In this Dec. 27, 2013, file photo, different strains of pot are displayed for sale at Medicine Man marijuana dispensary in Denver. Nationwide marijuana legalization seems inevitable to three-fourths of Americans, according to a new poll out Wednesday, April 2, 2014. The Pew Research Center survey on the nation’s shifting attitudes about drug policy also showed increased support for moving away from mandatory sentences for non-violent drug offenders.(AP Photo/Brennan Linsley, File)
HOMEWOOD, Alabama — Birmingham-area parents interested in talking to their children about marijuana are invited to attend an information forum at Homewood High School Tuesday, Oct. 28.
“Talking to children about the dangers of marijuana use has never been more difficult,” reads a Homewood City Schools news release about the event. “With states legalizing marijuana, kids are receiving mixed messages that are putting them at risk and making it more difficult for parents to provide factual guidance.”
Kevin A. Sabet Ph.D., who has over 18 years of experience working on drug policy, will lead Tuesday’s forum. According to the release, Sabet is the Director of the Drug Policy Institute at the University of Florida and an Assistant Professor in the College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry. He is the co-founder of Project SAM (Smart Approaches to Marijuana).
On his website, Sabet provides the following, what he refers to as “Seven Myths about Marijuana and Your Health:”
1. I can’t become addicted to marijuana
Marijuana may not be as addictive as tobacco or heroin, but 1 in every 6 teens (and 1 in every 11 adults) who ever try marijuana will become addicted to it. Just as with alcohol and tobacco, most chronic marijuana users who attempt to stop ‘cold turkey’ will experience an array of withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, restlessness, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and/or cravings. These are classic signs of dependency. Marijuana …read more