The federal government just released the latest ‘Monitoring the Future’ survey of teen drug use, and the results do not bode well for current policies. More high school seniors report smoking marijuana in the past 30 days than smoked cigarettes: 20.6 percent vs. 20.1 percent. And marijuana use is up (albeit in the same general range it’s been in for several years) while teen cigarette smoking continues to decline, and has dropped markedly since the early ‘90s.
Regulation of tobacco, combined with solid educational campaigns, has clearly cut youth access to cigarettes. It’s time for officials to take off their blinders and apply those same proven policies to marijuana.
Oh, and just in case someone tries to blame medical marijuana laws for the rise in teen marijuana use, use by teens has actually gone down in the medical marijuana states.
If we tell teens the facts regarding tobacco — and marijuana, and other substances — most of them are going to make the right decisions.
The fall in teen tobacco use shows that.
What won’t work is telling them scare stories and using fear tactics. The rise in teen marijuana use shows that.
Thanks for the post.
There seem to be some good results somewhere in there. For example the fact pot smoking has decreased in the states where med marijuana is legal.
Do you think that has a direct reflection on the information being distributed in those states?
Surprising what EDUCATION and REGULATION can do!
And WE are sending the wrong message to children for wanting marijuana taken out of the criminal underground market and regulated???
Who checks IDs? The drug dealer or the 7-11 owner???
I vote for regulation (on a state level), but not education. At least, no education from the government. This is how our government tries to educate us: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuuWSI-NN9U
We don’t need more of that time and money wasting advertising BS. We need less government control, and more parental control.
I don’t see more kids using cannabis a necessarily a good thing. I’m all for adult use but studies show that cannabis use has a definable negative use on developing brains.
here’s a link to the study – http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090202175105.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081014111156.htm Here’s a similar earlier study… And please keep in mind that I am NO prohibitionist, I just feel that responsible adult use is preferable to kids baking their under developed brains. To be fair, I don’t know who paid for the studies, they may well be funded by the DEA.
Dan-o: We are NOT saying it’s a good thing that more kids smoke marijuana than cigarettes. It’s not good for young people to do either. All we’re saying is that this shows that our current policies are not doing a good job at keeping marijuana away from young people, and that the tobacco-regulation model may offer a better alternative.
The education end on cigarettes is a good idea however cigarette prices have gone through the roof. An acquaintance of mine in Utah had to pay $7.00 for a pack the other day. That is excessive and ridiculous. He’s a nice guy, barely making ends meet as it is. And yes, we all know we shouldn’t smoke cigarettes however ….
My body, My choice
i don’t think kids should use any substance but they clearly are and if its a choice of cigarettes or cannabis i prefer cannabis. Cannabis hasn’t been linked to lung cancer, copd, or any of the diseases cigarrets have. With the nature of life long cigarette habits and it’s effects, forget about it.
lets not forget that most high school seniors can legally purchase ciggs also!!!!!
@ #7 Mr. Mirken, I misunderstood the intent behind your article. Regulating is indeed a better option. In my time on this and other cannabis reform site forums I have run across many people advocating that marijuana be used by just about everybody for everything, children included. That tack will not work in main stream America. My apologies for the misunderstanding and my thanks for your work towards ending prohibition.
Cannabis use by teenagers is not harmful. I been doin it since I was 12. I am now over the age of 50. I have a good job, good work ethic. What’s not to like. My brain is not developmentally deviated from what its normal path would have been. It is a harmless substance. Grow up. We’ll all be fine. Just get out of our lives and our faces.
Not surprising. No one asks for an I.D. when selling pot. If you want to score some cannabis, it is usually a teen or young adult that has the most access. That will change as the laws change. Cannabis use seems to be down in med. mj. states. Is there a way to see all the crime stats in those states. I am just guessing but I suspect the crime rates have dropped. If this is found to be the norm instead of the exception, than we should by all means, legalize. I am surprised that a study on this issue has not been published yet.
Let’s see…do I want my kids to smoke cigarettes or cannabis…hmmm. If I had to choose…pot would win. Because…as a teen, I smoked cigarettes first (as did most of my friends and relatives in my age group), then I tried pot…..fast forward 36 yrs…I have been addicted to cigarettes to the tune of 2 1/2 packs a day for 20 yrs, while my pot smoking habit has varied from a couple of times a week to a couple of times a year….hmmmm
Bruce —
Kudos to another media hit today.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/21/medical.marijuana.policy/index.html#cnnSTCText
CNN’s been running a lot of med-mari stories of late — and the tone’s been getting much better (See the “Marijuana Mom and Cannibis Kid” article today — one of the most read article’s today).
Kudos to making sure MPP’s message — and the greater community’s message — is getting out there
Hmm. The same thing happened during the prohibition of alcohol when it was not taxed and regulated. So, lets do the logistics here. Teens say it’s harder to get alcohol compared to pot. Wake up Government! It’s going to be like this until it is taxed and regulated. So, who is to blame??? HELLOOOO?
Lea #8
I pray for the day when I can buy a pack of joints for $7.00!!!!
Me too Mark #17, thank you for putting a smile on my face today.
It is excessive taxation though on the cigs, but that’s Utah for ya.
#14 ElisaG: They’re expensive but look into Natural American Spirit tobacco. 100% additive free. We used to be able to buy it bulk (we rolled our own) and have it shipped to our house but Utah now forbids us from doing so. Gawd this moral police stuff stinks.
Sorry Bruce if I’ve gotten off topic. I know I could give up cigs if cannabis were available to me. Heavy sigh ….
Maybe If we could get a member of congress to bring up a bill that would Both legalize cannabis for adults over 21 AND raise the legal age for tobacco possesion to 21 as well, then maybe we can get some Conservative Republicans to get on board.Since this would effectivly keep anyone in highschool from legaly purchasing cigarrets or Cannabis and sharing them with their not of age peers. (I know im going to get some negative responses from this. But I think compromise will be our fastest way to re-legalization.)
#4 Chadwick,
Did anyone notice in that video, the comments were disabled. Nice. We have one sided debates, just as Al gore does.
Holy Smokes. Could it be that illegal marijuana is easier to obtain then controlled sale of tobacco to high school students? Might have some bearing on the data reported. I don’t want kids to smoke cigarettes. I don’t want kids to smoke pot. I don’t want kids to ingest pharmacueticals. These products are not for kids. I do support the choice for a safer recreational drug. Marijuana, no hangover, no violence, no sexual assult, no cancer, and no calories.
The Rev.sLeezy
Universal Life Church of the Holy Smokes
Rev Sleezy – # 21
No, it has no calories. But it sure does make me want to increase my caloric intake – LOL. Munchies are a killer. Someone in authority recently said, “The only violence that comes from marijuana consumption is to a bag of Doritos.” So true, so true.
This study will be used as a weapon against the legalization of pot; as it implies the idea of legalization presents the thought in youth; that marijuana is OK. OK because it is being used medicinally.
Thing is; it is a student questionnaire. Questionnaires lead to statistical conclusions. The conclusions have no guarantee of being right.
If your in high school; hoping to go to college; and get a loan to do so- well if your charged with a marijuana offense- you are ineligible for a student loan.
Now- if the students surveyed are thinking legalization is going to effect that; they are ~perhaps~ more likely to admit they use marijuana.
So – that is one way the answers to the questions may be effected by not if they smoke marijuana; but only their willingness to admit it.
How many other influences are there in the answers?
Then too: where was the questioning done? The study was done by the UofM – in Ann Arbor Michigan – (also known as ‘Berkley East’).
Marijuana use there by adults and college students at the UofM and the sister schools Washtenaw Community College and Eastern Michigan University ( located very near the UofM) is steeped in marijuana use history.
Certainly answers from kids there will be different than from other communities.
“The increase of teens smoking pot is partly because the national debate over medical use of marijuana can make the drugs seem safer to teenagers, researchers said. In addition to marijuana, fewer teens also view prescription drugs and Ecstasy as dangerous, which often means more could use them in the future, said White House drug czar Gil Kerlikowske.
The “continued erosion in youth attitudes and behavior toward substance abuse should give pause to all parents and policy-makers,” Kerlikowske said.”
You see they are using statistics to injure the efforts to legalize marijuana.
Ever here about the statistician turned life insurance salesman?
Well his boss called him into his office and said ‘You’ve bankrupted the company!’ – ‘What were you thinking selling life insurance to hundreds of people over the age of 100 ?!?! ‘.
The statistician turned life insurance salesman said to his boss: ‘Don’t worry Boss- I checked it out – and less people over the age of 100 die each year: than under the age of 100 !’.
Statistics can be made to look OK for either side of an argument.
So; to use this study – and imply that the legalization of marijuana is contributing to more kids trying marijuana; while other drug use is down…. well it should be looked at for its accuracy and importance, and validity.
I can tell you this study is a bullet in the gun of people trying to demonize Marijuana…. we can only hope it is the last bullet.
Because this one is really a blank round.
Bruce. Teens are using prescription drugs at a higher rate than ever before. Cannabis is available to teens because it is not regulated. When are you going to get the change in crime rates and arrest rates between the med mj states and those that are against us? I live in Mn. so I know the arrest rates have dropped out west.
What is happening today serves as a stepping stone towards the future. I am pleased with the decline of social ignorance.
Bruce –
I don’t know but hardly anything is being said about how Wisconsin might be the NEXT state to legalize medicinal marijuana. Do you realize the Democrats power both houses in Wisconsin and they have a governor who said he would sign a bill regarding medical marijuana?
How about helping this state out in passing a bill? This state has a better chance in having politicians pass a bill than NJ, MN, IA, FL, etc.
Some help from MPP might give this state more of a chance of doing something for ending marijuana hypocrisy than you think…
To End the Hypocrisy #26: Actually, we are testifying at the Wisconsin hearing and helped to publicize it: https://www.mpp.org/news/press-releases/wi/wisconsin-to-hold-public.html
Thanks Bruce… I just wasn’t seeing much of MPP in the news opinions here in Wisconsin. Seriously, you guys mean the world to a lot of people in this country.
Lea #8, watch the price of pot go up when it gets regulated. In California medical marijuana is more expensive than street weed. Lets make sure any tax and regulation bill is only for sales. It’s a plant and should be treated just like tomatoes. Not everyone grows their own tomatoes but they have the right to do so if they wish to. Pot is just a plant that should be allowed to be grown by everyone without making them buy it from a legal drug dealer with greed in their heart, if they even have one. Your friend can’t afford $300.00 an ounce and I can’t either.
Bud
MPP, keep doing the right thing, and keep kids off of pot. Thanks Bruce, your alright in my book!!!
The price of mj would decrease if its legal. More people would grow it more supply the lower the cost. And I think it would be controlled like tobacco is you can grow your own for personal use but you can’t sell it. Unless you get the proper permits. So if you want a tax free joint or cigarette you can grow your own.
Even know cannabis use is up and teen ciggarettes are down i stand firm on the legalizing of our healthy grown herbs… I dont advise
the use of anyother drug and right now cannabis until its legal but the reason for inclined use is friends friends and friends pressuring it although cannabis is the best thing this world has ever produced it should be kept under control even if that means letting your
children get high at home just talk with you child as a friend and make a deal because im sure you rather have your child high at home then high with friends and end up in jail and for most people rather have neither of these to affect there familys but seriously its impossible your children get curious and fall into pressure easy but thats
just life if your concerned then you shouldnt have to worry just raise your kids right because in most cases its the kid with the bad family and good friends that usually tend to smoke the great herb…
LEGALIZE THE USE OF CANNABIS
It will do the economy good aswell just watch when it
becomes legal we will all be happy and have a better
economy…
Sincerly,
Happy420
well what i would like to say is i dont know any of you. but the ones who are dissing on Weed, wtfu you all can be bitch slapped i believe everyone should be out smoking a good fat blunt or just a bowl. its not even that bad plp dont relive how much more in life your missing out on.
How can you smear marijuana with the truth? If we tell kids the truth about pot, everyone would be smoking. Tobacco kills, weed is mostly harmless.