Marijuana Use and
Your Health
Public Health-Muskegon County (PHMC) wants you to understand the facts about cannabis. We’re not here to scare you, or to encourage cannabis consumption—we want to provide facts and verified scientific information about the effect of the plant on the human body and brain.
Are you wondering about marijuana use?
Here are some key things to consider:
Driving
Many people turn to cannabis for relaxation, to take their mind off of reality, for distraction, for creative inspiration and bold ideas, and to sleep. None of those states of mind are well-matched with the attention required for safely driving a vehicle.
Careful Consumption
Marijuana dispensaries are now open throughout Muskegon County and across Michigan. Public Health Muskegon County doesn’t endorse substance use—we know that cannabis consumption is happening and we just want you to be safe.
Workplace Testing
While companies are not required by law to test for alcohol or drug use, some employers conduct drug screens of all potential employees as part of the routine hiring process. Cannabis remains in the human body for a significant period of time.
Pregnancy
Being pregnant is stressful. We’re here to provide facts from reliable sources & science so you can make informed decisions about cannabis during pregnancy. When it comes to marijuana & pregnancy, err on the side of caution.
Facts for Youth
Marijuana doesn’t help the developing brains of young people. Teens need to understand that avoiding cannabis until they’re adults help them stay smart and legal. We’re sharing tips for talking about cannabis with young people.
Drug Interactions
Taking one drug when under the influence of another drug can be dangerous or even deadly. The more drugs a person takes (or is affected by) at a time, the more chance there is of something going wrong. Don’t be a statistic.
Know The Facts about Cannabis
Marijuana is a psychoactive drug that can have both positive and negative effects on the body and mind. While marijuana has been shown to have some potential medical benefits, it is also associated with a number of risks, including impaired judgment, coordination, and reaction time, as well as an increased risk of developing psychosis in some people.
It is important to weigh the potential risks and benefits of marijuana use before deciding whether or not to use it. If you do choose to use marijuana, it is important to do so in moderation and to be aware of the potential risks.
%
of high school students in Muskegon County have tried cannabis (Source: Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth, 2020).
children in Muskegon County under the age of 6 ended up in the emergency room for consuming cannabis in 2022. 75% of them consumed an edible.
%
The number of Muskegon County children, under age 19 visiting an emergency room or being hospitalized for cannabis poisoning, doubled between 2018 and 2021 (Source: Michigan Poison Center, 2022).
%
of all infants born in Muskegon County each year are knowingly exposed to cannabis (Muskegon Early On, 2021).
Drivers under the influence of alcohol in combination with other substances can be up to 200x more likely to be involved in a crash, while drivers under the influence of cannabis can be up to 3x more likely (NHTSA, 2017).
Latest News & Resources
Vaping & Cannabis Trends Among Young Adults (19-22)
A recent study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that cannabis use remains at historic highs amongst young adults ages 19-22:
- Rates of any cannabis use reported over the past year have steadily increased from 37% in 2014 to 43% in 2019 in non-college young adults
- Rates among college students have increased from 34% in 2014 to 43% in 2019, accounting for a 9% five-year increase.
- Daily use of cannabis—defined as use on 20 or more occasions in the past 30 days—was nearly 3x as high among young adults not attending college compared to peers in college.
- In 2019, 6% of college students and 15% of non-college peers used cannabis daily.