It’s becoming more common for kids as young as 12 or 13 to start using marijuana, though in many areas, it’s more typical around 14 or 15. When they use it regularly throughout high school, it often becomes just another part of their daily routine—like using their phone. Many don’t see a problem with it. To them, the idea of “using too much” doesn’t exist; it’s just part of life.

Some adolescents do start to recognize that it has a grip on them, but that takes a lot of breaking through. More often, they try to convince their parents that it’s harmless—"it’s not alcohol, it’s not a hard drug, it’s even legal in some places." But when they try to stop, especially if their parents begin drug testing, many realize they can’t. They keep going back to it.

The reality hits hardest for those on probation. They face serious consequences—jail time, even for minor violations—yet still struggle to quit. That’s when the denial starts to crack. How can someone say, “This doesn’t control me,” while risking jail just to keep using? That’s when it becomes undeniable that marijuana can be more than just a habit—it can be an addiction.