Cannabis at NAU
Cannabis, also known as marijuana, can produce either a sense of euphoria and relaxation or feelings of anxiety, fear, distrust and panic.
Remember: Although medical and adult cannabis use are legal in the state of Arizona, cannabis is not allowed to be used or stored on campus per the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Act.
66%
of NAU students have not used cannabis in the past 3 months (ACHA-NCHA III 2021, n=1,050).Download this PDF to learn more about Prop 207.
Harm reduction strategies Accordion Closed
- Consider delaying use until you are at least 21 – the legal age for use in Arizona.
- Plan to store and use your cannabis off-campus.
- Wait at least 6 hours to drive after use. You may need to wait up to 12 hours after using edibles.
- Avoid mixing cannabis with other substances, including alcohol and prescription drugs.
- Avoid daily and heavy use.
- Be cautious and take it slow with edibles (the onset of effects is delayed 30 – 90 minutes) and concentrates (these typically have very high amounts of THC, which is the chemical that produces the “high”).
- Avoid self-medicating sleep and/or mental health concerns with cannabis. Consult a professional healthcare provider if you are concerned about your health.
- Avoid cannabis use if you have a family history of substance use disorder or mental illness, especially schizophrenia.
- Regularly check in on your motivations to use and how your use may be impacting your life. ScreenU is a free, online tool to help you do that.
- Learn more about responsible Cannabis Use from the Colorado Cannabis Consumer Resource
Cannabis & sleep Accordion Closed
Similar to alcohol, cannabis can interfere with REM sleep and ultimately impact students’ ability to concentrate and retain information.
Cannabis & academics Accordion Closed
Frequent cannabis use is associated with discontinuous college enrollment and has been shown to negatively impact the long-term ability to learn.
Cannabis & mental health Accordion Closed
People with a strong family history of mental health issues, especially schizophrenia, have a higher risk of experiencing mental health issues themselves due to frequent marijuana use.
National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2020; University of Washington Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute, 2017
Helpful information Accordion Closed
- How Marijuana is Good and Bad for You
- University of Washington: Learn About Marijuana
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: Cannabis
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Cannabis FAQ