Study: More Teens Smoking Pot Than Cigarettes

Time Magazine ^ | June 11, 2012 | Aylin Zafar

[Olog-hai]

Seems like teens have gotten the memo that cigarettes are bad for you; however, the same isn’t true for marijuana, according to a study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.Released late last week, the government study revealed that in a nationwide study of 15,000 high school students, pot is now more popular among teens than cigarettes, CBS reports. Eighteen percent of surveyed students in 2011 reported smoking a cigarette in the past month, while 23% reported smoking marijuana in the last 30 days.

Perhaps thanks to the anti-smoking campaigns in ads and in schools, or to the personal experiences teens may have with family members or relatives with lung cancer, cigarette use has been on the decline over the past few years.

But apparently, the association of marijuana with cancer and other health risks is not as prevalent among teens. “I just hear a lot of dangers of cancer and cigarettes and I think that’s why a lot of teens look to marijuana,” Tianda, a Philadelphia high school junior who wasn’t identified by her full name, told CBS Philly. …

[Olog-hai]

Looks like the liberal media is catching up to something that was reported 2½ years ago.

[Nik Naym]

Heck, with the taxes on cigarettes these days I wouldn’t be surprised if pot is cheaper.

[golux]

Goodness gracious, we’ll have to have the nanny state do something about that, won’t we! Raise or lower taxes, criminalize or decriminalize substances, spend taxpayer dollars on public awareness campaigns in accordance with the latest taxpayer-funded studies, reverse those campaigns with new taxpayer-funded efforts when tomorrow’s taxpayer-funded studies show the reverse to be true, or just about anything else that will get Jimmy, Mary, and Shaqueesa Fed to GS14!

[a fool in paradise]

That’s one way to stick it to Bloomberg and the taxnazis.

[I still care]

More evidence that letting the government define your life for your leads to tragedy.

Every other message on TV is against “big tobacco”. But pot is cool. I am convinced it is because the South is the big grower of tobacco but blue states are where a lot of pot is grown. As Rush says, follow the money.

I also think the reason a lot of CA turned down legalizing pot is they’d rather work in an illegal industry, because once your industry becomes legal and REGULATED in CA, it becomes almost impossible to turn a profit.

[gigster]

Back in the 70’s, I never smoked...cigarettes.

[Ken H]

I also think the reason a lot of CA turned down legalizing pot is they’d rather work in an illegal industry, because once your industry becomes legal and REGULATED in CA, it becomes almost impossible to turn a profit.

Seeing as how cop unions led the charge against legalization, you just might have unwittingly made a point.

[AlexW]

“Every other message on TV is against “big tobacco”. But pot is cool.”
____________________________________

One should listen to Savage describe all of the toxic chemicals in pot...one of the most dangerous substances available today.
He should know, as he was a botanist for some time.

[goseminoles]

Hogwash. Nobody chews anyones face off after partaking in a spliff..

[AlexW]

“Hogwash. Nobody chews anyones face off after partaking in a spliff..”
_______________________________

God only knows what YOU are talking about, and HE is not talking.

[Molon Labbie]

You legalize pot (and other drugs) that means no more seizures to buy new toys, or task forces with overtime.

That just won’t do, sir. /s

[Venturer]

Cheaper and easier to get for teenagers.

[bobo1]

Even if one takes every reefer madness allegation of the prohibitionists at face value, marijuana prohibition has done far more harm to far more people than marijuana ever could.
William F. Buckley, Jr.

Blessings, Bobo

[TomGuy]

Seems like teens have gotten the memo that cigarettes are bad for you;

Not really.

I am rather astonished at the number of young people I see smoking, considering the anti-smoking venue we have been under for the last 2+ decades.

Many of these young people have been inundated with the 'no smoking' agenda their entire lives, and especially after the Big Tobacco settlement, which was supposed to end smoking eventually [/s].

[fr_freak]

I also think the reason a lot of CA turned down legalizing pot is they’d rather work in an illegal industry, because once your industry becomes legal and REGULATED in CA, it becomes almost impossible to turn a profit.

I can't speak for every Californian, but, though I am for legalization of pot, I voted against the last legalization measure, primarily because there was a clause in there that gave pot users protected status against things like being fired for being a pot user. That's a serious no-go for me. I think people should be able to smoke it if they want, and employers should be able to tell them to screw off if they do, as well as other businesses being able to refuse service to stoners. Freedom means you can do what you want, but you have to take responsibility for the consequences.

Also, the "legalize it, regulate it, and tax it" crowd are seriously misguided. Pot is way too easily grown. If the state tried to regulate and tax the heck out of it, people would simply continue to operate underground. It's cheaper and less hassle. Either legalize it or don't. Excessive regulation and taxation is just another form of criminalization.

[Ken H]

Also, the "legalize it, regulate it, and tax it" crowd are seriously misguided.

How so? CA collects around $100M in taxes off of $1B in sales from its medical marijuana program. People are allowed to grow their own, yet they are willing to pay $300 per oz and up for it.

[TalBlack]

Purely anecdotal but I think regular Pot use over years may figure in in myriad cancers around the body.

[Vaduz]

It’s why they are fat and stupid,yet the msm blamed everything else like McDonalds,large drinks and want to outlaw it or tax it.
Some times I wonder if the law makers are stoned on the job?.

[OldEarlGray]

Doood! Where’s the Republic?

[fr_freak]

How so? CA collects around $100M in taxes off of $1B in sales from its medical marijuana program. People are allowed to grow their own, yet they are willing to pay $300 per oz and up for it.

OK, CA is getting some money from the deal, but I'm willing to bet that the real amount of marijuana business and consumption in CA is at least 10 times that number. The ones who go to the dispensaries and pay the higher price are probably just the ones who can't grow it themselves and don't know anyone who does. Growing marijuana is still technically illegal, so their is a barrier to your average person growing it in the garden. If weed is fully legalized, but strictly regulated and taxed, you'll still have a black market, but now everybody will know somebody who is growing some in their backyard.