Save the young minds, unhappy 420?

Our brain is like a computer hard drive. A human brain capacity is about 2.5 petabytes, that's about 156 pieces of the highest solid state drive capacity by the time of writing of this post (Samsung PM1633a). That's a natural gift that each of us has received for free, this amazing body organ is the command center of our body. So cleansing and taking care of it is a must. 

_{Image source: thumbs.dreamstime.com}

Before I proceed with what I'm trying to convey. let me just greet everybody a happy 420-day celebration! For those who are not aware of what 420 is yet. let me tell you a brief history of this unofficial celebration.

Today is 420, In the fall of 1971, this unknown slang was being used by a group of high schoolers in San Rafael California "the Waldos" this group is being entrusted with a map of an abandoned cannabis or marijuana crop. Initially, the term 420 is just a code they were using to remind each other that they will have a meeting at the statue of a chemist named Louis Pasteur outside of their school at 4:20 pm to fulfill their quest.

_{image source: thumbs.wikimedia.org}

This slang terminology is being picked up by other students and used it as well to hide smoking activities from their teachers and parents.  

The terminology got widespread attention when Steven Bloom a man who used to be a reporter at "high times" Magazine learned from the concert of the band "Grateful Dead" in Oakland California in 1990 when somebody handed him a flyer stating "We are going to meet at 4:20 on 4/20 for 420-ing in Marin County at the Bolinas Ridge sunset spot on Mt. Tamalpais." and when the said magazine launched an article linked to it, the term became globally used for cannabis enthusiast.

Recreational use of cannabis is a broad topic, there's proof of its good and medicinal effect but there are scientific studies about its negative effect too. There's a very alarming study about it that everyone should be aware. The study shows that Marijuana affects brain development. when people begin using marijuana on the early stage of adolescence. Dr. Damon Raskin concluded:

Marijuana these days can cause changes in the brain that impair learning, especially in teenagers as their brains have not finished developing. Brains are not fully developed until the age of 25 or 26. Chronic marijuana use can lead to changes in both personality, judgment, and reasoning skills.

Another study from New Zealand conducted in part by researchers at Duke University showed that

People who started smoking marijuana heavily in their teens and had an ongoing marijuana use disorder lost an average of 8 IQ points between ages 13 and 38. The lost mental abilities didn't fully return in those who quit marijuana as adults. Those who started smoking marijuana as adults didn't show notable IQ declines. 

This finding is frightening as the recent study also shows that the percentage of teens using marijuana is increasing according to University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research.

To create an awareness through writing  is the only contribution I can do to at least mitigate the harm of it in the long term, especially for the young people. Our tomorrow is no longer be bright if the majority of young people today will be affected by this plague due to overuse of the substances derived from it.

"In Conclusion"

I am not trying to be a saint, I have to admit that I've tried it too but didn't get addicted. Everything does have a right time. The use of marijuana is something we should not encourage. We can't entrust this to someone who's lacking of self-discipline and responsibility and those are the teens. 

For youngsters who will reach this post, please consider this advice: Your brain is powerful but you should protect it and use it correctly. to keep it clean, out of junks and out of elements that will prevent it from running smoothly, that is really up to you.

I will surely appreciate your upvote and resteem. Follow me for more. Let us share the love and let us help each other :)  
Can someone adopt this poor minnow? please! I am so dying for steemit love and affection Haha,

If this post has reached you and you're not on steemit yet,  I encourage you to join this amazing community of people who love sharing valuable thoughts back and forth. Join steemit today.