Why do people say "Wait until you're 18"

[IplayWoW]

I don't understand why people say "Wait until you're 18 to smoke weed, so your brain develops." That doesn't make any sense, your brain isn't fully developed until you're 25. I'm 16, I toke, and I still get A's in school.

IplayWoW Reviewed by IplayWoW on 01-27-2007. Why do people say "Wait until you're 18" I don't understand why people say "Wait until you're 18 to smoke weed, so your brain develops." That doesn't make any sense, your brain isn't fully developed until you're 25. I'm 16, I toke, and I still get A's in school. Rating: 5

[dutch.lover]

I don't agree with the development part, but I agree with the waiting til 18 part (altho i started smoking when i was only 16, almost 17). My reason is that MOST people start doing drugs, or smoking, or drinking or whatever as a result of their peers and NOT because they made a conscious, informed decision to do it. I believe that at the age of 17 or 18 most people are sensible enough to decide the risks/benefits for themselves, and act accordingly. I know this doesn't apply to everyone, some ppl mature early and others late, but in general i think my point is pretty valid.

The brain development shit is bullshit IMO tho. Your brain doesn't fully develop until you are 25 correct, but after that it deteriorates. Mention that next time someone tells you the "wait until you're 18..." shit. Say, "well if you think weed wrecks your brain, you think it's a good idea to enhance it's deterioration?!"

[harris7]

WEll yes, it stops developing when your 25.

But whats more important is that there is No reason to think cannabis or THC affects this development. Some drugs do and some drugs don’t. I believe studies need to be done.

But currently playing it safe isn’t a bad idea. But we must realize that THC is mimicking a naturally occurring substance in our brains. Unlike Caffeine and alcohol or even Tylenol but no one seems to care if that effects your development

[BobBong]

Well...

consider how much you develop from 16-19.. then from 19-25.. which would make more of an impact on your life if something was unknowingly misunderstood, possibly even abused. Same reason there are "legal" ages for alcohol and tobacco as well.

Kids abuse things...

Bob.

[dutch.lover]

Good point Harris, about THC mimicking a natural brain chemical. The shit parents make/cause/let kids consume (ie macdonalds, caffeine, medicine, RITALIN is a huge one it's totally abused by lazy parents wanting to control their kids the easy way) is probably WAY worse than anything cannabis could ever do. More studies do need to be done tho.

[IplayWoW]

I'm 16, and only smoke a couple times a month, so not all kids abuse. Also, I looked up quite a bit of information on the health risks of marijuana before I tried it. I refuse to knowingly consume any substance that is chemically/physically addictive. I saw that it doesn't cause lung cancer and such like tobacco. Also I saw that it's never been a direct cause of death, so I tried it and haven't had any problems with anything related to it since.

[MotleyCrueBoy24]

I'm 16 aswell. I made a concious informed decision to start smoking. No one offered me a joint. I was simply a huge rock and roll and country rock fan. I realized that it was a huge part of the culture and that I would research effects and the health issues. And obviously I found out the truth. And here I am.

[dutch.lover]

I hope I didn't offend you two last posters. Like I said, I was generalizing. I applaud you for actually following thru and researching cannabis while/before using it. More people need to be as critical and informed as you two!!

[harris7]

Well...

consider how much you develop from 16-19.. then from 19-25.. which would make more of an impact on your life if something was unknowingly misunderstood, possibly even abused. Same reason there are "legal" ages for alcohol and tobacco as well.

Kids abuse things...

Bob.

Generally things that are only for us 19+ people. Arenâ??t for our own good, Iâ??ts because old people donâ??t like the thought of it.
Sex, porn, booze, tobacco.

Alcohol isnâ??t under nearly such strict regulation in Europe and guess what, there is much less abuse.

Tobacco is 19+ because no rational person would smoke. Honestly.
It is thought that kids arenâ??t rational, I agree, and will smoke to â??fit inâ?� and so on.
Virtually no one starts smoking after 19.

[TheSmokingMonkey]

they say that because it's politically correct to say that.

nobody wants to give weed to a kid, it's like drinking while you're pregnant. "it PROBABLY won't do anything... but it COULD" kind of thing.