Last year, the joke was on me when I praised a well-designed, colorful poster made by a middle school student that touted "420." When they stopped laughing like hyenas, one pupil informed me that 420 is a well-known marijuana code and April 20 is widely regarded as Marijuana Appreciation Day. Oops.
From the hippie culture of the 1970s to the timeless popularity of Bob Marley, kids experiment with pot. The broader question still unanswered is how the increased availability of medical cannabis might affect today's teenagers and schools?
This week, Maryland's governor signed a bill making it the 21st state to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes. In November, Florida voters will have the chance to vote on legalizing medical marijuana.
But, has there been any valid research about the potentially devastating effects this might have on the already chronic drug problems in high schools here and across America?
The widely acclaimed, hit cable show "Breaking Bad" garnered many awards for its dark story about middle-age Walt, an uncompromising chemistry teacher who learns he has terminal lung cancer. With mounting bills, Walt encounters a former burn-out student, Jesse, and they begin cooking crystal meth in an RV. Set in New Mexico, the show repeatedly depicts marijuana as the gateway drug for the slew of addicts in its path.
Some teens test their limits and arrive in the classroom with glassy, bloodshot eyes. Kids who get stoned lose all motivation to do well in school. Expulsions occur when they're caught in possession, but accurate statistics are difficult to obtain. Now, add to the mix, the temptation of cannabis as a legalized substance, and it seems like a recipe for disaster.
According to the website drugabuse.gov, 9 percent of users become addicted to marijuana.
A close friend whose son attends high school on Long Island has been living every parent's worst nightmare for the past two years. In ninth grade, her son began sneaking out at night, skipping school, failing classes and stealing money from her wallet. The teenager fell in with the wrong crowd and began a downward spiral that could not be stopped without professional help. His addiction began with smoking pot.
Get help if you suspect your teen is involved with drugs. And think hard about the pros and cons before voting on the medical marijuana measure this fall.
Terri Friedlander can be reached at terrifriedlander.com.
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