Colorado currently leads the nation in Teen marijuana use, and usage by Denver kids exceeds both state and national levels.  The Colorado legislature must direct substantial monies from Marijuana taxes towards a Universal Marijuana Prevention Education Curriculum.  Denver Public Schools should receive funds for the implementation of school day, science-based, informational experiences for marijuana prevention education serving middle and high school students. Early marijuana use threatens the mental health and development of our children*. Prevention education must seek to delay the onset of cannabis use among young people until adulthood and advise that early cannabis use is associated with a serious health risk*.

     Currently no Universal Plan directly targeting youth exists due to lack of funding and a diversion of Marijuana Tax money towards adult education.

*Evidence:

•     Many health risks associated with adolescent marijuana use stem from the fact that the developing adolescent brain is more vulnerable than the adult brain, as it is constantly pruning and forming new connections.
•     Studies predict persistent marijuana use begun during adolescence may permanently decrease IQ up to 8 points, lead to poor attention, memory, impulse control, loss of grey matter and cognitive decline. [1], [2],[3], [4], [5], 
•     The potency of marijuana has been increasing for decades, with THC concentrations rising from 4% in the 1980s to as much as 30% for smoked and 90% for vaporized concentrates. Exposure to higher concentrations of THC presents a greater chance of an adverse or unpredictable reaction, and the full range of consequences associated with marijuana’s higher potency is not well understood. [6]

 [1] Meier MH, Caspi A, Ambler A, et al.  Persistent cannabis users show neuropsychological decline from childhood to midlife.  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Oct 2;109(40):E2657-64.

[2] Gruber SA, Dahlgren MK, Sagar KA, Gönenc A, Killgore WD. Age of onset of marijuana use impacts inhibitory processing. Neurosci Lett. 2012;511(2):89–94 

[3] Silins E, Horwood LJ, Patton GC, et al.  Young adult sequelae of adolescent cannabis use: an integrative analysis.  Lancet Psychiatry. 2014;1(4):286-293

[4] Volkow, Nora, and Et.al. "Effects of Cannabis Use on Human Behavior." JAMA Network. JAMA Psychiatry, 3 Feb. 2016. Web. 16 Feb. 2016. <http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2488041> 

[5] Lopez-Larson MP, Bogorodzki P, Rogowska J, McGlade E, King JB, Terry J, et al. Altered prefrontal and insular cortical thickness in adolescent marijuana users. Behav Brain Res. 2011;220(1): 164–72.

[6] Hagler, Donald, MD, FCP. "Marijuana Use: Detrimental to Youth." American College of Pediatricians. American College of Pediatricians, 29 Oct. 2014. Web. 18 Mar. 2016. <http://www.acpeds.org/marijuana-use-detrimental-to-youth>