OUR PRIORITIES
Cannabis Use Prevention
In July 2021, Connecticut legalized adult cannabis/marijuana use for those age 21 and older. Reminder: The legal age to use non-medical marijuana/cannabis is 21.
Know the Risks of Underage Marijuana/Cannabis Use
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Increased risk of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, and schizophrenia;
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Problems with memory and learning, difficulty thinking and problem solving;
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Decreases in sports performance and athletic ability;
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Causes addiction and can lead to a marijuana/cannabis use disorder;
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Increased irritability and aggression, among other concerns and risks.
Source: https://beintheknowct.org/youth
Any amount of THC above 10% can impair brain function
According to the National Institute for Drug Addiction (NIDA), young people who begin using marijuana before the age 18 are 4 to 7 times more likely to develop a marijuana use disorder than adults. Read more.
Smoking marijuana puts just as much or more tar into a person’s lungs than smoking cigarettes!
People who smoke or vape marijuana generally take deeper “hits” and then hold their breath to get a more intense release of the drug. Many of the same toxins that exist in tobacco are in marijuana and those toxins cause serious respiratory problems. Read more.
Advocacy
The Fairfield CARES Community Coalition developed and sent its Advocacy Statement to the Fairfield Planning and Zoning Commission to discourage the approval of commercial cannabis/marijuana businesses, including marijuana retail stores, in Fairfield. Click here to view and download Fairfield CARES Community Coalition’s Cannabis/Marijuana Advocacy Position Statement.
Lock It Up!
If you or other adults in your home who are 21 and older use cannabis/marijuana, please be sure it is locked up and not accessible to youth. Edible marijuana products can easily be confused for non-THC products, so keep them away from anyone who is not 21 or older.