Marijuana, your teen and you

Known as grass or pot in the West and ganja in most of Southeast Asia, marijuana is the most frequently used illegal drug and its control remains one of the most controversial topics in both the medical and legal fields.
From the health side, it’s a “recreational” substance with a risk for potential abuse and adverse effects but also has medicinal properties that can help certain conditions. Legally speaking, it was included in the US pharmacopeia until 1943 before becoming an illegal drug and classified among the most dangerous “schedule 1 substances” by the federal government. Its use has now been decriminalized in some US states. In European countries, its possession is tolerated or considered a minor offence while in Asian countries, it is not differentiated from “harder” drugs such as heroin and may carry a long jail term and even the death penalty.
Always a popular drug with the young, marijuana use has shown a marked increase among teenagers and younger adults with regular usage ranging from 2 per cent to 22 per cent depending on the country.
Marijuana comes from the dry leaves, stems or seeds of the Cannabis sativa plant. It is smoked alone or in combination with tobacco but can also be mixed with food or beverages or used in with water pipes (bongs).
The main active substance is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which binds to cannabinoid receptors found in the brain, immune cells and other tissues. Within a few minutes and for about three to four hours, THC induces an enhanced sensation of well being. However, it may trigger short-term memory loss, disorientation and even depression and also lead to such other manifestations as increased appetite, slower reaction time, elevated heart rate and blood pressure. While the short-term effects appear to provide a positive experience, many chronic users report a growing negative affect on their personal and professional lives together with a poorer health status.
Addiction to cannabis and its consequence is a much-debated subject. While everyone agrees that cannabis is indeed addictive and may affect about 10 per cent of regular users, proponents of its use argue that the addiction rate is less than alcohol at about 15 per cent and much less than tobacco at 30 per cent.
However, in those who start smoking pot regularly as teenagers, the addiction may rise up to 25 to 50 per cent. While cannabis might not induce lasting health issues among the majority of occasional users, it is now accepted that younger individuals, especially teens, are much more susceptible to suffering serious consequences of marijuana use because their brains are still developing.
Indeed, new research suggests that regular cannabis consumption starting during the teenage years and continuing during adulthood could lead to an irreversible decrease in IQ and possibly a higher risk of psychiatric illnesses.
As young people are among those most exposed to the recreational use of marijuana, the heightened risk of cannabis addiction and related morbidity represent one of the most serious concerns for both physician and legislator.
Conversely, like the addictive morphine, which has therapeutic value, THC compounds have worthwhile benefits in reducing chronic pain and nausea among cancer patients, in enhancing appetite in Aids patients and for the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Other possible indications, including seizures, glaucoma and some degenerative diseases, have yet to be proved.
Research on THC binding to the multiple cannabinoid receptors is justified within the context of science to determine its benefits in various conditions. On the other hand, the risk for health hazards especially among the young needs to be effectively addressed through open child-parent communication, education and broad public awareness to prevent the negative impact of cannabis on our society.

DR GERARD LALANDE is Managing Director of CEO-HEALTH, which provides medical referrals for expatriates and customised executive medical |check-ups in Thailand. He can be contacted at |[email protected].