Westborough High School has a severe problem with students coming to school high from the effects of marijuana. Lots of classes have students who are high, regardless of class period. In my period one class last semester, there were numerous students who actually would brag about coming to school under the influence. 

These students will wake up and immediately smoke, they have to be high to even get through their daily actions. This is a major problem especially because a lot of these students are upper-classmen with their drivers’ licenses. This means they are driving a car while high. It has become normalized. Driving while high is still illegal as it is considered a D.U.I. (Driving Under the Influence); and the punishments are as severe as those caught while drunk driving. 

Another major problem with students smoking is the revolution of dab pens. These pens are small and discrete–they can easily be hidden in a pocket or pencil case. Dabs are even worse for the body as they are a more concentrated form of cannabis with extremely high levels of THC. 

According to the American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychology, teenage marijuna use is at its highest level in 30 years. Along with this fact, marijuana has higher levels of THC in it now than ever before; it is believed that the increase in THC will lead to mental health problems such as schizophrenia and depression. The number of teenagers who smoke will also only keep increasing as students have easier access to cannabis now than ever before. 

Overall, many students are still smoking weed as they do not know the full dangers it can contain. It is extremely unsafe, especially for a developing teenager’s mind. Students in general need to step up and agree to stop using marijuana, especially during school hours. 

To get help, see some of the resources below:

https://nami.org/Home

https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline

Source: https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Marijuana-and-Teens-106.aspx