With the impending legalization of marijuana in California, a rise in young users is eminent, but a new study shows that it can be more harmful than expected.

               According to a recent article in US News and World Report, consuming marijuana as a teen can lead to a decline in intelligence. Up to six IQ points can be lost if marijuana is abused by a teen into their adulthood. The most dramatic declines are seen in people who use the drug regularly. While Marijuana is not addictive, it is still classified as a schedule-one drug, along with LSD and heroin. Schedule-one drugs are not considered to be legitimate for medical purposes, and are highly dangerous.  

 While weed’s initial side-effects are nowhere near as dangerous as other schedule-one drugs, it can incise teens with a cheap and easy high. Many argue that users can be more inclined to experiment with dangerous drugs based on their marijuana high, the popularity, and the accessibility qualify it as a “gateway drug.” Even through drug education and prevention, hundreds of students are still inclined to smoke at LHS.

Students asked about the study did not agree with its results. One anonymous student believes that the substance has allowed their “mind to be opened.” Heavy smokers are still “in full support of continuing,” even with the new information that has come to light. Another anonymous student justified their smoking by saying “my test scores haven’t gone down,” and that they are “more focused.”  The decline in mental health may not be immediate, which would cause teens to be unafraid of the devastating effects.

But for as many students who do smoke, there will always be others who resist the drug. Many are afraid of consequences from the school, parents and even the law.

Obviously, smoking is not physically beneficial and the mental effects have long been debated, but users still swear by the high. However, this new information may be the downfall of the leniency on teen abusers of marijuana.