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People usually experience their first puff of marijuana in their teen years. While marijuana's reputation is quickly improving among Americans, new research reveals some damaging implications that the drug could have on future generations. New research reveals that smoking marijuana in teen years could lower a person's intelligence for life.

Researchers scientists, from the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) found that this damage done by smoking marijuana could persist even if users stopped smoking marijuana.

Experts added that the immediate effects of marijuana such as impaired critical thinking and memory could last for days.

After looking over a range of studies on marijuana, researchers found that marijuana negatively affects driving and can increase the risk of automobile accident.

Researchers noted that the risk is further enhanced when people combine marijuana with alcohol.

"It is important to alert the public that using marijuana in the teen years brings health, social, and academic risk," said lead author and NIDA director Dr. Nora D. Volkow, according to the Daily Mail.

"Physicians in particular can play a role in conveying to families that early marijuana use can interfere with crucial social and developmental milestones and can impair cognitive development," she added.