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Effects on youth

Youth are at special risk for harm

  • Brain development isn’t complete until age 25. For the best chance to reach their full potential, youth shouldn’t use cannabis. 
  • Youth who use cannabis regularly are more likely to have a hard time learning, problems remembering, and lower math and reading scores. These effects can last weeks after the last time they used cannabis.
  • cannabis is addictive. It’s harder to stop using cannabis if started at a young age.
  • Youth who start using cannabis, alcohol, or other drugs may be more likely to continue using later in life.
  • Youth who use cannabis are more likely to have suicidal thoughts or to attempt suicide.

Cannabis use by Colorado youth

  • 4 out of 5 high-school students don’t use cannabis. In 2019, 20.62 percent of Colorado high school students used cannabis in the last 30 days. It’s easier for youth to say no to peer pressure if they don’t think “everyone” is doing it.
  • Of Colorado high-school seniors who have used cannabis, more than 1 out of 3 started before age 15. Be sure to talk early and often with youth about the risks of using cannabis. 
  • Explore more in-depth data from the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey.

All information on the health effects of cannabis is taken from the Retail Marijuana Public Health Advisory Committee’s systematic review of available, high-quality research.

Resources

  • Laws about cannabis use, including legal consequences for youth.
  • Safe storage of cannabis products to prevent youth use.
  • Fact sheets about the laws and health effects of youth use, tips for parents, and resources for organizations.
  • Whether you’re a teacher, a professional working with youth, or a caring adult in your community whom youth trust, it’s important to be equipped with the right information.