Study: Why Teen Pot Smoking Could be a Good Thing (And What We Can Learn From Teens Who Choose Weed

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/story/153498/study%3A_why_teen_pot_smoking_could_be_a_good_thing_%28and_what_we_can_learn_from_teens_who_choose_weed_over_beer%29/

Study: Why Teen Pot Smoking Could be a Good Thing (And What We Can Learn From Teens Who Choose Weed Over Beer)

The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) released the results of its 2011 Monitoring the Future Survey of teen drug use, and guess what: Teens are using cigarettes and alcohol less, but they are smoking more marijuana. What's more, they're smoking more weed because they do not perceive it to be as harmful as did teens in the past. Teens' level of "associated risk" with marijuana use has gone done over time, and marijuana is, indeed, less harmful than alcohol and cigarettes: This could be an argument for more honest drug education in schools.

Associated risk is the danger or harm believed to be a consequence of drug use. If associated risk for a particular substance goes up, more people are reporting that they consider using that drug to be a threat. In other words, as associated risk goes down, more people are saying the drug in question is not that bad. According to the NIDA study, a decline in marijuana's associated risk contributed to teens smoking more pot, while drinking less alcohol and smoking fewer cigarrettes. Thus, many teens actually showed good judgement, by using available information to determine the danger posed by particular substances, and making smart decisions accordingly.

According to the study, about 25% of teens surveyed said they tried marijuana at least once last year, a statistically significant rise of about 4% since 2007. Additionally, 6.6% of 12th graders also admitted to smoking weed daily.

[seabeyond]

1. as a parent, my bad, i just can't get all outraged at pot.

i am really honest with my kids, in fact and in personal experience. always have been, always will be. they see the yuk in smoking and my great want in quitting and my severe dislike and societies judgment on all of who i am is a smoker. we have alcoholics in our family and they see the harm in that.

pot is more, meh... if it interfers with your life, it is bad. lol

[ensho]

2. toking is better for the mind and body any day then getting drunk

nt

[NYC_SKP]

3. I guess if they have to abuse some substance, better weed than tobacco or booze, but....

...better that they learn that nature gave us all the tools we need for happiness without having to ingest or inhale mind-altering substances.

In any case, this seems to be progress, though the growing potency of weed over the past 30 years gives me some concern.

Hopefully one hit is all anyone ever takes anymore, and not multiple bong loads over the course of a day and night.

[Bigmack]

4. I take issue...

with the idea that "nature gave us all the tools we need for happiness".

Nature gave some of us Depression and Anxiety.

Nature gave us cancer... medicine gave us chemo... chemo gave us nausea and pain.

The "Defense" Department gave some of us PTSD.

[SammyWinstonJack]

6. Thank you for taking issue with this. My reply was going to be that I seemed

to have misplaced the tool nature gave me for happiness.

[NYC_SKP]

9. I hope I don't have to include a disclaimer for something as frakking obvious as exceptions...

for instances where there is medical or emotional necessity or benefit.

How many school kids are undergoing chemo or served in Iraq?

FFS.

[pscot]

27. While we're delineating "exceptions"

let's not forget on-call temps dealing with abusive bosses in big box warehouses and a myriad of other downwardly mobile exemplars of American "exceptionalism".

[nebenaube]

54. There are plenty with metabolic disorders

and even more with environmental exposure to other toxins that cause a plethora of issues like auto-immune disease.

[RobinA]

12. Opium

Nature also gave us opium which fits neatly into the opioid receptors in the brains that nature gave us. And which is quite good for a variety of ailments, including anxiety and depression. Said brains also have nicotine receptors. So maybe nature DID give us all the tools we need for happiness, it just spread the tools out - "Here's you brain, we'll put some nicotine, which it really likes, on this continent, some opium over there, maybe some cannabinoids down here..." Kinda like one of those computer games where you have to obtain and hunt for stuff.

[hifiguy]

14. I regularly smoked weed for years

and it was far better for my social anxiety (I am dx'd Asperger's now) than anything I ever took from a pharmacist. I am starting to seriously think about resuming puffing a little MJ and cutting back my drinking. A few months ago I was at a friend's and had a couple hits and got a nice buzz that mellowed me out and slowly eased me back down after a couple of hours. Nice.

And as for the potency issue, people know about that. In my day back in the 1970s you had to smoke at least a half joint to get a good buzz. A couple of years ago I was playing in a band with some much younger musicians and they just did a one-hitter now and then to cop a buzz.

[woofless]

42. Get a vape. Use it. Don't look back. You'll be better than fine.

[tatfreak79]

62. I enjoy the fullness of a bong hit

But vapos aren't bad....

[emcguffie]

94. Vape? What's a vape? n/t

[WheelWalker]

48. Nature gave us endogenous receptors for cannabinoids. Q.E.D.

[bettyellen]

5. nature doesn't give everyone a fair shake, just as society doesn't hand out food or shelter to all.

[Romulox]

8. "My body, my choice" doesn't apply here? nt

[NYC_SKP]

10. Sure, self mutilation included. nt

[Romulox]

30. That's a grotesque response with no bearing on the subject at hand. nt

[NYC_SKP]

100. IMO, inhaling the smoke from burning leaves is much like self-mutilation.

Some would argue, "my body, my decision" with either.

The comparison is spot on.

It's stupid, smoking pot is stupid unless there's really a valid medical reason, and usually there isn't.

Usually, it's people who like to get high and smoke it and after years and years become really defensive about it.

And it makes me laugh, because I don't smoke and don't drink and am as happy as a clam.

While others have to get their fix.

It's pathetic, really, of them.

Just sad.

[Romulox]

104. Most prohibitionists try to hide their *morality* behind a medical argument. You've barely bothered.

"IMO, inhaling the smoke from burning leaves is much like self-mutilation."

The science of the matter simply doesn't support your assertion. That's OK, because it's not a scientific argument you make. This is the meat of your argument:

"It's stupid, smoking pot is stupid unless there's really a valid medical reason, and usually there isn't."

You think something is "stupid", and therefore you are willing to defend a police state surrounding the incarceration of people you deem "stupid". It's about social control and has nothing to do with either "stupidity" or "health".

"While others have to get their fix. "

Marijuana isn't addictive. That pesky science rearing its head again!

[NYC_SKP]

105. Most addicts will do anything to support their weak argument... nt

[Romulox]

106. Marijuana is not addictive. SCIENCE > NYC_SKP's moralizing. nt

[NYC_SKP]

107. A substance free life > using artificial stimulants.

was my actual post.... but for all the discussing you and I may have on the matter, it's a far less harmful substance than alcohol or tobacco, all of which have some justified applications (beyond partying), but can also be abused.

Surely, you aren't suggesting that pot is never abused, are you, or that it's fine for teens to indulge, that's it's an utterly harmless thing to do?

[Romulox]

108. A subject change is in order, eh, NYC_SKP? A concession would've won you more credibility. nt

[NYC_SKP]

109. Weak. It's scientifically accepted that pot is not physically addictive. Feel better?

As to it's psychological effects, well, why don't you tell us about that?

[Romulox]

110. Seems dishonest to snipe with a point you know isn't true, then. nt

[Chemisse]

13. I totally agree.

I agree that pot is by far the best choice out of the three.

And I agree that nature gave us tools to be happy. Our own natural opiods (endorphins) can be triggered by lots of natural activities, including exercise.

[dmr]

20. +1

[alfredo]

47. I remember some very potent weed (one toke)back in the sixties. I think American growers are

learning what the third world has known for thousands of years.

[Romulox]

7. Those kids might ruin their lives--unless we JAIL THEM!

[chrisa]

67. lol. Yeah, it makes so much sense, doesn't it?

You have to destroy the city to save it, or something like that..

[MjolnirTime]

11. I chose reefer. And I haven't had regular Migraine headaches since.

[RainDog]

115. as I noted before

cannabis was long considered the best medicine for migraines.

but some people claim cannabis gives them migraines.

I think the reality is that everyone has a different biochemistry and what works as good medicine for some does not work for others. we see this in all sorts of medical circumstances.

penicillin saves many people's lives. for others who are allergic to various penicillins, this useful substance can harm them.

I think the "all or nothing" attitudes to most things don't work because people are different - their biochemistry isn't the same and their environments are not the same.

I know that cannabis was more effective for me than imitrex - more immediate. Imitrex only works after a migraine is in progress - it doesn't prevent them. There are also unpleasant side effects for some people who use imitrex - vertigo, for instance - that does not occur for some who choose cannabis instead.

as with all substances, knowledge of possible side effects allows us to make cost/benefit decisions for use - the benefit of cannabis for migraines, in my experience, far outweighed the cost of being "high" - something that was nothing like vertigo or dizziness or other side effects from legally prescribed medications for the same issue.

[randome]

15. It doesn't matter if pot is less dangerous to injest than tobacco.

It still puts smoke and carcinogens in your respiratory system, just at a slower pace than tobacco. We should discourage people from harming themselves, not make an exception for this one subject.

[Romulox]

16. JAIL THEM! FOR THEIR HEALTH!

[randome]

17. Incarceration is the wrong answer. I know that.

[Romulox]

18. You defend the status quo, you defend incarceration for a victimless crime. It's that simple. nt

[randome]

19. No, I'm saying we should not encourage young people to harm themselves.

Smoking anything, ingesting smoke no matter how good it might feel, ruins your health. My daughters know they can do this if they want but they also know how much I care about their health and so they stay healthy.

[Romulox]

31. Unfortunately, the science doesn't support your position. But keep telling us about your daughters!

[randome]

32. Does science support the idea that ingesting smoke is GOOD for people?

All those people who die of smoke inhalation must not be doing it right.

[tatfreak79]

64. I agree

Blind allegiance to pot for love of being high is foolish. I love to toke, but I am in no way oblivious to the fact that smoke inhalation is NOT healthly for lungs. Moderate consumption and use of vapos can allievate some of those issues. And not sitting around all day smoking blunts watching TV helps too. I am an avid runner and have no problem balancing the two. 420!!!

[Bluenorthwest]

88. The science is not with you on this.

Among other things, we are talking about marijuana, not about smoking. Many ways to ingest marijuana that are smokeless. Many. So the 'smoke is not good' argument addresses, in a way, the smoking of the herb while not addressing the actual herb itself as used in many other ways.

[pnwmom]

53. The poster did no such thing.

He or she merely said that we shouldn't ENCOURAGE harmful substances.

[Romulox]

75. She's posting this "I don't support the War on Drugs--but I *understand*!" routine in several

threads at once though.

[randome]

77. So I can multitask.

Not sure how many more times I need to say that I am against legalization and also against incarceration. I think a fine and maybe a search of the premises should be good enough.

But most people don't want stoned drivers behind the wheel, which is why I don't support full legalization.

Medicinal cannabis, yes. But strictly regulated.

And all of which, I just realized, has NOTHING to do with whether we should be encouraging kids to smoke.

And I'm not a 'she' -not that there's anything wrong with being one.

[Romulox]

80. Yours is the type of position I can least respect: a Helen Lovejoy type schtick in which you can't

just own your position: namely that you support the War on Drugs, as currently implemented.

[Romulox]

81. I bet you're really "concerned" that's there's no test for stoned driving, too. Even though science

doesn't support these concerns in any way.

So the least informed amongst us control, as always.

[Bluenorthwest]

89. Many States already do not incarcerate, yet it is still illegal. None of those States

'search the premises' as there is no cause to do so. Do you think Jay Walkers homes should get searched. In many states, it is a similar infraction. Right now.
What defense of searching homes for owning a joint can you present? That is the single most disturbing element of your posts. Search the premises'? For what, and why? Stand up and speak your mind, please.

[Romulox]

78. PS--the word "if" was implied in my statement. It's idiomatic English: ("You mess with the bull,

you get the horns" means "*IF* you mess...&quot

[Bigmack]

22. Vaporizers put NO smoke into your lungs... and edibles, too.

I only vape and eat.

[randome]

25. Great.

Put a vaporizer on every school kid's desk. Serve them pot for lunch. Jesus, this is ridiculous. And just because some kids are already on medications doesn't mean we should encourage them to take more.

[emcguffie]

95. My daughter keeps trying to tell me how to describe this kind of response.

It comes out of left field. It has nothing to do with what went before. Where do you get "Put a vaporizer on every school kid's desk. Serve them pot for lunch."?

That doesn't address the issue. Nobody would do that, and you know that. So it's -- well, it's completely disingenuous. It's distracting. It's a technique. My husband uses that technique to avoid any real discussion.

And I'm just a reader of this thread. Personally, I can't stand marijuana, makes me anxious as hell. But I think it should be legalized, as it is much, much less harmful than alcohol, which I drink, by the way, and all the real damage to society that is associated with it would go away if it were legalized. In my opinion, that is.

[musiclawyer]

38. Red Herring

You don't need to smoke. Vape! = smokeless = residue can be cooked = no waste = cheaper longterm

Vaporizers are falling in price everyday. The little ones that require a lighter to heat the heating element are in the 50 bucs range now.

[randome]

40. Not a red herring at all when the OP is about smoking pot.

But I understand what you mean. I still don't think it's wise to encourage kids to get high.

[eridani]

57. So vaporize already! No excuse for actually smoking it these days n/t

[Oldenuff]

58. I grow weary of the "smoking" argument.

It seems to me people seem to "forget" the study that was published a while back showing that cannabis smoking showed no link to cancer,and in fact showed that it had protective benefits.


seems like there are those who just don't want folks to have the right to do as they please....always looking for a reason to point and wag their fingers saying that we shouldn't do this or that.

[randome]

74. You can find a study that supports anyone's position on this.

But come on, do you really think putting smoke into your lungs will BENEFIT you? That's ridiculous on the face of it.

[Romulox]

76. "Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!"

[randome]

79. Focus.

Do you really think putting smoke into your lungs will BENEFIT you?

[Romulox]

83. The science indicates that marijuana use is negatively correlated with cancer. Deal with it. nt

[randome]

85. I can deal with any information, no matter how unsettling it might be to me.

I still say that ingesting smoke is harmful, no matter how stoned it might make you. Just because it hasn't been proved to cause cancer doesn't mean it won't harm in other ways. It's obvious on the face of it that breathing in smoke is bad and breathing in clean air is good.

Was I clear enough that time?

[Romulox]

87. You're a self-styled "expert" who hasn't read the major studies. That's the problem. nt

[emcguffie]

96. I think what he was saying that marijuana is bad for cancer. Not that it causes it.

Marijuana is very bad for cancer. I think it seems to kill cancer cells or something. Not the same thing as causing it, not by a long shot.

[Romulox]

84. randome never read that study, and therefore is saved the trouble of forgetting it.

"It seems to me people seem to "forget" the study that was published a while back showing that cannabis smoking showed no link to cancer,and in fact showed that it had protective benefits."

[name remoovvved]

21. ((facepalm))

This is the best we can do? NO! As a former pothead in my teens, I can say without a doubt that when anyone of any age uses substances in order to relax or find enjoyment, it's something that needs to be looked at. They are lost on some level. Did you have happiness in childhood? I had! And yet, what happens when kids become teens? Besides the hormonal upheaval, there is something that has changed that they need to smoke a joint in order to find peace. If you don't need drugs as a 10-year-old, then why at 16?

[Bigmack]

23. As a HS teacher, I saw a lot of 16yr olds that needed medication....

... the stresses on those kids is enormous.

I'm not saying kids should use, but a lot of them are on prescription drugs anyway.

[name remoovvved]

26. We need to uncover the stressors rather than cover them up

Drugs (and intoxicants) do NOT heal. Those stressors (like clueless, pressuring parents) need to be dealt with head-on. I know from my own experience that nothing is solved. I do think that pot can sometimes be preferable to alcohol or Oxy/prescriptions/heroin/coke, but even pot is not benign. It is so hybridized that it is very, very strong.

[Bigmack]

44. Holy shit...! Were you ever young..?

Those kids... especially the bright ones.... face some of the biggest stressors you can imagine...

Gender identity, sex generally, relationships - male and female, sports, body image, college entrance, Advanced Placement classes, parents divorce (real common w/HS students.. parents stay together for the kids until they're older), driving.... I could go on.... and on.

The pressure to perform is unbelievable.

Their lives are a lot more stressed than many older people.

Get real.

[nebenaube]

55. maybe not teaching civics is a good thing...

Then the smart ones won't realize they are fucked.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

71. Good one...

... and the lack of, if not watered down teaching of Civics at the junior high level is one of my pet peeves. How can one make educated votes if they do not even understand how our society operates, the good goes with the bad and always striving to lessen the bad, FOR THE SAKE OF SOCIETY! (I will end it here as I am rambling and do not want to hijack this thread - tee hee)

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

72. "If I had discovered pot while in high school, I never would have graduated"-attributed to Joe Walsh

... that has been quoted to me by several rock and folk musicians I personally know. We like to get together and have two on guitar and sing Peter, Paul and Mary, Pete Seeger, John Denver songs after sharing some...

While looking for the quote, I came across this:
"Joe Walsh is a species of turnip inhabiting the southern wastelands of a planet known as Spain. He lives there with his four children, Tim, Bob, Susy, and Stalin Joe Walsh. Together, they drive around in a tank, sing out of tune, and wear large yellow shoes and striped hats. Joe is also a black belt in the martial art form The Rocky Mountain Way, a derivative form of Goa Tse Do, which he uses to beat up Don Henly on a regular basis, just for the hell of it."

http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Joe_Walsh

What does this post mean? I don't know. I just had 2 hits off my one hitter.

[randome]

24. '...what we can learn...?'

I bet it's this: grades plummet and schedules go awry. I'm all for teens goofing off but this is a ridiculous position, that smoking pot is actually good for teens.

[pscot]

28. I'm inclined to agree

I'm a smoker myself, but being 15 should be a natural high. Pot isn't exactly an aid to concentration.

[hifiguy]

34. I think that different people have different responses.

I could concentrate intensely on music (especially) or reading after having a few tokes back in the day.

[randome]

35. But most people don't.

Most people concentrate by focusing on what's in front of them.

[Bluenorthwest]

90. And you take that opinon of others from where? Can you cite any support for that?

Assumptions and prejudices or studies and facts?

[NYC_SKP]

29. I agree. Further, I submit that THC often makes one careless, goofy, silly, and stupid.

And after prolonged exposure, it makes one easily angered and extremely defensive of their substance use/abuse.

Which is of great concern and an indicator of deeper problems.

DISCLAIMER: I'm talking about teenagers who don't suffer from post-war PTSD, are undergoing chemo, or who otherwise have valid reasons to use marijuana under the careful guidance of a conscientious medical practitioner.

[reggie the dog]

39. careless, and stupid no

i am smart and responsible when i smoke

goofy and silly at times, for the fun of it when i smoke or not

i am easily angered by what we perceive as the stupidity of the alcohol swilling masses and their perception of my cannabis use.

[randome]

41. Your experience is not everyone's.

From my admittedly limited experience, most people DO get careless and stupid. I'm not talking about Harold & Kumar depictions. I'm talking about people I have known.

[Bluenorthwest]

91. Here is my not so limited expreience reporting that marijuana users I know include

Oscar winners, best selling authors, holders of multiple gold records, one Nobel winner, Golden Globe winners, people who made millions and hundreds of millions from a starting place of zero, diplomats, judges, you name it. Careless, stupid and in charge of 100 million dollar projects? Ok. If you say so.
In addition, most of those people would say that marijuana was and is a working tool for them, not incidental to their success at all. Not in spite of marijuana, in part due to marijuana. So that's the facts.
Do your friends who abstain do all those things? Do they 'create jobs'? Win Oscars? Well? Do they?
"It really puzzles me to see marijuana connected with narcotics . . . dope and all that crap. It's a thousand times better than whiskey - it's an assistant - a friend."
- Louis Armstrong quote on Marijuana
"When I was a kid I inhaled frequently. That was the point."
- Barack Obama quote on Marijuana
So did those two men get all stupid and careless and all? Or do they not count because you do not know them?

[NYC_SKP]

102. I'm with you, but to others apparently if there are exceptions then you're argument is a failure.

To those who say that "so and so made millions while toking", I say, "imagine what they could have done if they'd stayed sober".

At the end of the day, it's an argument about sobriety, some people just seem to not get it, and that's OK.

[reggie the dog]

36. i managed all A's and B's

in high school for my last 3 years, the years AFTER i started smoking grass.

jr year was my best year and i was a dealer and smoking every day

i smoked all through the univeristy and grad school up to my masters.

at age 21 i had given up on alcohol and i am far better off for it.

i think many people would also be better of smoking grass instead of drinking

many teens, people like me, worked out after smoking weed

or we smoked weed before our mind numbing jobs that we had while in school

it is easy to keep it together and be responsible while smoking grass, doing that while drinking is much much harder

[reggie the dog]

33. my own life experiences correspond to what this article describes

[Bennyboy]

37. Every time I ever fucked up in my life

I was drunk.

The only time I ever fucked up when I was high on pot was When I went to see KISS.


Without the makeup.

[rbnyc]

70. LMAO nt

[musiclawyer]

43. Teens should not smoke or vape until they are older

and their brains are more mature. I think the science backs this up. That being said, as a parent I am transparent with my kids, tell them what I just told you, and let them know that when they go to college, I'd rather have them vape a little than get smashed on liquor................

They know I like bud and Pinot Noire. But I tell the kids, each has a time and place in moderation. Unless you have an addictive personality, they are benign substances.

Out here in CA, virtually everyone adult I know currently does or has smoked, vaped or eaten bud. That includes cops, doctors, and lawyers. It's ubiquitous. The time will come where the Government can't keep up the charade of criminalization.

[pnwmom]

51. Alcohol problems might not be related to an "addictive personality" as much as

a physical body that is more susceptible to addictions.

Unfortunately, a significant percent of the population comes from families with members who have addictions -- so Bud and Pinot Noire aren't benign substances for them.

As far as I know, AA recommends that people with alcohol problems also stop pot.

[Romulox]

86. No offense, but AA tells people that religion is the key to sobriety. This is not science. nt

[pnwmom]

98. AA refers to a "higher power" but that power isn't necessarily God.

Atheists who attend AA have various ways of thinking about that, including the power of the group itself.

[Romulox]

99. OK. But that's not science. nt

[MrScorpio]

45. When Sobriety isn't an option...

Choose WEED!

[trumad]

46. As a parent of 3 teenagers...

I'd much rather have them toke up than drink.

I seriously never here of people being killed on the road by stoned teenagers.

[pnwmom]

52. Pot smokers have an almost doubled rate of being involved in fatal car crashes.

http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20051201/marijuana-raises-risk-of-fatal-car-crash

Dec. 1, 2005 - People who drive after using marijuana are nearly twice as likely to be involved in a fatal car crash.

French researchers studied all drivers involved in fatal car crashes over a two-year period and found 7% tested positive for marijuana, including nearly 3% who tested positive for a combination of marijuana and alcohol.

Although marijuana's share of fatal crashes is much lower than those attributed to alcohol, researchers say the results show that marijuana use, even in low doses, significantly increases the risk of fatal car accidents.

More Pot, More Deaths

In the study, published in the medical journal BMJ, researchers reviewed information on 10,748 drivers who were involved in fatal car crashes and took required tests for drugs and alcohol.

SNIP

[Fearless]

56. More driving stoned = More death

Would be a bit more accurate. Or else perhaps we need to ban alcohol because it's a depressant, and force every driver to take caffeine because it's a stimulant and they're less likely to fall asleep (sober and clean) at the wheel and cause an accident.

Shockingly, I don't support legalizing pot though, for my own reasons.

[Oldenuff]

59. Thats interesting...I found a study that says the opposite..

but don't let that deter you from posting this drivel far and wide.If you read that study,it says 7% tested positive for Cannabis.It did NOT say that they were under the influence...simply that they tested positive.Smoke some Cannabis,and then test positive for a month....your article is skewed.

Funny that none of these "studies" mention all the people who left the dentist after getting a pain killer...or the guy that just ordered a double espresso at Starbucks and is wired to 220volts...etc.. etc..

Try this study...I like it a bunch better and makes far more sense to me.But don't let facts dissuade you....

http://healthland.time.com/2011/12/02/why-medical-marijuana-laws-reduce-traffic-deaths/


States that legalize medical marijuana see fewer fatal car accidents, according to a new study, in part because people may be substituting marijuana smoking for drinking alcohol.

Sixteen states and the District of Columbia, have legalized medical marijuana since the mid-1990s. For the new study, economists looked at 1990-2009 government data on marijuana use and traffic deaths in the 13 states that had passed legalization laws during that time period. The data were from the National Household Survey on Drug Use and Health and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Comparing traffic deaths over time in states with and without medical marijuana law changes, the researchers found that fatal car wrecks dropped by 9% in states that legalized medical use — which was largely attributable to a decline in drunk driving. The researchers controlled for other factors like changes in driving laws and the number of miles driven that could affect the results.

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2011/12/02/why-medical-marijuana-laws-reduce-traffic-deaths/#ixzz1hA7nnfcs

[randome]

61. As I pointed out earlier in this thread...

...there is a study to support everyone's point of view.

But I don't think anyone disputes the fact that ingesting smoke is bad for your lungs and we should not be encouraging children to harm themselves this way.

And we don't need more stoned students at school.

[WillyT]

49. K & R !!!

[pnwmom]

50. The people I've known with problems did both pot and alcohol.

The only way they could get over the alcohol problem was to stop both. (As AA recommends.) One told me that he thought the pot lowered his inhibitions about drinking.

[tomp]

60. increased risk of triggering psychosis....

....in susceptible teens (says a recent study).

i'm treating more and more people (young adults mostly) for psychotic episodes in the context of heavy marijuana use.

just sayin'.

[DCKit]

66. We've discussed that, at length, as a "Chicken & Egg" argument.

Were the kids self-medicating, or did the pot cause the psychosis?

[tomp]

103. in the study i read....

....the subjects denied having psychosis prior to smoking pot.

[RainDog]

113. here's a link to 5 different studies

that indicate cannabis does not cause schizophrenia (psychosis isn't an exact medical term - it's a generic description.)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/117036

symptoms of schizophrenia are most likely to manifest in late adolescence/early adulthood for anyone who has this illness. Those at greatest risk of schizophrenia are those with immediate relatives who also have the it. Twin studies indicate heritability as a factor for the development of schizophrenia is 80%

Those with schizophrenia are generally likely to use illegal drugs -of all kinds. More schizophrenics are likely to use nicotine than the general population - but the link isn't considered causal - the truth is that schizophrenics are more likely to use various substances than those without the illness.

In studies that have indicated a link between cannabis and "psychosis," cannabis is not considered sufficient as causal - cannabis is considered a "component cause" or, part of a "constellation of factors." i.e. if you are not predisposed to the mental illness, cannabis will not, of itself, cause a mental illness.

Roger Pertwee has noted that cannabis may precipitate the onset of symptoms of schizophrenia (and for this reason, thinks it should be legal and regulated so that it is limited to 21 and over, as we do with alcohol.) But this onset only occurs in those who are already predisposed to schizophrenia because of genetic and environmental factors (such as overwhelming stress...which leads people, often, to seek some sort of relief through drugs anyway - not just cannabis) though many of the environmental issues related to schizophrenia are linked to in utero

http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/web/News/FestivalNews/_Rethinkingcannabis.htm

Prof. Lester Grinspoon, whose work involved studying schizophrenia, noted that this illness remains somewhat steady - with 1% of the population dx'd as schizophrenic. The increase or decrease of cannabis use among the general population does not correlate with an increase or decrease of schizophrenia. If cannabis were a prime factor, increases in cannabis use should follow with increases in diagnoses of schizophrenia - but this doesn't happen.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/50158634/Cannabis-and-Schizophrenia-Grinspoon

There is no way to "pre-diagnose" who will develop schizophrenia - what doctors can do is look at someone's family history to indicate a possible danger for someone and, therefore, recommend that this person not use cannabis with high levels of THC - because, at this time, medical researchers are also looking into another cannabinoid, CBD, to see if it may help control schizophrenia.

All that said, no matter whether cannabis use puts those already predisposed to schizophrenia at risk, just as we regulate alcohol and tobacco, it would make sense to me to regulate cannabis to limit its use by those who are underage.

A percentage of the population is also at risk for the development of alcoholism and diseases related to alcoholism. We do not forbid the use of alcohol among the adult population because of the risk that some may develop alcoholism

The NIAAA states that there are about 15.1 million alcohol-abusing or alcohol-dependent individuals in the United States. The rate of schizophrenia in the U.S. is approximately 2.2 million people.

Again, as Grinspoon has noted, the percentage of schizophrenics in the population has remained stable, no matter the level of cannabis use.

[tomp]

118. thanks. i'm all for being scientific about this.

the study i read indicated that marijuana can expedite the onset of schizophrenia in the susceptible. so the issue is not does the overall incidence increase but does the age of onset decrease.

and there is no study that can alter my personal experience of seeing more and more young people in the hospital with psychotic symptoms following heavy marijuana use.

[RainDog]

119. thanks

it's nice when someone acknowledges the value of looking at statistics and peer-reviewed studies. some here claim none of this matters when trying to evaluate issues for policy decisions - at least in this matter.

what are psychotic symptoms?

personally, no matter whether they are at risk of schizophrenia or not, I don't think it's a good idea for people under the age of 18 to use cannabis.

since Dare and "Just Say No" have not worked, I'm interested in looking at things that can be more effective deterrents.

One thing I think would be an effective deterrent is economic policy that doesn't leave so many families hurting. People who feel invested in their society tend to have fewer problems overall, it seems to me.

[tomp]

120. how to effectively discourage drug use?

not asking for much, are you? heh, heh.

human beings have sought to alter their consciousness since time immemorial. i think the fundamental problem is the general anxiety associated with human existence. drugs/alcohol are a way to escape, to have fun. it's hard to blame people for seeking such respite in these times.

I think overall improvement of material conditions would go a long way toward stemming the urge to escape but this has proven extremely hard to accomplish and i'm not holding my breath. i also think a celebrity campaign against drug and alcohol use would be very helpful.

psychotic symptoms: hallucinations of all types and delusions, as well as various forms of very odd behavior. these may or may not be associated with a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

[emcguffie]

97. Hmmm. Pot really disagrees with me. Horribly.

Can't touch the stuff.

In the last 30 years, I think I took one hit. I was rooted to a spot in my living room for untold hours -- too afraid to move.

Consequently, I do not use it. Ha ha.

But I see it has a very different effect on most people, who seem to relax and enjoy it tremendously. So, I think it's fine for them, but not for me.

[treestar]

63. No, even if legal, it is not a "good thing"

to abuse any drug.

[progressoid]

68. Use -vs- Abuse.

I agree, to abuse any drug is not a good thing. But to simply use a drug (prescription, OTC and otherwise) can be a good thing.

[Nikia]

101. I don't think daily use of any recreational drug is a good thing, especially for teenagers

I don't think that physically marijuana is a harmful drug. The problem with it is that it often a substitute for real connections with people, real hobbies, and real achievements. You can feel happy spending time smoking pot with people who have nothing in common with you other than that. It is not to say that daily pot smokers can't have real friends, hobbies, and achieve things but it makes those things less necessary psychologically. Teenagers should be focusing these real things rather than letting a drug fulllfill many of their psychological needs.
I do think that marijuana should be legalized and the number of daily users might actually decrease as a result.

[Romulox]

111. That sounds AWFUL: " You can feel happy spending time smoking pot with people..."

" You can feel happy spending time smoking pot with people who have nothing in common with you other than that."

How dreadful! Well, a police state will take of that "problem"!

[Nikia]

116. I disagree with a police state and the war on drug as much as you

I am talking about "friendships" based on drug use. Part of it is the positive feelings associated with marijuana. Part of it is being in on "the secret". Part of it could be based on someone having greater access to marijuana. The latter two are caused by the drug war.

[Romulox]

117. I grow tired of the "I disagree with the drug war, but..." type arguments. The greatest harm

is done by flaky friendships, or by incarcerating substantial portions of African American and Latino teens for consensual behavior?

"I am talking about "friendships" based on drug use. "

Why? We're talking about an oppressive police state that's grown up around persecuting potheads. You're talking about feeling on the outside of a smokers' clique.

[Bluenorthwest]

92. A quote to consider from an American treasure:

It really puzzles me to see marijuana connected with narcotics . . . dope and all that crap. It's a thousand times better than whiskey - it's an assistant - a friend."
- Louis Armstrong quote on Marijuana


Armstrong and I do not agree with your concept that marijuana is 'any drug' or that use is the same as abuse. I see the President drink alcohol. Does this mean he abuses that drug? Yes or no?

[Romulox]

112. If we had JAILED! Louis early enough, he wouldn't have wasted his time on all of that "jazz".

Here's another waste-of-space.

[tatfreak79]

65. My favorite PSA

"I learned it from YOU Dad!"

Funny thing...my Step-Dad smoked alot in the basement. While I sneaked outside to burn one..... I did learn from watching him that you can smoke to much & moderation is a good thing.

[ThomThom]

69. teens should not be smoking and drinking

part of the reason the usage has gone done on cigarettes and alcohol is availability, stores are regulated and watched
these are things that are for adults
legalize weed and get it off the street

[Lance_Boyle]

73. on a tuesday night

It's not how you play the game, it's how you win it.

[Romulox]

82. I know! They might grow up to be....PRESIDENT!!!!

[Bluenorthwest]

93. "When I was a kid I inhaled frequently. That was the point."

- Barack Obama quote on Marijuana.

[HillWilliam]

114. Anything that can cause teenage boys to drive slower

can't be all bad

Hey, I keed, I keed...