I've never been a fan of things associated with party culture whether it's been alcohol, cigarettes, or recreational drugs like marijuana. The amount of THC, which is the component that makes a person attain the associated "high" in strains of cannabis has grown over the years compared to what it was in the past.

According to the National Institute for Drug Abuse, "In the early 1990s, the average THC content in marijuana was about 3.74 percent. In 2013, it was almost 10 percent, and much higher in some products such as oils and other extracts." This could mean it's easier for users to become addicted as well as increased emergency room visits for symptoms of losing touch with reality also known as psychosis.

This is a very dangerous symptom of taking recreational drugs that has led to things such as death or very destructive self-harm such as gouging one's own's eyes out. The cognitive effects of continued marijuana use is serious including a decrease in ability to make decisions, concentrate, and memorization abilities. These cognitive effects last days and begin almost immediately with smoking marijuana. Smoking marijuana is more likely to make a person engage in risky behaviors due to their inhibited ability to make good decisions. Some examples of these known risky behaviors are things such as unsafe sex and getting in a car with someone who is intoxicated or high.

Smoking marijuana regularly will obviously cause effects on the body similar to regularly smoking cigarettes such as lung problems. Smoking marijuana is also seen to increase a person's suicidal thoughts, depression, anxiety, and it is known that it will increase their susceptibility to developing schizophrenia. Teens who smoke cannabis are 65% more likely to get into a car accident than their non-smoking counterparts. Despite what most people may think, anything can be addictive including the use of marijuana. When marijuana users stop using, they will develop symptoms of withdrawal. Long-term use has been known to cause permanent effects on the brain such as changes in brain structure as well as lower IQs. Stroke and heart failure are also common effects of long-term marijuana use.

There are known numerous negative psychological, physical, and social problems that come with using cannabis. According to medicinenet.com, users "Often taking marijuana in larger amounts or over a longer period of time than planned", have a "Persistent desire to use marijuana or trouble decreasing or controlling its use", "Spend significant time either obtaining marijuana (for example, buying, growing), using it, or recovering from its effects", have "Significant social, educational, occupational, or leisure activities are either abandoned or significantly decreased as a result of marijuana's use", "Marijuana use continues despite being aware of or experiencing persistent or repeated physical or psychological problems as a result of its use."