Marijuana

Marijuana/Cannabis Overview

Cannabis refers to the entire plant, including the leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds, from species such as Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. The cannabis plant contains over 480 chemical compounds, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is responsible for its mind-altering effects. Marijuana specifically refers to the psychoactive parts of the cannabis plant, primarily from Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica, that are used for recreational or medicinal purposes. Marijuana is commonly smoked in the form of a cigarette (known as a joint), a pipe, or a bong. It can also be smoked in blunts—cigars emptied of tobacco and refilled with marijuana, sometimes mixed with other substances. Additionally, marijuana can be infused into foods or brewed as tea. Under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), marijuana is classified as a Schedule I substance. Per the CSA and the US Drug Enforcement Administration, this means it has a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use for treatment in the United State, and no recognized safety for use under medical supervision.¹

Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States. According to the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), approximately 62 million Americans (22%) ages 12 and older used marijuana in the past year. In 2022, the percentage of people who used marijuana in the past year was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (37%) compared with 19% of adults aged 26 or older and 11% of adolescents aged 12 to 17.

Common Street Names: Ganja, Grass, Hash, Herb, Hydro, Indo, Joint, Kif, Mary Jane, Mota, Pot, Reefer, Sinsemilla, Skunk, Smoke, Weed, and Yerba.

Symptoms Associated with Use²

Anxiety
Confusion
Fast heart rate
Increased blood pressure
Nausea and vomiting
Paranoia

Possible Health Consequences^2,3,4

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome
Cannabis Use Disorder
Negative impacts on lung health
Negative impacts on mental health

Marijuana as Medicine⁵

Drugs containing cannabinoids may be helpful in treating certain rare forms of epilepsy, nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy, and loss of appetite and weight loss associated with HIV/AIDS. In addition, some evidence suggests modest benefits of cannabis or cannabinoids for chronic pain and multiple sclerosis symptoms. Research on cannabis or cannabinoids for other conditions is in its early stages. The FDA has not approved the cannabis plant for any medical use. However, the FDA has approved several drugs that contain individual cannabinoids.

Epidiolex, which contains a purified form of CBD derived from cannabis, was approved for the treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome, two rare and severe forms of epilepsy.

Marinol and Syndros, which contain dronabinol (synthetic THC), and Cesamet, which contains nabilone (a synthetic substance similar to THC), are approved by the FDA. Dronabinol and nabilone are used to treat nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy. Dronabinol is also used to treat loss of appetite and weight loss in people with HIV/AIDS.

Policy and Legal Classification

Marijuana is a Schedule 1 controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act and Idaho law. As such, the use and sale of marijuana for any purpose is illegal in Idaho. 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. Additionally, it is illegal to publicly 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.

Current Ballot Initiatives

As of November 2024

Kind Idaho, a cannabis activism group, has launched a ballot initiative to decriminalize the personal use of marijuana. The measure would allow the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana flower or 1,000 milligrams of THC in products such as oils, tinctures, and edibles. It would also permit the home cultivation of up to 12 plants, with adults allowed to securely store up to eight ounces of marijuana harvested from those plants at home or on private property, as long as it remains inaccessible to minors. Consumption in public or open settings would be prohibited. The Idaho Secretary of State has approved the initiative for signature collection, which will require a total of 70,725 signatures from at least 6% of registered voters in 18 of Idaho’s 35 legislative districts in order to qualify for the 2026 ballot. All signatures must be collected by April of 2026 for the measure to be included on the ballot.

You can find updates on Idaho substance-related legislative activities on the ODP Legislative Bill Tracker.

Idaho Office of Drug Policy

ODP Policy Statement on Marijuana Legalization

Public Health Organizations

Resources for Prevention Providers

SAMHSA Resource Guide: Preventing Marijuana Use Among Youth

Resources for Parents & Caregivers

Parent Infographic – Do you know about marijuana? Talk with your kids about the facts
Parent Brochure – Talking with your child about marijuana: Keeping your kids safe
Partnership to End Addiction – Marijuana: What you need to know to help protect children, teens, and young adults
ODP’s BeTheParents campaign provides parents and caregivers with resources and information to help start and maintain communication with children and teens about the dangers of alcohol and drug use. Visit betheparents.org
The Partnership for Drug Free Kids has a helpful guide for parents. Download it here.

Fast Facts

Prevention

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. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration notes that approximately 1 in 10 people who use marijuana will become addicted. When they start before age 18, the rate of addiction rises to 1 in 6.⁶

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. Additional information and resources to support parents and prevention providers in preventing youth marijuana use are available above under the ‘Resources and Fast Facts’ tab.

Updated: December 12, 2024