalent among high school students. In the United States of America, about 90% of high school students fall under the category of adolescents. Moreover, about 16 states in the United States have already legalized the production, trade, and use of marijuana for both recreational and medical purposes. The study states that a figure close to 12 percent of students who study in the eighth grade have already consumed marijuana at such a young age. Moreover, about thirty-six percent of high school seniors across the United States of America have already been involved in drug abuse. A marijuana dispensary in California makes it easier for the procurement of marijuana related drugs to these students. As Marijuana dispensary in California is spread out across the state, it has a wider trade range. In-depth research reveals the main cause of marijuana drug abuse among high school teenagers is the strong force of peer pressure.

Impact of the use of marijuana among high school students

Adolescents who consume and indulge in marijuana abuse face a lot of health problems. Marijuana is known to inhibit the proper development of the brain and in adolescents, it is all the more important as the white matter of the brain is not fully developed at such a young age. This then results in marijuana affecting the cognitive functions of a regular adolescent high school user.

If related to this, we can see how most high school goers who indulge in marijuana usage face several learning disabilities which in turn inhibits their progress, as compared to non marijuana users. Adolescents who are regular abusers of marijuana are also known to be hyperactive. Thus, these adolescents become hyperactive and also show certain violent tendencies. Showing violent tendencies at such a young age may result in opting for other illegal crimes in the future. Marijuana users who are adolescents are also seen to be socially withdrawn. Their academics suffer and in turn, they cannot contribute to the development of society by their wasted knowledge. O’Connor’s study is very useful to education stakeholders who want to understand the effects of drug abuse among adolescents who are high school students. The study is also prevalent as it has a scientific approach towards it and shows the harm of marijuana on students from a scientific perspective. The facts about the effects of marijuana on an adolescent’s brain as compared to the effect on an adult brain state that adolescent brains are more prone to live long ailments. Researchers who want to research related topics are advised to study Conner’s article in detail. 

To conclude, there must be the implementation of stricter rules for checking marijuana use in high school goers. (For example, a Marijuana dispensary in California should always ask for the person's identity card before handing them over the drug.) This means that marijuana trade regulation across the United States of America must turn up their strictness and effectiveness. This in turn can benefit the trade and economic development of the United States as the youth of the nation are the future of the nation.

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Nitish

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Nitish
Joined: August 12th, 2019
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