A message from the Health Department about your health and marijuana

September 30, 2015

Marijuana buds
Marijuana is legal for adults in Oregon, but can affect health.
Marijuana use by adults is legal in Oregon, but use can affect health. The Multnomah County Health Department advises:

  • Keep all marijuana out of children’s reach. Marijuana can make kids and young people very sick.
  • If a child swallows marijuana, call the Poison Center Hotline right away at 1-800--222-1222.
  • If you use, don’t drive.  Driving under the influence is against the law. Marijuana slows reaction times and can double the risk of a traffic accident. Using marijuana and drinking alcohol at the same time makes any impairment worse.
  • Like alcohol and cigarettes, there is no safe use of marijuana if you are pregnant.
  • The American Academy of Pediatrics says that mothers who are breastfeeding should not use marijuana.
  • No one under age 21 can buy or use recreational marijuana. The teenage brain is still developing.
  • For information about the recreational marijuana program, visit the State of Oregon Recreational Marijuana website.