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Medical and recreational marijuana should have been legalized with strict regulations! According to some pediatricians, the legalization of marijuana, could be a threat for children and teens, with some exceptions.
Several stated in the U.S. agreed to legalize marijuana for medical and recreational use, but a group of American pediatricians, did not approve the legalization as they consider it could turn out to be harmful for children. Even tough there are certain cases were children with debilitating diseases could be treated with the chemical compounds found in marijuana.
Washington, Colorado, Alaska, the District of Columbia and Oregon are the states which have legalized recreational use of marijuana. Neither of these states allow selling of marijuana to children or teens, but a statement released by the American Academy of Pediatrics, said that facilitating the access of marijuana to adults could also increase the access of teens to it. The fact that the laws approve of marijuana use, could inflict into the minds of the teens that this drug is not dangerous, explained a member of the AAP Committee on Substance Abuse, doctor Seth D. Ammerman.
Members of the AAP also, recommended that the states which legalized marijuana, should set strict regulations for limiting the marketing of the drug to the young ones. The states with legal marijuana use, should also prohibit by law the sale of marijuana to those with the age under 21 years old.
Another situation to which the AAP is opposing, is the medical use of marijuana, except for the drugs which have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Presently, there are two types of drugs approved by the FDA, and both contain artificial cannabinoids which are substances similar to the ingredients found in marijuana.
According to some medical studies, the use of cannabinoids can be used as treatment for certain health condition in adults, but when it comes to children, no studies have been done yet. For this to happen, further research is needed, which could establish if marijuana can be effectively used on children and teens, stated the AAP.
The only exceptions could be done, for children suffering from debilitating diseases, in those cases, children could benefit from the cannabinoids treatment. One of those treatments stand for the pot strain known as Charlotte’s Web,a selectively breed which contains small quantities of cannabinoid, which apparently has been effective in restraining seizures in some children.
The effects of marijuana on teens have been linked to short term memory loss and low concentration, which could affect their learning capability. Also, the use of marijuana can alter the reactions and motor controls which could lead to injuries or death, especially if driving while being under the influence. Other studies, implied that teenagers smoking marijuana, have decreased chances of graduating high school.
Image Source: KQED News
