Marijuana, or cannabis, is the most used illicit drug in the United States. In 2018, 43.5 million people reported using marijuana in the past year. Based upon the 2020 Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment Survey, 18.8 % of LeFlore county 12th grade students reported using marijuana within the last 30 days, while 18.3% of LeFlore county adults reported using marijuana within the last 30 days (CBPS,2021). Marijuana acts by binding to cannabinoid receptors in the brain to produce a variety of effects, including euphoria, intoxication, and memory and motor impairments.
Marijuana and its related products are widely available in multiple forms, with varying concentrations of constituent chemicals, the most salient of which are known collectively as “cannabinoids”. Marijuana has changed over time; the marijuana available today is much more potent than what was available in the past.
The risks of physical dependence, addiction, and other negative consequences increase with frequent use, exposure to high concentrations of THC and with younger age of initiation. Higher doses of THC are more likely to produce anxiety, agitation, paranoia, and psychosis. Use of edible marijuana can increase the risk of unintentional overdose due to its lengthy absorption time and delayed effect, often prompting the user to take a second dose. Edibles, which may have the appearance of desserts or snacks, are also increasingly a cause of accidental ingestion by children and adolescents. In 2019, the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention Services reported that among individuals ae 10 and older, there were 28 cannabis related non-fatal hospital discharges in LeFlore county and there were 105 treatment admissions by ODMHSAS or a Medicaid behavioral health provider who stated that marijuana was their primary drug of choice.
This information is provided by the LeFlore County Coalition for Healthy Living and SE Oklahoma Community Based Prevention Services. If you would like more information, please contact Marcey Ford 405-687-1301 or marcey.ford@forestgrove.k12.ok.us.
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