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President Donald Trump made a grave mistake in softening the federal stance on marijuana by reclassifying it as a Schedule III drug. The dangers of weed are real, insidious and growing worse.
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Increasingly legal and available around the country, pot is marketed to kids — through wacky colors, flavors and names — in a way that would horrify parents if done by other illicit industries.
Yet the drug has a profound impact on brain development in children, adolescents and young adults. Study after study has documented its profoundly destructive effects..."
[However, Trump knows this and intends the declassification to help those who need it for sincere medical purposes, not for kids to get high and kill brain cells ]
"The bottom line: Trump has signed off on this specifically to treat it as a controlled medicine. He remains vocally opposed to "Big Weed" marketing to children and has tasked his health officials with sounding the alarm on how it affects the developing brain. "
AI GENERATED
The concerns raised in the article regarding marijuana's impact on young people are supported by a substantial body of medical research focusing on the developing brain, which scientists define as continuing until approximately age 25.
Research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the CDC highlights several specific ways that early cannabis use can alter brain structure and function:
1. Disruption of Executive Function
The prefrontal cortex is one of the last parts of the brain to fully mature. It is responsible for complex decision-making, impulse control, and planning.
Accelerated Thinning: A longitudinal study of nearly 800 adolescents found that cannabis use was associated with an accelerated thinning of the prefrontal cortex.
Synaptic Pruning: THC (the psychoactive component of marijuana) can interfere with the natural process of synaptic pruning, where the brain streamlines connections to become more efficient.
2. Impact on IQ and Cognitive Ability
One of the most frequently cited studies (the Dunedin Study from New Zealand) tracked participants over several decades and found:
IQ Loss: Persistent, heavy users who started in their teens showed an average decline of 8 IQ points by adulthood.
Permanent Effects: Crucially, the study found that those who started using heavily as adults did not show the same decline, and those who started as teens did not fully recover their lost cognitive function even after quitting.
3. Mental Health and Psychosis
Because the adolescent brain is highly plastic (changeable), exposure to high concentrations of THC can lead to long-term mental health challenges:
Psychosis: There is a documented link between frequent use and the early onset of psychotic disorders, particularly in individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia.
Emotional Regulation: Frequent use is associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts in young adults.
4. The Endocannabinoid System
The brain naturally produces its own endocannabinoids that help manage memory, mood, and stress.
Receptor Overload: THC mimics these natural chemicals but binds much more strongly to receptors (CB1 and CB2). In a developing brain, this overload can desensitize the natural system, leading to issues with motivation and reward-seeking behavior later in life.
Current Trends in Potency
Medical experts often note that the marijuana available today is significantly more potent than in previous decades. In the 1990s, average THC content was around 4%; today, it frequently exceeds 15-25%, with concentrates (like dabs or vapes) reaching 80-90%. This higher dosage increases the risk of both addiction and the adverse neurological effects mentioned above.
