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Filed under: Opinions
Did you know that every year, the federal government funds a study to keep on top of teenage drug use? I didn't. Not that it surprises me, but, no, I didn't know that. Well, it turns out that this year's edition has some surprising numbers in it. Teenagers have not been hanging out in the boys' bathroom smoking cigarettes; they've been smoking marijuana instead.According to the study, which includes data going back to 1991, cigarette use has fallen from more than fourteen percent of eighth-graders to less than seven percent now with similar decreases in older grades as well. Meanwhile, marijuana use has nearly doubled for eighth-graders, going from just over three percent to nearly six. The difference, according to this article, is that the sales of cigarettes are strictly controlled, with real penalties and fines for sales to minors. Marijuana sales, on the other hand, are not controlled at all, aside from medical usage in California.
I am by no means a supporter of marijuana usage, but I am even less supportive of tobacco use. I've never smoked either and will strongly encourage my kids to eschew them both. That said, it seems clear to me that if the goal is to prevent all kids from smoking tobacco and marijuana, regulation works and prohibition doesn't.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
12-23-2008 @ 4:12PM
SKL said...No, prohibition works, it just isn't perfect, and neither is regulation. Is MJ now smoked "more" than cigarettes? If so, then your statement might have some credibility.
What do you mean, "MJ sales are not controlled at all"? Do you really think that any teen who has a source of MJ couldn't get cigarettes easier? Roger, I really think you are capable of higher logic than this, so why do you continue to try to mislead the dummies and sheep who read your articles?
Do you REALLY believe it would be desireable for kids to be brought up in homes where their parents openly smoke weed, instead of just cigarettes? I know you're hanging out with the counter-culture a lot, but get real.
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12-23-2008 @ 6:03PM
Kirstie said...It's not smoked more, SKL - actually, going from the numbers Roger posted, consumption is about equal. (Which makes sense, I guess, considering that tobacco and marijuana are often mixed.)
My issue - are you suggesting there's no real fines and penalties for selling marijuana to minors (or anyone else, for that matter), like there is for cigarette sales? Last I checked, jail time and probation are pretty serious penalties ..
Honestly, it's pretty easy to get weed OR cigarettes, without any hassle. I'm 19, and while I don't smoke marijuana, I have plenty of friends who do - and I've never seen it take more than half an hour to score some bud. However, I did smoke cigarettes all through high school (almost a year since I quit, tobacco free .. whoo hoo! Sorry, little self cheer on that one =]) and those aren't hard to get either! Law or not, plenty of gas stations and convenience stores don't care enough to ID you .. I was able to walk into a 7-11 at 14 and pick up a pack.
Clearly, neither prohibition or regulation are perfect - but SOMETHING'S got to be in place to stop it from getting to kids.
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12-24-2008 @ 10:30AM
ttupper said...Cigarette smoking in under age kids has decressed because of the crack down on store selling them to minors. I am 29 and still get carded to buy them (for my husband not me). If they would legalize marijuana and put the same strict regulations on it as alcohol and cigarettes then we wouldn’t be having such a big problem. Then the US can make money off of the tax that will be attached to it just like cigarettes and alcohol. I don’t want my children doing any of this but in my opinion my kid getting drunk is worse then my kid smoking a joint. But it is perfectly legal for them to drink all they want come age 21 (and you are not mature enough at 21, I don’t care what the law says). But this is just one mother’s opinion.
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1-29-2009 @ 9:59PM
Lauren said...I disagree with this article...the kids aren't smoking pot instead of ciggarettes because its easier to get, because chances are whoever they are getting the pot from is over 18 or somehow connected to someone over 18, so if they have access to one chances are they have access to both. The kids are looking for the high that they cant get off ciggarettes and because of that effect pot smoking seems more rebellious and "cool". These days kids brag about how "bad" what they're doing is...for them weed is just the hot new thing "the cool kids" are doing.
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