it actually IS a big deal...

 On Thursday, November 29^th, the Arlington READY Coalition, a group with the goal of reducing and eliminating alcohol and drug use with youth, with the Arlington Teen Network Board and the Family Network of Arlington will be sponsoring the talk “Marijuana: What’s The Big Deal”. The event will take place in the Auditorium of the Arlington Central Library from 7pm-9pm.

There have been many misconceptions of the dangers of marijuana in recent events. Due to certain medical “benefits”, it seems that marijuana has been overlooked as not dangerous. Though marijuana is not necessarily lethal, it can affect the lungs and the brain. Marijuana distorts the thought process and impairs memory making, learning, and coordination. Long-term abuse of marijuana leads to addiction and may lead to increased levels of anxiety as well as depression and schizophrenia. All in all, there is a difference between marijuana use as medicinal and marijuana use being recreational and abusive.

The event will feature a panel with a young adult who will speak about his experience with substance abuse, a scientist from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, an emergency room M.D. and an Arlington police officer. At the event, you can discuss with a variety of Arlington community members about teen marijuana use and learn more about the drug. The event is NOT a drug’s anonymous meeting. Anyone and everyone is welcome to talk.

For more information, visit www.readycoalition.org or email ready@readycoalition.org.

 Sources:

http://www.ibtimes.com/%E2%80%98medical%E2%80%99-marijuana-10-health-benefits-legitimize-legalization-742456

http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana

http://www.republicreport.org/2012/marijuana-lobby-illegal/