Hello and welcome to ClearMind for Teens!

My name is Aditi Muthukumar, and I developed ClearMind as a data-driven resource hub that gives teens, parents, and schools credible tools to understand the effects and risks of teenage cannabis use. Living in Colorado, we see how cannabis is normalized, especially for teens, but the real impact on developing brains often gets lost behind myths and mixed messages, which is why these tools are powered by the Healthy Kids Colorado survey results from 2023 to understand what’s actually happening in schools.

Read more about me at www.aditimuthukumar.com

About ClearMind for Teens- Congressional App Challenge Winner

Why ClearMind for Teens:

The State of Colorado voted to legalize cannabis in 2012; while cannabis has its own medical and recreational benefits for adults, it creates a significant public health challenge for youth. According to the Healthy Kids Colorado survey results from 2023, the current usage rate is 12.8%, while peer disapproval is 78.9% (CDPHE, 2023). While this seems low, I have noticed that peers in my community struggle with cannabis usage at much higher rates.

Growing up in Westminster, Colorado, I’ve been part of the first generation that hasn’t experienced cannabis prohibition. Marketing poses dangerous impacts on teenagers: Social media is a common way for teenagers to access drugs, and youth-targeted marketing includes candy-adjacent packaging and fruity flavors that could be appealing to young people. Due to this normalization (as well as a lack of community awareness of the effects of cannabis), teenagers may believe that cannabis is “safer” compared to other drugs.

“Legal Means Safe” Misperception:

Teens see regulated dispensaries, flavored products, and normalized adult use, and logically conclude that the risks are minimal. However, neuroscience research clearly indicates that the adolescent brain doesn’t fully mature until age 25. During ages 13-25, cannabis affects prefrontal cortex development, neural connection strengthening, and synaptic pruning, which are valuable processes for memory, judgment, and impulse control. Using cannabis from a younger age (before 16) has even more adverse effects on brain development. After conducting interviews with two Addiction Science researchers at CU Anschutz, I also discovered that teenage cannabis use correlates with anxiety, depression, psychosis, as well as academic and interpersonal difficulties.

Three-Audience Problem:

Teens: Need anonymous, judgment-free education and understandable explanations.
Parents: Cite “not knowing what to say” as their #1 barrier; need conversation starters and warning signs.
Educators: Lack current, Colorado-specific, ready-to-use classroom materials.

Get in Touch

I would love to hear your feedback/suggestions.