The Dangers of Marijuana Alvin Poussaint, M.D. and Susan Linn, Ed. While many people feel that marijuana should be legalized, and it's not thought to be as lethal as drugs like heroin or cocaine, smoking marijuana isn't harmless. Because marijuana is so available to young people, it s important to begin talking with kids about it by the time they are 12, even if they don t raise the issue themselves.
Many schools start drug-education programs as early as sixth grade.
Find out how your school system handles drug education, and work with other parents to make sure children get accurate information. Expect to have conversations with your kids about drugs throughout their adolescence. Magazines or newspaper articles are often good jumping-off points for talks. You re getting to an age where you will have to make choices about all sorts of things, including drugs. Teens and preteens need to be told clearly that using the drug carries significant safety, health, and legal risks.