When New Jersey put forth its referendum on the legalization of marijuana back in 2020, PDFNJ advocated for an engaging, research-based public discussion, and since then we have been working to prevent underage use of marijuana.  In this recent editorial, “It’s Time for America to Admit It Has a Marijuana Problem,” the New York Times’ editorial board now acknowledges things have gone too far.

Unfortunately, the editorial makes no specific mention of underage use of marijuana or the harmful effects that occur when our youth experiment and become regular users. We know there is a mental health crisis among our youth. Sadly, some teenagers are turning to marijuana as way of dealing with their anxiety, depression and other mental health issues.  We also know marijuana use can affect cognitive development and lead to poor judgement. Similar to alcohol, the earlier one starts using marijuana, the more likely they are to develop a marijuana use disorder. I wish the editors of Times had addressed this issue

Targeted prevention strategies are needed to ensure our youth do not experiment with marijuana. We also need to promote greater awareness to ensure that edible marijuana products used in the home are safely secured so as to prevent children from consuming them and experiencing toxic effects that may require a hospital visit. Schools, faith-based and community organizations can do their part by helping parents and other adult caregivers learn about marijuana use and other drug trends by scheduling the  PDFNJ’s 15 Minute Child Break Presentation, a free multi-media program that provides effective preventive strategies to communicate with their kids about substance use and misuse.