Teens Who Smoke Marijuana But Not Tobacco Are Different From Other Teen Groups

[Bonobo]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071105164453.htm

cienceDaily (Nov. 6, 2007) — A Swiss study suggests that teens who use only cannabis appear to function better than those who also use tobacco, and are more socially driven and have no more psychosocial problems than those who abstain from both substances, according to a new report.

Cannabis or marijuana is the illegal drug most commonly used by youth, according to background information in the article. Cannabis use is associated with the use of other substances, including tobacco and illegal drugs. "The gateway theory hypothesizes that the use of legal drugs (tobacco and alcohol) is the previous step to cannabis consumption," the authors write. "However, recent research also indicates that cannabis use may precede or be simultaneous to tobacco use and that, in fact, its use may reinforce cigarette smoking or lead to nicotine addiction independently of smoking status."

The survey also found that, compared with students who used both substances, students who smoked marijuana only were more likely to be male (71.6 percent vs. 59.7 percent), play sports (85.5 percent vs. 66.7 percent), live with both parents (78.2 vs. 68.3) and have good grades (77.5 vs. 66.6). However, they were less likely to have been drunk in the past 30 days (40.5 percent vs. 55 percent), have started using cannabis before the age of 15 years (25.9 percent vs. 37.5 percent), to have smoked marijuana more than once or twice during the previous 30 days (44 percent vs. 66 percent) or to use other illegal drugs (8.4 percent vs. 17.9 percent).

Compared with students who abstained from both substances, marijuana users were more likely to be male (71.6 percent vs. 47.7 percent), to have a good relationship with their friends (87.0 percent vs. 83.2 percent), to be sensation-seeking (37.8 percent vs. 21.8 percent) and to play sports (85.5 percent vs. 76.6 percent), and less likely to have a good relationship with their parents (74.1 percent vs. 82.4 percent).

[Bicoastal]

1. According to this picture...

...smoking pot gives you acne.

Good GOD.

[orleans]

3. maybe it's the CURE for acne

:smoke: :shrug:

[Ganja Ninja]

5. Or attention deficit disorder.

Either way it's a modern miracle drug.

[orleans]

6. i thought this was VERY interesting (speaking of add)

"There's research on attention-deficit disorder at the University of Illinois, ongoing studies showing that a little bit of exposure to nature decreases ADD symptoms -- even in kids as young as 5. The researchers suggest we add nature therapy to the other two traditional therapies: behavioral modification and Ritalin and other stimulants. "
http://www.grist.org/news/maindish/2006/03/30/louv/

[gtar100]

2. Probably because it takes more self-loathing to smoke cigarettes

Smoking pot is about getting high.

Smoking cigarettes is about looking cool and telling the world you don't care what others think...or about your health, or your friends' health, or anyone's health who happens to be around you.

Just a little non-scientific observation. Probably exceptions in the population pool, But I'd wager this in the hump of the bell curve.

[varkam]

4. Smoking cigarettes is all about...

...being addicted to nicotine.

[gtar100]

8. Yes, it comes to that; but it's not the draw to it.

[tridim]

7. Wow, cannabis is cheap as hell in South Africa

Although I'm not really sure what "retail price" means in this context.

[rayofreason]

9. Retail price?

At Macy's or Wallmart?