Marijuana Use No Longer Dropping Among U.S. Teens

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it is proven that because kids teens and adults are abusing drugs it is making our country is at a handicap compaired to others. the U.S is only 4% of the worlds population but i consumes 2/3 of the worlds illegal drugs

concerned18yrold of NY 9:11AM January 15, 2010

More research is being done, and teens are finding out that pot isn't as bad as it was once believed. The reason so many people do it, is because it's safer than alcohol or tobacco, and I would know this from doing a research paper on marijuana for a college class. Marijuana use is going up everyone, not just teens. Get this, the law currently labels marijuana as a schedule 1 drug, which is on the same scheduling as heroin and PCP, AND it says that marijuana has NO MEDICINAL VALUE; which is funny, because MEDICAL marijuana dispensaries are popping up like McDonald's in states that have legalized medical pot, for the reason being that it does in fact have a medical use; a medical use far greater than what alcohol has to offer, and yet is safer. The main reasons law enforcement don't want marijuana legalized is either due to ignorance, or due to the fact that legalization of marijuana will take away jobs from the police force. If we must have something illegal in order to provide jobs, why not make bread illegal? That way there would be plenty of jobs for a crappy economy! Durrr...

Alex of MN 12:38PM December 20, 2009

If marijuana usage is replacing tobacco, alcohol, or prescription drug use, that's a positive change. Yes, it would be nice if our kids weren't using any of these drugs, but history suggests they are, so let's hope they use the safer product (marijuana) instead of addictive, clearly dangerous drugs like alcohol, tobacco, and prescription drugs.

Concerned Parent of GA 11:45AM December 15, 2009

I saw similar stats, just before coke flooded into the small towns of the US in the mid-80's.
But, I wouldn't trust these stats. Kids today are more intelligent and know about databases, survellience and other ways the government, banks, religions, and drug companies share our personal information and track our whereabouts. They also know that "anonymous" polls and studies are nothing of the kind. Kids today don't brag about drug use like the flappers, beatniks and hippies did. They are smarter at hiding their habits and thoughts.

Titus of TX 10:43AM December 15, 2009

"The prestige of government has undoubtedly been lowered considerably by the prohibition law. For nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced. It is an open secret that the dangerous increase of crime in this country is closely connected with this."
- Albert Einstein quote on Hemp
"Even if one takes every reefer madness allegation of the prohibitionists at face value, marijuana prohibition has done far more harm to far more people than marijuana ever could."
- William F. Buckley Jr. quote on Marijuana
"When a private enterprise fails, it is closed down; when a government enterprise fails, it is expanded. Isn’t that exactly what’s been happening with drugs?"
- Milton Friedman quote on Marijuana
"Hemp is of first necessity to the wealth & protection of the country."
- Thomas Jefferson, U.S. President quote on Hemp
The illegality of cannabis is outrageous, an impediment to full utilization of a drug which helps produce the serenity and insight, sensitivity and fellowship so desperately needed in this increasingly mad and dangerous world."
- Carl Sagan quote on Marijuana
"Why use up the forests which were centuries in the making and the mines which required ages to lay down, if we can get the equivalent of forest and mineral products in the annual growth of the hemp fields?"
- Henry Ford quote on Marijuana
"Penalties against possession of a drug should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself; and where they are, they should be changed. Nowhere is this more clear than in the laws against possession of marihuana in private for personal use... Therefore, I support legislation amending Federal law to eliminate all Federal criminal penalties for the possession of up to one ounce of marihuana."
- Jimmy Carter, U.S. President quote on Marijuana

Anthony of SC 11:08PM December 14, 2009

It is going to keep on rising. Kids have easy access to an infinite treasury of information. The disinformation DARE campaigns do not work. When I was in high school we tallied the lies as the officer presented. There were several lies. In the end we didn't really take anything he said seriously. Who listens to a liar? This does more damage than it curtails. Stick to facts.
Also, for anyone that has studied drug use, policy and history. The prohibition was enacted for all the wrong reasons. It was never prohibited for health reasons. It was all purely political economic and/or mostly a form of bigotry and means to justify incarcerating political opponents.
Hemp is far more renewable than trees and is a very tough, resilient fiber. This threatened the paper industry. The first two copies of the Constitution were produced on hemp. Hemp can also be used to make bio-degradable plastic - shhh. Don't let the oil companies know.
Latet, Reagen pursued the war on drugs to offset the decline in manufacturing jobs. Enter
PRISON INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX - we lock up 726 peersons per 100,000. Europe, Canada and Japan lock up around 100 per 100,000. Russian is the closest too us with 500. That's not something to be proud of. Especially for the Land of the Free. Its not very pro-life either and it cost each of us a considerable amount of money - 100$ per taxpayer annually. It costs around 30,000$ to incarcerate one person annually. - Roughly the cost of yearly tuition at a Good university.
We need smaller government, and we need them to stop intruding on personal matters. The War on drugs has produced the black market. Dealers would rather deal to kids that they know can't be Agents, than adults that might be. In short, marijuana prohibition exposes kids to the black market and other more dangerous drugs.
Why even listen to a government that subsidized cigarettes when Bush II was in office. Who can guess the biggest cash crop in Texas?

Anthony of SC 10:54PM December 14, 2009

GOOD

David Mc of MI 9:08PM December 14, 2009

Let me ask you all a question: Do you think alcohol and tobacco use by teens would raise or lower if the two were not regulated and taxed? If you are (foolishly) worried about teen marijuana use, then regulate and tax it like tobacco and alcohol, then there would be no more black market for it and it would be much easier to keep out of teen hands.

Joseph Tolman of HI 6:51PM December 14, 2009