Edible Marijuana: Is It Safe?

Gr 7 Up—With the legalization of marijuana in several states and more soon to follow, the business of marijuana is booming, especially in the form of edibles—baked goods, candies, oils, and even pot-laced ramen noodles. In this video, the facts, delivered by psychologists and counselors, are interspersed with clips of teens giving their own accounts about consuming edibles or choosing not to. The program stresses the potency of this slower-acting form of marijuana and that many users consume too much before they begin to feel the effects. When smoked, the chemical tetrahydrocannabinol acts on the brain within seconds; however, when the substance is ingested as edibles, it may take one to two hours for users to feel the full effects of the dose. Teens talk about getting too high and being incapacitated and nauseated for hours. Some have had panic attacks. A counselor reports that it's possible for users to have hallucinations or psychotic breaks if they ingest too high of a dose. Also, teen brains are especially vulnerable to long-term effects of marijuana use, and adolescents may incur memory and learning deficiencies, anxiety, depression, addiction, and a lower lifetime IQ. Teens discuss natural highs, including exercise and creative activities. The decision not to have a narrator and to allow the teens and experts to speak without interpretation makes the film more engaging and effective. Viewers will gain the knowledge to make informed decisions.