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"My parents used weed when they were in college and they’re fine. I’ll be fine too."            

  • THC levels in cannabis in 2019 average about 13% compared to 3.75% in 1995, as reported by the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).
  • Today’s users are much more likely to experience the negative short-term and long-term side effects of cannabis use due to high THC.
  • High levels of THC without CBD to balance it can result in bad highs, calls for emergency service, and/or mental health concerns in some users.
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"Smoking after drinking reduces a hangover."            

  • Hangovers are caused by dehydration and the toxins in your body after a night of drinking; unfortunately cannabis can't rehydrate you or remove toxins.
  • Cannabis is used medicinally to reduce nausea in patients who go through chemotherapy. This could be a reason why some people use cannabis to help with the nausea when hungover.
  • To reduce the chances of getting an alcohol-induced hangover, eat a proper meal before you start drinking alcohol and drink lots of water while consuming alcohol.
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"Drinking lots of water removes cannabis from my system."    

  • The average blood THC elimination half-life is 5-6 days and the average urine THC excretion half-life is 3-4 days. A half life is the amount of time it takes for half of the substance to be removed from your body, so it can take more than a week for you to be rid of the metabolites if no more cannabis is consumed after that week.
  • Factors that might result in higher levels of THC metabolite accumulation in the body are dosage, type of administration (eating vs. smoking), rates of metabolism, etc..
  • The more cannabis you consume, the more metabolites are going to be found in your body.
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"Cannabis is a plant, so how can it be harmful?"           

  • First, we're not saying it's always harmful, just that it can be harmful in some circumstances. Second, maybe the plant thing isn't the best argument, poison ivy is a plant - but is it good for you? The US has 8 plant species that kill humans.
  • Keep in mind that safe recreational use is possible, medical use is possible, and problematic use is possible too. Check out the 'safe use' section on the cannabis 101 page. 
  • In some instances, cannabis can cause negative health effects and other problems. Check out the potential concerns page.
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"Weed isn’t addictive like other drugs."       

  • 9% of people who try cannabis become addicted. If you use before age 18 the rate of dependence is about 17% or 1 in 6.
  • In 2015, about 4.0 million people in the United States met the diagnostic criteria for cannabis use disorder.
  • Withdrawal symptoms are well documented and include mood and sleep difficulties, decreased appetite, restlessness, anxiety and/or physical discomfort that peak within the 1st week after quitting and last up to 2 weeks.
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"I can smoke anywhere since it's legal now."       

  • Consistent with the Smoke- and Tobacco-Free policy on all UC campuses, the possession, use and sale of cannabis is prohibited on UC property.
  • Similar to other substances, public use is not allowed.
  • Smoking cannabis is not allowed in places where tobacco is prohibited. This includes public establishments, such as businesses, schools, government buildings and hospitals. 
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"I won’t get into trouble for driving high."       

  • “Drive high, get a DUI.” If you haven’t seen these signs around major freeways, you probably will soon.
  • It’s against the law for any individual to drive while under the influence of any drug; that includes cannabis.
  • Blood and urine tests can be used to detect THC levels; however, these tests do not indicate when cannabis was used or how high a person currently is. Law enforcement relies on physical behavioral cues to detect impairment from cannabis or another substance.
  • Similar to driving under the influence of alcohol, If you are convicted of a cannabis DUI, you can face fines and fees up to $2,000, license suspension, mandatory training and possible jail time.
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“Weed before beer and you’re in the clear.”        

  • Weed is a psychoactive substance and alcohol is a respiratory system depressant
  • “Greening out” can occur and one can experience disorientation, nausea, dizziness, and low blood pressure when abruptly sitting/standing up
  • Mixing = very dangerous to drive due to tunnel vision (8 times higher increase of fatal accident)
  • Can have negative psychological effects - higher risk of panic attacks and/or paranoia