Drug Information

Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. The plant contains the mind-altering chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other related compounds. Extracts can also be made from the cannabis plant. Marijuana can be smoked, vaporized and inhaled, or mixed into food known as “edibles”. A newly popular method of use is smoking or eating different forms of THC-rich resins. Smoking these THC-rich (as high as 95% THC) resins is known as dabbing. These extracts come in various forms such as:

hash oil or honey oil—a gooey liquid
wax or budder—a soft solid, like lip balm
shatter—a hard, amber-colored solid

THC acts on specific brain cell receptors that ordinarily react to natural THC-like chemicals. The amount of THC in marijuana has been increasing over the past few decades, and may put users at a higher risk for addiction. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States.¹ Its use is widespread among young people. In 2015, more than 11 million young adults ages 18 to 25 used marijuana in the past year (NSDUH, 2015). Visit the National Institute on Drug Abuse to learn more about marijuana and marijuana extracts.

Signs and Symptoms

Physical Signs

Confusion
Lethargy
Difficulty with thinking and problem solving
Poor muscle and limb coordination
Red, glassy eyes
Delayed reaction times and abilities

Other Signs

Decreased involvement or interest in usual activities
Increased hunger
Misjudging time
Drop in academic performance
Distinct strong smell, different from tobacco

Health Consequences

Hallucinations, delusions, psychosis (when taken in high doses)
Paranoia
Addiction (approx. 1 in 10 users)
Breathing problems—greater risk of bronchitis, cough, and phlegm production
Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (intense nausea and vomiting)

Marijuana as Medicine?

The term medical marijuana refers to using the whole, unprocessed marijuana plant or its basic extracts to treat symptoms of illness and other conditions. More and more states are making it legal to use the plant as medicine for certain conditions. But there isn’t enough research to show that the whole plant works to treat or cure these conditions. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not recognized or approved the marijuana plant as medicine because there have not been large scale clinical trials showing the medicinal value of marijuana outweighs the risk to patients.

The FDA has however, approved one specific drug product that contains the purified substance cannabidiol, one of more than 80 active chemicals in marijuana, for the treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome in patients 2 years of age and older. Learn more about CBD here.

A recent four-year study found that among people with chronic non-cancer pain who had been prescribed opioids, those who used cannabis had greater pain and lower self-efficacy in managing pain. There was also no evidence that cannabis use reduced pain severity or resulted in less opioid use. Studies that have suggested that medical marijuana can decrease opioid abuse and misuse problems are population-based and can’t show that medical marijuana legalization caused the decrease in deaths or that pain patients changed their drug-taking behavior. Learn more from the NIDA.

Additional Information:

Resources:

Fact Sheets:

Policy

Marijuana is a Schedule I controlled substance under Idaho Law. It is illegal for any person to manufacture, deliver, possess with intent to manufacture or deliver, or possess marijuana, which refers to all parts of the plants of the genus cannabis, including or any preparation of cannabis which contains tetrahydrocannabinol. It is illegal to publically use or be under the influence of marijuana. Specific penalties for these acts can be found in Sections 37-2732 and 37-2732C of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act.

Recent Idaho Legislation

Possession By a Minor

2017: Senate Bill No. 1013

Repealed Idaho Code section 18-502C relating to possession of marijuana or drug paraphernalia by a minor, the use of controlled substances, and fines due to conflict with Idaho Code section 20-505 and in order to promote uniformity when charging juveniles for possession of marijuana. Enacted March 27, 2017.

- Bill Language

Position Statements

Medical Organizations

Office of Drug Policy

Marijuana Legalization Policy Statement

Prevention

Risk of drug use, including marijuana, greatly increases during times of transition. The transition from childhood to adolescence presents new and challenging social, family, and academic situations at the same time they may be exposed to substances like alcohol and marijuana for the first time. Early use of drugs increases a person’s chance of becoming addicted and alters the brain, therefore preventing early use is important. Prevention strategies for the prevention of marijuana use include enforcement of laws, maintain marijuana as a Schedule I substance, media campaigns targeting youth and adults, especially parents of youth, reducing youth exposure to marijuana advertising in states where it is legal, and implementation of evidenced-based prevention programs.

Avoid Unsupervised After-School Time

Students who participate in 1 or more days of supervised after-school activities are less likely to have ever used marijuana. After-school activities provide:

Supervision by positive adult role models
Youth leadership opportunities
Incorporation of skills building
A piece of a comprehensive prevention plan

Understand Risk Factors

Addressing risk factors early and paying careful attention to children at higher risk can reduce that child’s likelihood of a future problem. This is a simplified list of some overall risk factors. Learn more at youth.gov

Family history of substance use disorders
Mental health or behavioral issues
Trauma
Impulse Control Problems

Set the Stage for a Conversation

The Partnership for Drug Free Kids has a helpful guide for parents to engage their kids in open and positive communication. Download it here.