People refer vaguely to a “marijuana problem” suggesting the drug impairs the development, learning, and schooling of youngsters. This study uses survey and interview data and recent findings reported in journals to consider that problem in the following areas: marijuana is being used too frequently and at too early an age, marijuana is being used for negative reasons, psychoactive effects of the drug lead to irrational or unsafe behavior, young people lack accurate information about the drug's effects, use of marijuana leads to dependence or to the use of other drugs, use of marijuana impairs ability to learn, and the use of marijuana contributes to schooling problems: absenteeism, tardiness, drug trafficking, and other negative behavior.
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