What every pediatric gynecologist should know about marijuana use in adolescents

Use of marijuana in adolescent girls is common and showing no sign of decreasing. With recent trends towards legalization of “recreational” and “medical” marijuana products, adolescents are increasingly faced with information and misinformation about the health effects of marijuana use. We review the current literature on the risks and potential benefits of marijuana use during adolescence with a specific focus on pediatric and adolescent gynecological conditions. Despite limited research on this topic, the many risks associated with marijuana use in adolescents, including negative effects on the developing brain and adverse reproductive, sexual health and mental health outcomes, outweigh potential benefits in this population.
Source: Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology - Category: OBGYN Authors: Source Type: research