Despite it being illegal in most states, it seems like more and more people are “blasting the joint”.

Marijuana, also known as cannabis, refers to the dried leaves, flowers and stems found in the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plant. The drug contains a mind-altering chemical of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is responsible for the euphoric feeling associated with the “high” received from the drug. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, it is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States. It is typically smoked in the form of a joint, which is a hand-rolled cigarette, or a bong, but can also be mixed with food and eaten.

According to a National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, some adolescents are already abusing the drug at ages 12 or 13. This may indicate that some begin earlier. This early abuse can continue to adulthood. However, gender, race, and geographic location may play a role in how and when children begin abusing this drug.

Numbers continue to rise in early drug abuse, negatively affecting the lives of thousands in the United States.

Weed, pot, dope, and Mary Jane are just a few of many street names for marijuana, the gateway drug that affects many.