Marijuana is a psychoactive drug that has become legalized in an increasing number of U.S. states. In 1996, California became the first state to legalize the medicinal use of marijuana. As of March 1, 2026, 40 states, the District of Columbia (DC), Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have all adjusted their drug use laws to accommodate the medicinal use of marijuana. 24 of these states, along with DC, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands, have also legalized marijuana for recreational use.
With an increasing normalization of marijuana use — whether recreational or medicinal — the effects of the drug may appear harmless. However, scientific research indicates that marijuana has long-term effects on the brain and can even be lethal if taken without caution. This is particularly the case when marijuana is orally digested — colloquially referred to as “edibles”. While it is rare that a lethal dose of cannabis is taken, it is more likely to occur through oral ingestion, as effects can take slightly longer to kick in during digestion than when inhaled.
Marijuana contains compounds named phytocannabinoids, which contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC exhibits immunosuppressive activity, which can be dangerous. Immunosuppressive drugs, often contained in steroids, reduce the immune system’s function. The decision to prescribe a patient with this type of drug is typically left to an individual doctor’s case-by-case judgment. Although recreational use of marijuana is permitted in roughly 50 percent of states, marijuana’s immunosuppressive activity is not necessarily well understood by its users.
Additionally, the number of teenagers using marijuana is rapidly increasing. In 2022, 30.7 percent of 12th graders in the U.S. reported using cannabis in the past year. If a teenager uses marijuana prior to complete frontal lobe development, which primarily occurs between ages 25 and 30, the prefrontal cortex can experience thinning.
The prefrontal cortex is one of the primary regions responsible for the brain’s decision-making skills, personality expression, and social behavior. It is the last portion of the brain that finishes developing — in particular, the extensive myelination process in the area delays its completion. Myelination is when the brain forms a protective covering around the brain’s “wiring,” neuronal axons.
Beyond the development of critical thinking skills, the prefrontal cortex is also important due to its involvement in many health conditions, such as epilepsy, depression, and schizophrenia.
Even though marijuana is primarily known for its recreational uses and effects, it continues to serve as an important beacon of treatment within the medical world. Medical marijuana is often utilized to offer patients relief when treating certain medical conditions, such as Alzheimer’s Disease, HIV/AIDS, or even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
In particular, medicinal marijuana helps alleviate chronic pain. 94 percent of Colorado medical marijuana ID cardholders label “chronic pain” as the medical condition they are using marijuana to treat.
While cannabis has been around for many years, it only became popular in the U.S. in the early 20th century. In 1970, the federal government enacted the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), which allowed for governmental control over both medical and recreational compounds. Marijuana and other similar drugs became labeled as Schedule I controlled substances, meaning that possession, cultivation, or distribution of marijuana is illegal unless under research circumstances.
To this day, marijuana’s legal standing is ambiguous. Although many states have approved medicinal use, federal law often outweighs state law, leading to complicated disputes.
As of 2026, recreational usage of marijuana remains illegal in Pennsylvania. However, if a person is found in possession of a small amount of marijuana, they will receive a fine instead of being arrested. While medicinal marijuana usage is allowed, residents are required to apply for a medicinal marijuana card, which allows patients who have conditions like chronic pain that disrupt daily life to be treated with the drug.
Carnegie Mellon follows federal restrictions on marijuana usage elaborated in the Carnegie Mellon University Alcohol and Drug Policy. While “the university permits the use of alcohol or drugs within its community only in a manner that is legal, responsible, and consistent … the unlawful manufacture, possession, distribution, sale, or use of drugs is prohibited at the university.”
This is due in part to the fact that marijuana’s effects can vary greatly; though many people view marijuana as a way to simply “get high,” reactions to the drug can differ based on the person. Cannabis has hundreds of compounds, though the two that scientists often choose to focus on are the aforementioned cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Marijuana supporters often talk about the positive effects of being high, such as a sense of euphoria, a stronger sense of creativity, and a feeling of relaxation. However, after these positive sensations, otherwise labeled as the peak of euphoria, users may begin to feel hunger, sleepiness, or anxiety. The duration or number of stages that each person experiences is dependent on the method of ingestion, sex, or age of the user.
With the popularity of the drug, stereotypes surrounding it have grown in popular culture. For instance, regular marijuana users are labeled as “stoners.” The common misconception is that stoners are often lazy and unmotivated. However, interestingly enough, a study conducted in 2024 reports that marijuana users are just as likely to complete a task that they are asked to complete when they are high as they are when they are sober. What cannabis does affect, however, is self-regulation, which controls a person’s impulsiveness and thoughtfulness.
The day of publication, April 20, represents a day on which many cannabis users smoke or ingest cannabis to get high. The reasoning behind this particular date becoming “Pot Day” is ambiguous. Some claim that it is because 420 was the police code for marijuana possession, while others claim that it arose from Bob Dylan’s “Rainy Day Women No. 12 & 35” — 12 times 35 being 420.
Regardless of its origins, April 20 is a prevalent part of American culture. However, despite growing availability, it is important to remain informed about the drugs we ingest and their potential side effects.
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