Cannabis Info & Resource Center
Discover the facts about cannabis and how it impacts your brain, body, and future. Explore reliable resources, tips for staying substance-free, and support to make informed decisions about your health.
✓ Access to resources
✓ fact-checked information
✓ current data
Wait, what’s cannabis??
Cannabis, according to the National Institutes of Health, is a term that refers to all products that come from the Cannabis sativa plant. You may know cannabis by other names like “marijuana,” “pot,” or “weed.” All of these terms reference the same thing and are used interchangeably with the name “cannabis.”
Types of Cannabis
The cannabis plant contains over 400 different chemicals, but 2 that you have probably heard of are CBD and THC. Let’s take a closer look at what these chemical compounds are and how they are different.
CBD
Cannabidiol
This is one of the 400+ chemicals found in the cannabis plant. Unlike THC, CBD is NOT a psychoactive compound. Read more about CBD here.
THC
Delta 9 Tetrahydrocannabinol
This is the naturally psychoactive or “mind-altering” chemical found in the cannabis plant.
Because Delta 9 THC is psychoactive, underage use can cause some serious and long-lasting harm to the developing brain.
Delta 9 cannabis products are federally illegal, but legal in some states (like Illinois) to those over the age of 21.
THC Variants
Delta 8 & Delta 10
Delta 8, Delta 10, and other cannabis variants are not typically psychoactive in nature because they come from the hemp variety.
While these products are federally legal, they are unregulated forms of “synthetic” cannabis products, known for their severe and dangerous side effects associated with the hazardous chemicals used to synthetically extract THC from hemp. Find out more about Delta 8 THC here.
How does cannabis (THC) impact youth?
The human brain takes a while to fully develop – about 25 years in total. This means that for those under age 25, their brains are still developing.
Cannabis use prior to age 25 can cause serious harm to the way the brain functions. Underage cannabis use has been associated with the development of mental health issues like depression and social anxiety, psychosis, and long-term conditions such as schizophrenia.
Furthermore, early use is associated with an increased risk for addiction, or cannabis use disorder. Approximately 3 in 10 people who use cannabis have a cannabis use disorder. The earlier someone starts using and the more often they use, the more likely the risk for harm and addiction.
What’s the Difference?
Medical Use
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, qualifying patients must be over the age of 18 years old and diagnosed with a debilitating condition, as defined in the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act, to be eligible for medical cannabis use in Illinois.
Recreational Use
Recreational use constitutes consumption of cannabis products by adults over the age of 21 regardless of having a medical condition or not.
While recreational use is federally prohibited due to its intoxicating effects, it is legal in certain states like Illinois.
Teen Use
When teens and adolescents consume cannabis, the effects are vastly different from the effects that adults experience. Consumption can result in long lasting adverse health effects and potentially dangerous side effects, especially when high potency products like edibles or vapes are consumed.
Adult Use
Adult medical and recreational use of cannabis products can still be variable. Cannabis interacts with the mind and body in a different way each time that it is consumed. Adult use, though legal in some states, can still have negative side effects and may be linked to long-term chronic health problems.
Why does PEER call it cannabis instead of marijuana?
The etymology of the term “marijuana” is quite complex. It’s history is largely intertwined with race and ethnicity, which promotes stigma about the cannabis plant and perpetuates harm in many Latinx communities.
Not only is this racially and ethnically charged term problematic, it’s also scientifically inaccurate. Both the CDC and the NIH have now adopted the term “cannabis” to transparently describe products that derive from the Cannabis sativa plant.
Reasons Include:
✓ Scientific Accuracy
✓ Deracialization
✓ Destigmatization
Looking to quit or reduce your cannabis use?
Connect with one of our trained professionals to get support
or check out some of our staff-favorite resources below:
Stanford Medicine: Quitting Tips for Cannabis | Clear30: Improve Your Relationship With Cannabis | Very Well Mind: What Do Marijuan Withdrawal Symptoms Feel Like?
Check Out Our Prevention Playlist
Discover more of our favorite cannabis-related resources on YouTube. Our “Cannabis Resources for Teens” playlist is a curated collection of videos from trusted sources designed to help teens just like you learn key facts to make critical choices about substance use.
Frequently Asked Cannabis Questions:
Frequently Asked Questions
Response coming soon
Frequently Asked Questions
Response coming soon
Frequently Asked Questions
Response coming soon
Frequently Asked Questions
Response coming soon
Frequently Asked Questions
Response coming soon
Frequently Asked Questions
Response coming soon
Still have questions? We have answers! Email one of our prevention experts at prevention@peerservices.org