to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  • Drug Info
    • Paraphernalia
  • Drugs & Your Family
    • Accidental Exposure: Drugs and Young Children
    • Medications in Your Home
    • Signs of Drug Use
    • Social Media: Understanding a Teen's World
    • Talking to Your Child When You Suspect Drug Use
    • True Stories
    • Using Over-the-Counter Medication Safely
    • What You Should Know About Marijuana Concentrates/ Honey Butane Oil
    • What’s Happening in Your Child’s School
    • Why do Teens Use Drugs?
  • News & Media
    • Latest News
    • Emerging Drug Trends
    • Tracking Drug Use and Other Drug-Related Statistics
  • Consequences
    • Drugged Driving—What You Should Know
    • How Do Drug Overdoses Happen?
    • How Drugs Alter Brain Development and Affect Teens
    • School Failure
    • State and Federal Drug Laws
    • Treatment and Recovery
    • True Stories
    • VIDEO: Taking Prescription Drugs to Get High—A Bad Idea
  • Get Involved
    • DEA Museum
    • DEA Red Ribbon Week Patch Program
    • Get Involved in a Community Anti-Drug Coalition
    • National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
    • National Recovery Month 2021
    • Operation Prevention
    • Red Ribbon Week is Oct. 23-31
    • Upcoming DEA 360 Events
  • Search
  • Menu
Home
  • English
  • Spanish
  • DEA Publications
  • Get Updates
  • Find Help
  • Menu

Main Menu

  • Drug Info
  • Drugs & Your Family
  • News & Media
  • Consequences
  • Get Involved
  • Search
  • Menu

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Consequences
  3. Marijuana FAQs

Marijuana FAQs

Last Updated: Tuesday November 30, 2021


teen girl with question marks above her head

Where do you get information about drugs?

If you're like many people, you'd turn to the internet for answers.

There is a lot of information online. And, unfortunately, there's  a lot of incorrect info out there -- especially when it comes to drug use.

Are you looking for accurate info about marijuana? We've pulled together a few of the most frequently asked questions about weed online and answered them below.

 

Q: Is Marijuana Addictive?

marijuana buds

A: Possibly.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse:

“Marijuana use can lead to the development of problem use, known as a marijuana use disorder, which takes the form of addiction in severe cases.”

In addition, a lot of the marijuana consumed presently has a higher level of THC (the chemical that causes the drug’s “high”). Researchers still don’t know about the long-term effects of using high THC marijuana.

 

Q: Is Marijuana a Controlled Substance?

A: Yes.

Marijuana is a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, meaning that it has a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.

 

Learn more: Drug Scheduling

 

 

Q: Is marijuana legal?

federal and state marijuana laws graphic and judge gavel

A: If you’re under the age of 18, recreational marijuana use is illegal for you in all 50 states.

In recent years, different parts of the country have changed their marijuana laws. But recreational use of the drug for people under 21 is still illegal. Some states have legalized medical marijuana use for people 18 years old (or younger in certain states or instances).

Marijuana is also still illegal on a federal level.

 

Get more marijuana questions and answers on JustThinkTwice.com

Featured Articles
Marijuana and lungs
Lung Cancer Diagnosis Comes 2.8 Years Sooner for Smokers of Both Tobacco and Marijuana
Beware illicit fentanyl
Illicit Fentanyl PSA
Woman uses a phone
Suicide Prevention Lifeline Transitions to 988
Wyatt Williamson
Wyatt's Story
Related Articles
Study: Regularly Using Marijuana as a Teen Slows Brain Development

Footer

  • About this site
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
  • Useful links
    • DEA Publications
    • Drugs & Paraphernalia
    • Find Help
    • Just Think Twice
    • Campus Drug Prevention
  • About DEA
    • Accessibility
    • DEA: Who We Are
    • FOIA
    • U.S. Department of Justice
    • U.S. Department of Justice EEO Policy
    • Legal Policies and Disclaimers
    • USA.gov
Home
This is a United States Government, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) website. The inclusion of a link on this website does not constitute an official endorsement, guarantee, or approval by DEA.