PUBLIC OPINION > Teen Marijuana Use Is Not That Big of a Deal
SodaHead News
2012/05/04 16:00:00
We've done polls on marijuana in the past, and typically voters give it the polling equivalent of a shrug. Even if they don't smoke it or condone it, it's not as dangerous as alcohol and not worth fussing over. But a recent survey shows teen marijuana use is on the rise -- nearly 10% of teens are smoking 20 times a month or more. No wonder it's California's biggest cash crop! Teen use can be scary, though, as the longterm effects of marijuana use on developing brains is still unclear, and bad habits can form in those early years. So we asked the public if the increase in teen use is cause for concern.
Again, the majority feels marijuana is just not that big of a deal. Even with teens, the sentiment seems to be, "Better weed than alcohol." The Top Opinion read, "Sure I would prefer they didn't do all of these things but when you look at the alternatives kids that want to get high really bad probably will, and if it's not marijuana it will probably be something dangerous." Yes, weed can be bad. It can be habit-forming, and it can glue you to the couch. But hey, at least they aren't drinking hand sanitizer.
Fluctuating Feelings
Teens themselves were exactly in-line with the overall vote -- exactly 41% are pretty concerned. As voters got a little bit older, in their early 20s, that number dipped to 29% concern. Then it worked its way back up to 57% as voters entered their 50s. Age definitely showed a pattern, but the change of heart was slow-turning, reversible, and not very passionate.
Reluctance From the Right
The two demographics that showed considerable resistance were Christians and conservatives, both coming in at about 65% concern. It's not that they think marijuana is going to destroy the youth, they're just reluctant to give it a green light. No pun intended. Plus, it's illegal, which certainly adds weight to the issue from a right-leaning perspective.
Shrug From the Smokers
As usual, smokers tend to back the marijuana users. Drinkers, too, though not as much. It would be silly to condemn the use of marijuana when you're indulging in a relatively risky substance yourself. As far as we know, like the Top Opinion said, tobacco and alcohol have more risk involved. You might be better off without it, but weed never killed anyone. Not officially, at least.
If you'd like to vote on this question, dig deeper into the demographics, or engage in existing discussion about the topic, visit our poll about teen marijuana use. We'd love to hear from you!
Top Opinion
-
wilsonmja 2012/05/05 01:05:53
+19Conservatives crack me up. From a conservative you would likely hear "guns don't kill people, people do." I happen to agree with the sentiment behind that. However, I also believe that drugs don't ruin lives, people ruin lives. For some reason a conservative cant see how it's the same thing.
People die from grass
At least weed is a natural drug and there is a clear sense of risk(for most ppl anyway), even more so with all the overblown, negative hype its been getting.
All the other stuff pumped into our everyday lives like the examples I posted above on the other hand...
Personally, i think the entire Middle East should be crop-dusted with hashish smoke three times a day. calm everybody the hell down!
to mind. I do believe it should be legalized though
"I'd rather my kid smoke pot than drink alcohol."
Great response from a parent that does care.
My kid will not smoke weed or drink alcohol as long as he or she lives in my house and we as a family will deal with it, not friends.
Brilliant!!!
All causes of death per year 2,436,652
Cardiovascular diseases 779,367
Malignant neoplasms 568,668
Lack of Health Insurance3 44,789
Drug induced2 37,485
Suicide 36,547
Motor vehicle accidents 36,284
Septicemia (infections) 35,587
by Firearms 31,224
Accidental poisoning 30,504
Alcohol induced 23,199
Homicide 16,591
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 9,424
Viral hepatitis 7,652
Cannabis (Marijuana) 0
Major marijuana myth: pot use use can be a cause of death. So say many anti-drug warriors, such as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who recently wrote to a constituent that "marijuana and other narcotics" can lead to death.
PotleafAccording to Time magazine, "No one has ever died of THC [marijuana] poisoning, mostly because a 160-pound person would have to smoke roughly 900 joints in a sitting to reach a lethal dose."
In 1988, DEA Administrative Judge Francis Young concluded, "In order to induce death, a smoker would have to consume 20,000 to 40,000 times as much marijuana as is contained in one marijuana cigarette."
Former Surgeon General Jocelyn Elder wrote in 2004: "Unlike many of the drugs we prescribe every day, marijuana has never been proven to cause a fatal overdose."
this is from budfacts.com
Now take a moment...
All causes of death per year 2,436,652
Cardiovascular diseases 779,367
Malignant neoplasms 568,668
Lack of Health Insurance3 44,789
Drug induced2 37,485
Suicide 36,547
Motor vehicle accidents 36,284
Septicemia (infections) 35,587
by Firearms 31,224
Accidental poisoning 30,504
Alcohol induced 23,199
Homicide 16,591
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 9,424
Viral hepatitis 7,652
Cannabis (Marijuana) 0
Major marijuana myth: pot use use can be a cause of death. So say many anti-drug warriors, such as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who recently wrote to a constituent that "marijuana and other narcotics" can lead to death.
PotleafAccording to Time magazine, "No one has ever died of THC [marijuana] poisoning, mostly because a 160-pound person would have to smoke roughly 900 joints in a sitting to reach a lethal dose."
In 1988, DEA Administrative Judge Francis Young concluded, "In order to induce death, a smoker would have to consume 20,000 to 40,000 times as much marijuana as is contained in one marijuana cigarette."
Former Surgeon General Jocelyn Elder wrote in 2004: "Unlike many of the drugs we prescribe every day, marijuana has never been proven to cause a fatal overdose."
this is from budfacts.com
Now take a moment to think about how wonderful this plant really is! It is capable of providing clothing (hemp is the strongest fiber in the world), it provides nutrition (cannabis seeds contain the most concentrated nutrients found in any food)! It’s “main ingredient” THC has even been proven to be anti-carcinogenic, eliminating lymphatic tumors in test rats within two weeks.
On top of all of these wonderful benefits, it has now been SCIENTIFICALLY CONFIRMED that it indeed does increase creativity, reduce depression and anxiety, and promote peace.
No wonder half of the population smokes it even though it is still illegal.
A joke ;; The difference between a drunk driver and a stoned driver...The drunk driver will run a stop sign...A stoned driver will stop and wait for the sign to turn green...
-The journal of Clinical Oncology reported in 1989 that 48% of respondents to a survey of cancer specialists recommended marijuana as medicine.
-Jocelyn Elders, the news Surgeon General of the United States, has said that she will back the medical use of marijuana and "marijuana is beneficial to many patients."
-Dr. James Malone-Lee, a consultant urologist at St. Pancras Hospital, London has several MS patients who smoke marijuana. "I'm quite impressed by what's happened to patients who have used it", he says.
-Dr. Anthony Henman, former Secretary of International Anti-Prohibition League, says "one of the best effects marijuana can have in any terminal illness is to produce a degree of euphoria which boosts morale in a depressing situation."
-"marijuana is one of the best least toxic substances in the whole pharmacopoeia", according to Dr. Lester Grinspoon, Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
-Nabilone (from Eli Lilly) a synthetic cousin of Delta-9 THC is still considered virtually useless when compared with marijuana by doctors and patients alike.
-The U.S. governments leading scientist on pulmonary research, said in 1989 at UCLA "that you can't get or pontentiate emphysema with marijuana smoking.
its not me saying this its doctors...Watch run from the cure here is link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?...