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Dealing with Your Weed Fundamentalist: 3 Need To Know Tips for Parents

Earlier this month on “Straight Talk from the Sober Chicks at Insight Counseling”, we introduced you to the new phenomenon we are calling, “Weed Fundamentalism.” The new “religion” we have seen take hold amongst many of the teenagers we meet in treatment. In part one of this ongoing series we discussed key narratives we hear expressed by those that view marijuana as an infallible plant, a gift from god, with no negative impacts on their growing brains. Check out our breakdown of the issue and some real sobering facts about the impact of marijuana use: 5 Signs That Might Mean You’re a “Weed Fundamentalist”

This week the Sober Chicks, Liz Driscoll Jorgensen & Sarah Allen Benton breakdown for parents some hard facts they can share with their teens about the impact and repercussions of marijuana use and we offer three useful pieces of advice for how to best deal with the weed fundamentalist in your household!

In my personal opinion, the decriminalization of marijuana is a good thing in that it no longer sends people to jail for something as small as marijuana use. It saves every taxpayers money when we don’t lock people up for smoking a joint; people are better served going to treatment as opposed to serving jail time and living with a criminal record. However, with it’s decriminalization in many states and legalization in others, the Sober Chicks think it might be time for a public health campaign that sheds light on some of the dangers of regular marijuana use.

Many of our clients are minors and we have had more than one get in trouble with the law over their marijuana usage. These teens and many others have expressed a clear misinterpretation of the law. Our practice, Insight Counseling, LLC is located in Connecticut where marijuana use is decriminalized. Many teens we have worked with fail to understand even the difference between legalization and decriminalization and how it applies to them as minors. One client pulled over by police after smoking pot proceeded to argue that it wasn’t a crime for him to use marijuana, to which the officer explained that yes it was because they were under 21.

Public health campaigns have done a great job at informing young people about the dangers of other legal, but dangerous substances such as alcohol and tobacco. Clients who are expressed “Weed Fundamentalist” have shared with us a clear understanding of the dangers of both alcohol and tobacco, but clearly believe that marijuana is a benign, if not beneficial, substance!

Parents often struggle with their teens in this battle to make kids understand that smoking pot isn’t as safe as they think it is. Here are three pieces of advice for dealing with a stubborn teen, hellbent on smoking pot:

Dealing with Your Weed Fundamentalist: 3 Tips for Parents

1. Tell Your Weed Fundamentalist Smoking Weed is a Safety Issue
   1. Science proves marijuana use is detrimental to a developing brain. Smoking even a couple times a month before the age of 25 can reduce IQ!
   2. Marijuana use reduces reaction time up to 10 hours after use! If your teen is driving then that is a safety issue.
2. As Parents You Have LEVERAGE!
   1. Driving is an earned privilege. If your teen is caught smoking marijuana withhold access to their vehicle unless they submit to drug screenings.
   2. They live in your house under your rules!
3. Encourage Dialogue, Don’t Condone it!
   1. Don’t be afraid to have a conversation about the facts.
   2. Be gentle but firm, don’t get emotional.

This is a topic that we will continue to address on further episodes of, “Straight Talk From the Sober Chicks at Insight Counseling,” as a part of an ongoing series on “Weed Fundamentalism.” If you have any questions about marijuana use, or any other parenting issue, just ask the Sober Chicks! We would love to hear your thoughts and questions and we will share the answer on an upcoming episode of, “Straight Talk.” Use the contact form below and put “Question for the Sober Chicks” in the subject line.

Thanks for listening, and don’t forget to take your sobriety seriously, but not yourself too seriously!

– Liz & Sarah

Have a question for the Sober Chicks? Contact us through email at info@insightcounselingllc.com, or call: 203-431-9726.

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5 Signs That Might Mean You’re a “Weed Fundamentalist”

A growing trend that we have noticed in our practice here at Insight Counseling and we are calling it “Weed Fundamentalism.” Quite often we find ourselves working with clients that deny that marijuana causes damage to the growing teenage brain and can actually reduce your I.Q. 8-10 points over the course of your lifetime. In this episode of “Straight Talk from the Sober Chicks,” we break down five key identifiers that you might be, or might know, a “Weed Fundamentalist,” and share some great research studies that prove marijuana might not be as good for you as they preach.

These are some of the common justifications and arguments as to why marijuana is a benign substance; if you know anyone that has shown any of the following signs, he or she might be a convert to this new, growing “religion”:

1. Government doesn’t want you to know that weed cures cancer.
2. Weed is a plant, therefore it is safe.
3. Everything is better with weed.
4. Marijuana is a gift from God.
5. Obsessed with converting others to “Weed Worship”

Our main issue with those that preach the message that marijuana is a benign substance. We want to share with our podcast listeners some great resources that you can review that prove otherwise. Many of the clients we work with that express these beliefs also have a firm understanding that other substances, like alcohol and tobacco, are harmful substances.

With growing legislation to decriminalize and legalize marijuana, we feel it is important to have a public discussion about the facts and research that has been published on marijuana use and its effect on the brain. Here are some facts you can share with any “Weed Fundamentalist” that you might know to make sure they know the risk they take when they use marijuana:

1. Marijuana use (as little as 2x per month) can reduce I.Q. 8 to 10 points
2. On average weed has 12- 22% THC content, compared to 3-6% in the 1990’s.
3. Marijuana can lead to psychotic breaks; Emergency room statistics show 1 in 4 first time psychotic breaks are cause post week; most likely due to the high potency. Teens and young adults are having psychotic episodes due to weed use ONLY, and the rates are climbing.
4. Weed delays response times, as much as 1 to 3 seconds and DOES impair driving skills and any other activities that demand excellent reaction time for safety (such as skiing, hiking, skateboarding, etc.)

Here are some great resources for you to do your own research and be informed:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24190588

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25936584

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2809%2961037-0/fulltext?rss=yes

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