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In reply to the discussion: Casual marijuana use linked to brain changes [View all]RainDog
(28,784 posts)I have sons. Neither of them uses marijuana - as far as I know - one doesn't drink or anything else - the other is engaged and isn't out doing stupid things. So I'm grateful they made it through their teens years okay.
Here's the thing with mj, from my perspective.
No 12 year old should use mj - unless it's for medical reasons - and there are valid ones, like epilepsy, adjunct to cancer treatment, etc. But I don't think 12 y/os need to use any substance, and if my sons had - they would've gotten medical treatment if needed to help them get through their teens years w/o using any substance.
I think there's some good research that makes limiting any such substances to adults - for development for some who are at risk of certain mental conditions in any case (mainly schizophrenia - mj may impact age of onset) - and just b/c, in general, teenagers can wait to be adults to do adult things.
It's easier for teenagers to get mj than alcohol - it's sold in schools. If it were taxed and regulated like alcohol for recreational use - attention could go toward keeping substances out of schools and helping those young people who need it, if they do, to make other choices at that point in life.
fwiw - avg IQ is below 110 - which would've been your brother's, from what you said. People with high IQs often have mental illness too - bipolar disorder is a common one b/c mania gives them the energy to do - and the risk taking feeling, etc. Nature sometimes gives and takes in the same measure for the same thing.
your brother would've had to have an IQ far lower than the national avg. to be barely coherent - so, again, it sounds like something else might've been going on as well. But I don't know. Your explanation would lead me to certain questions about any 12 year old. (for instance, kids who drink when very young are often dealing with abuse - they self medicate to deal with what they can't deal with.) But, people who are just curious can sometimes make bad choices, too.
I question when people make statements like yours because they're part of the history of propaganda that, imo, has been very bad for everyone.
Things that are not appropriate for a 12 year old, however, may be entirely appropriate for an adult. I don't think stories about kids who had bad experiences are any reason to prohibit adults from making choices for themselves - this, in fact, is the very definition of adulthood - taking responsibility for your own life.
I'm sorry your brother had so many difficulties.