There are stronger forms of marijuana available today than there were in the 1960's, and most teens say it is easy to get. Marijuana can be laced with other drugs, such as crack cocaine and PCP, without the user knowing. Marijuana contains more than 400 chemicals. Studies show that smoking five joints a week is like smoking a full pack of cigarettes every day. Among teens 12 to 17, the average age of first trying marijuana is 14.
Some children begin using marijuana at much younger ages.
Long-term studies of high school students show that very few young people use other drugs without first trying marijuana. Marijuana is not medicine. It is made up of many different drugs called cannabinoids. Some of these cannabinoids may have medicine in them, and scientists are studying them. Marijuana is illegal.