Consequences for Youth Using Non-Medical Marijuana

Getting caught with marijuana can involve fines, public service hours, misdemeanor/felony charges and even possible loss of driver’s license. It can also cause a young adult to lose their parents’ trust, resulting in the loss of privileges. And if there’s one thing youth hate to hear, it’s “I’m not mad. I’m just disappointed.”

Marijuana charges can result in the loss of federal financial aid for college, including: Perkins Loans, Pell Grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, PLUS Loans, and Work-Study Programs.

Many employers still prohibit marijuana use by their employees, which could mean losing a job. Losing a job also means losing a job reference, which makes future employment even harder to get.

All minors under the age of 18 are prohibited from working in any occupation in a registered marijuana dispensary, any establishment that cultivates, produces, or sells marijuana or products that contain marijuana, and any non-medical marijuana social clubs.

If they’re caught using marijuana, they can be removed from sports teams and extracurricular activities, suspended, expelled or referred to drug counseling.