The rising conflict of marijuana in America will not stop. From thousands of arrests for marijuana possession to Colorado legalization to marijuana use for medical reasons, the long journey of this psychedelic drug has made its way to Washington County. Teens face the growing issue of marijuana use in the form of wax. This is not okay because it is dangerous for student’s developing minds and personal habits.

Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in American and, according to criminaldefenselawyer.com, over 80 million have tried it at least once. This growing demand has characterized the marijuana market at $10-$40 billion a year.

This new form of marijuana is a brown, moist wax known as “dabs” to teens. It has become so popular because it is easy to hide in a purse or backpack. It is not the typical green leaves most people recognize as marijuana. The wax is a very concentrated and can take only a minute to get a “high”. The leaf marijuana contains about 15 percent tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. This is the drug that causes the psychological effects of marijuana. In the wax, the THC is as high as 80 percent.

“Marijuana wax is to marijuana like crack is to cocaine. It’s a more concentrated form,” said Laurie Anderson, an assistant Washington County attorney who handles wax cases, in an interview with South Washington County Bulletin.

This is a real issue for students because it can effect them more, killing more brain cells faster. It is crucial for their developing minds to have good, beneficial habits. Not only is it dangerous to take, with instant results, it is very dangerous to make. But that is not stopping anyone from continuing this growing business.