AlterNet: More 10th-Graders Are Smoking Marijuana Than Cigarettes

[marmar]

More 10th-Graders Are Smoking Marijuana Than Cigarettes

By Aaron Houston, AlterNet. Posted December 18, 2008.

A new survey reveals 13% of 10th-graders reported smoking marijuana in the past 30 days, while just 12.3% smoked cigarettes.



Buried in the latest Monitoring the Future survey -- the major annual, federally funded survey of teen drug use -- is an astonishing finding: More 10th-graders now smoke marijuana than smoke cigarettes. Strangely, in announcing the results, White House drug czar John Walters failed to mention this evidence that our current drug policies constitute an utter train wreck.

In the just-released survey, 13.8 percent of 10th-graders reported smoking marijuana in the past 30 days (considered "current use" by researchers), while just 12.3 percent smoked cigarettes. For eighth and 12th grades, cigarette use still exceeded marijuana, but the gap narrowed to insignificance.

This year, current and past-year marijuana use increased for eighth- and 12th-graders and declined for 10th-graders, but none of the changes were large or statistically significant. In contrast, current cigarette smoking did drop significantly for 10th-graders. Changes for most other drugs were marginal, except for a significant increase in methamphetamine use among 10th-graders.

....(snip)....

Bizarrely, Walters touts the new results as proof that his policies are working, saying, "What we see here is a very good trend for the youth of the country." Walters has been a hard-liner when it comes to marijuana, insisting that even modest reforms in marijuana laws affecting adults would lead to an explosion of use among youth.

In fact, what the data show is that prohibition for adults is neither necessary nor effective at reducing use among kids. Last year, over 775,000 Americans were arrested for possession of marijuana while zero were arrested for possession of cigarettes. And yet it's teen cigarette use that's dropping. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/114001/more_10th-graders_are_smoking_marijuana_than_cigarettes/

[NightWatcher]

1. hey kiddie, can I bum a smoke? And 13% of 10th graders are learning that pot isnt terrible

and they are also learning that adults and the government lie. If pot isnt so bad, maybe we should try something else they say not to do......maybe go drinking and driving or have sex without a condom...

Let's be honest with kids about marijuana

[Buzz Clik]

6. Learning the toke and drive the same year.

Sixteen year olds certainly have the self discipline to avoid driving while stoned. Think about it -- they're smart enough to avoid sending text messages while driving, right?

I believe all of my 5 kids have smoked dope, but only two smoke cigarettes. The two that smoke tobacco worry me the most. (All of them are over 19 and old enough to make reasonable decisions.)

[Fumesucker]

2. Obama is not in favor of legalizing marijuana K&R

Let's see, cigarettes are far more addictive than pot and cigarettes are legally freely available for purchase to anyone over 18.

Looks like the drug war is working as intended, to *increase* illegal drug use.

[NightWatcher]

3. Obama smokes cigs and appoints an AG who thinks minor drug possession should be a felony...

the more things change the more they stay bullshit

[Buzz Clik]

7. What What WHAAATTT!!!!1111

Time for more OUTRAGE!


OBAMA IS DEAD TO ME!!!!111

:eyes:

[Fumesucker]

10. If you aren't outraged you're not paying attention.. n/t

[Buzz Clik]

11. I'm paying attention. I'm not outraged.

[Fumesucker]

12. Shit on my dick or blood on my knife..

What do you think happens to non-violent offenders when they get long hard time with extremely violent offenders?

A lot of them have to become "boyfriends" to a violent offender in order to stay alive.

No, you aren't paying attention.

[lame54]

4. good...

I fucking hate cigarettes

[eridani]

5. Another quote--

In fact, what the data show is that prohibition for adults is neither necessary nor effective at reducing use among kids. Last year, over 775,000 Americans were arrested for possession of marijuana while zero were arrested for possession of cigarettes. And yet it's teen cigarette use that's dropping.

And we know why, or at least a big part of why. A report issued in June by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services documented a nearly 75 percent drop in illegal cigarette sales to minors from 1997 to 2007.

That sort of progress is possible because legal cigarette vendors are regulated. They can and do face fines, or even loss of their license to operate, if they sell to kids. But prohibition guarantees we have no such control over marijuana.

[Buzz Clik]

8. A rational post.

Thank you.

[shadowknows69]

9. Good for them

Those cigarettes are horrible for you. Stay off the booze too kids.