The New York Times declined to print this letter to the editor responding to their editorial on marijuana.
We commend the @nytimes for acknowledging the problems created by easy access to recreational marijuana in their recent piece.We agree THC potency should be limited, not marketed like candy, and not sold as medicine without evidence of efficacy. Pregnant and nursing mothers should avoid marijuana entirely.
The central concern is who is using it. Heavy users are not elderly cancer patients, but young men under 25. In 2022, 26% of adults ages 18–25 reported past-month use. THC exposure before age 25 can cause permanent IQ loss. Nearly 30% of users develop cannabis use disorder, and 40% of users report daily or near-daily use. Regular use is strongly linked to psychosis, with higher risks for males.
Between 30–50% of those with cannabis use disorder may later develop chronic schizophrenia. Taxes did not curb tobacco use; social pressure and clear warnings did. Marijuana should carry black-box warnings about lifelong risks, and no one under 25 should be allowed to purchase it. The developing brain is too vulnerable to gamble with.
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