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Lothar121

Drug Survey: More Teens Smoke Marijuana Than Cigarettes
MPP | Marijuana Policy Project | 10/05/2006

A new teen drug use survey released today by California Attorney General Bill Lockyer confirms the failure of the government's war on marijuana to keep the drug away from teenagers, officials of the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) said today.

According to the 11th biennial California Student Survey, more California ninth and eleventh graders currently smoke marijuana than smoke cigarettes. Among ninth graders, 12.6 percent smoked marijuana in the past 30 days, compared to 10 percent who smoked cigarettes. For eleventh graders, the figures were 19.2 percent and 15.2 percent, respectively. This trend has been consistent since the 2001-2002 survey, but represents a reversal from 1997-1998, when cigarette use exceeded marijuana use in all age groups.

"The good news is that both cigarette and marijuana use have declined markedly in the last decade, and predictions that Proposition 215 would lead to an explosion in teen marijuana use have proven totally wrong," said Bruce Mirken, San Francisco-based director of communications for MPP, which is headquartered in Washington, D.C. "But it's clear we're doing a better job in preventing kids from using tobacco than we are in keeping them away from marijuana, and the reason is our dysfunctional, counterproductive laws.

"Tobacco merchants are licensed and regulated," Mirken added, "while drug dealers are completely unregulated. Walk into any supermarket or convenience store that sells cigarettes, and you'll see a great big red-and-yellow sign saying, 'Under 18, No Tobacco: We Card.' Have you ever seen a drug dealer with a 'We Card' sign? Instead of wasting millions of tax dollars on marijuana 'eradication' campaigns that are an exercise in futility, it's time to put marijuana under the same sort of common-sense controls that work for tobacco."

With more than 20,000 members and 100,000 e-mail subscribers nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP believes that the best way to minimize the harm associated with marijuana is to regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol. For more information, please visit Marijuana Policy Project - Home.

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reggie_the_dog

this is excellent, I hope this trend continues in more states and more countries around the world.

Buzzby

This is excellent news! Tobacco is the deadliest substance commonly in use as a recreational drug. If pot were legal they could produce tasty, low-THC varieties that people could smoke all day long without getting too high. Menthol 100s?

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sumdude

I agree, this is excellent health news. I'd like to see a rise in popularity in vaporizers and waterbongs.. easy on the lungs. And also, once decriminalization is widespread and MJ is next to free, cooking and eating it.

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Lothar121

I don't really think a water bong is all that easy on the lungs.

Vaporizer, yeah you have a case.

 

Buzzby

I agree. I don't like them because they always make me cough up a lung. Other smoking methods allow you to mix the smoke with fresh air to cut down on the heat and harshness. With a bong you have to get it full strength.

Bongs are the way to go if you are looking for the Big Rush™. That's what I wanted when I was first smoking. Now I'm more interested in other aspects of getting high.

Vapes are easy on the lungs and conserve your stash. An ounce lasts twice as long for me, vaping v. smoking.

The only drawbacks to vaping are the time it takes to heat up the machine and the lack of portability. I vape at home and smoke joints when I'm out. Joints are the most portable smoking method and have the advantage of not hanging a paraphernalia charge on you if you should happen to get pinched.