In 2021, Alabama legalized medical marijuana (Source: https://legiscan.com/AL/bill/SB46/2021). While there are stringent requirements to purchase medical marijuana in Alabama, there is widespread misinformation regarding the safety and long-term effects of marijuana use, especially among our youth.
According to the CDC (Source: https://www.cdc.gov/marijuana/factsheets/teens.htm), marijuana use among youth can lead to:
• Lower grades and higher risk of dropping out
•Increases in depression, anxiety, psychosis, and other mental issues
• Driving while under the influence of marijuana, which increases the risk of accidents
• Increased risk of addiction to marijuana, with one in six teens becoming addicted
The Covington County Children’s Policy Council provides parents and teens a number of programs and resources to reduce marijuana use. For more information on the dangers of marijuana use, please visit the following links:
