iGen: Why Today's Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy--and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood--and What That Means for the Rest of Us

by Jean M. Twenge

“I believe that marijuana is completely safe to use as long as you are not using machinery or a vehicle,” wrote Brianna, 20. “It is far less harmful than alcohol, which is perfectly legal, but leads to far more problems that marijuana use ever could.” Some iGen’ers embrace the idea that marijuana is not just safe but beneficial. “Weed has been proven to provide many health benefits,” wrote Ethan, 19. “It helps with pain, cancer, and many other illnesses. It can prevent people from getting addicted to other drugs that are way more harmful.” Some iGen’ers use marijuana for medical purposes themselves. “I consider marijuana to be a very safe substance. I’ve personally been using it for three years for chronic spinal pain, depression, anxiety, and psoriatic arthritis,” wrote Nellie, 21. “The withdrawal from my pain medication was among the hardest times in my life, but I was able to use marijuana to curb both the withdrawal and the heightened pain. I’ve never experienced any detrimental side effects in years of heavy use.” Unfortunately, few iGen’ers seem to be aware of the long-term risks of marijuana use, which can include reduced intelligence and higher risks of schizophrenia, especially when use begins during adolescence. Marijuana is also now much more potent than the pot Boomers smoked in the 1970s. Still, iGen’ers remain