With the legalization of marijuana, there is a growing perception that marijuana is harmless and no different than alcohol. Parents need to know and discuss the dangers of smoking “pot”, and adolescents need to know that this drug is not harmless when it comes to achieving their goals and being prepared to handle life’s challenges. Parents must send a clear message that they won’t tolerate marijuana use.
As a therapist, I often meet parents who want the best for their kids—parents who spend a lot of time, money, and energy making sure their kids have every possible opportunity. When I hear that these same parents tolerate marijuana use, I am struck by the paradox. How could parents with such dreams for their children put those dreams in jeopardy by allowing this sabotaging behavior? I can only conclude that these parents either don’t think marijuana is that bad or they don’t feel that they can really do anything about their children using the drug. Quite often, it’s the thought that marijuana is benign that leads to parental inaction.
With increasing public support for legalization, marijuana users will feel their arguments in favor of marijuana use are stronger than ever. Is there an effective argument against it?
Here are two classic arguments against marijuana use that, although true, really don’t work (that said, tell them anyway).
Marijuana is a gateway drug.
True, but that won’t convince a teenager or young adult that using marijuana is dangerous. Although most users of harder drugs first used pot, there are many marijuana users who never go on to other drugs. Most teenagers think they are impervious to moving on to harder drugs – I haven’t seen many who don’t at least try some drug after first using marijuana.
Marijuana use could trigger a psychotic episode.
Yes—for someone predisposed to serious psychiatric disorders, depression, or panic. Adolescents aren’t often influenced by this argument, but parents should be.
A much stronger argument against marijuana lies in a phenomenon involved with chronic marijuana users that I call the “screw its.” This was best defined by a patient of mine who failed out of college who said “my goals, desires, and plans that were important while not high got pushed aside for the immediate gratification of using marijuana.” Procrastination is an immediate result of being high. Unfortunately, the longer one smokes, the more that procrastination and redefining of priorities become embedded as a way of life. “Screw it” becomes the convenient mantra of the chronic “pot” user.
It’s not that people who chronically use marijuana don’t have goals; they do. But chronic use produces a complacency that kills perseverance. This leads to something related to the “screw its,” the “used to’s.”…“I used to play sports.” “I used to do well in school.” “I used to have a lot of interests.” “I used to ...” Many chronic marijuana users will deny that marijuana has anything to do with the “used to’s.” Instead they will blame a coach, a teacher, a situation . . . anything but marijuana.
Marijuana’s medicinal uses should not be discounted**. It is believed to help with many ailments and pain management. However, and this is important, using marijuana to relieve the pain of being in a negative situation is a serious problem. The pain of a negative situation can be an important motivator to help find a better solution. Numbing the discomfort can also numb our motivation for change.
Many believe that marijuana treats anxiety; at best it masks anxiety. Anxiety is an indication that there is something wrong or in conflict. Learning to change, resolve issues and adapt is one of the most important developmental tasks of adolescence that can help one cope with anxiety. Other important tasks include: goal setting and planning, dealing with negative experiences, coping with adversity, and delay of gratification. Mastering these tasks are essential. Unfortunately, if marijuana and the complacency it induces are part of one’s adolescent life, these goals are not fully met and these skills are not developed.
The avid user will counter: “Marijuana is not addictive or as dangerous as other drugs.” Yes, when compared to heroin or cocaine, marijuana is not as physically addictive. Once a person becomes addicted to an opiate such as heroin or oxycodone, the goal of use is not just to get high, but to not get sick. Cocaine and opiate addiction become all-consuming and the detrimental effects of this type of use become obvious. These drugs tend to ruin lives quickly. Marijuana ruins lives slowly.
One’s life doesn’t fall apart as rapidly or as dramatically as it does with some of the more physically addictive drugs. Therein lies the real danger—the effects of chronic marijuana are gradual but life-altering. The shift in attitude, the “screw its” that accompany chronic marijuana use, are the real danger.
The “screw its” are at the root of the flat-line in growth. Living at home and making minimum wage is fine when one is 18-20 years old, since many at that age are in the same position. When you start hitting 25, 30, even 35 and are still at home making little money, it should be obvious that something is wrong. I know more than a few people in their mid-30’s to mid-40’s who are back or still living at home with their parents with no real careers. What do they all have in common? Marijuana use starting in their teenage years. Their lives didn’t fall apart like someone who does other “more serious” drugs, but because no disaster happened, they failed to realize that the situation in which they find themselves IS a disaster. What allows them to feel OK while in this situation? Marijuana use.
There will be an onslaught of pro-marijuana messages over the next few years, especially with the legalization of the plant in many US states, and the negative societal effects will be squashed as to present marijuana as a benign and magic cure-all for life’s ills. Marijuana advocates are very good at presenting all of the plant’s positive attributes but they don’t tell the whole story.
As parents and professionals, the “screw its” are a real part of the story that we need to tell and retell.
**As a note, studies show that cannabidiol (CBD) which can be extracted from hemp/cannabis does not have the same ability to get one “high” as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It is largely CBD (which is legal in many states) that is used for medicinal purposes including to treat arthritis, Crohn’s Disease, multiple sclerosis and certain cancers. THC is the compound that causes psychoactive affects, and is the derivative that this article is addressing.
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