cannabisnews.com: Pot Use Down Where Medical Use OK





Pot Use Down Where Medical Use OK
Posted by CN Staff on September 07, 2005 at 06:28:50 PT
By Eric Bailey, Times Staff Writer
Source: Los Angeles Times
Sacramento -- Bucking dire predictions by anti-drug warriors, the 10 states that approved medical marijuana laws over the last decade have experienced sharp declines in cannabis use among teenagers, according to a new study by a marijuana advocacy group.California has seen usage among ninth-graders drop 47% since 1996, the year the state became the nation's first to legalize medical marijuana. Over the same period, the nation as a whole experienced a 43% decline among eighth-graders.
The study, released today, is based on data from national and state surveys, which show a drop in marijuana use by teens.Although debate over medical marijuana is often shaded by concerns about increasing drug abuse among young people, the report suggested the opposite has been true.The study's authors were Mitch Earleywine, a State University of New York psychology professor, and Karen O'Keefe, a legislative analyst with Marijuana Policy Project, the organization that commissioned the research based on state and federal data.That data "strongly suggests" that approval of medical marijuana has not increased recreational use of cannabis among adolescents, Earleywine and O'Keefe concluded. And the decline in many of the states with medical marijuana laws is "slightly more favorable" than trends nationwide, they said.California, Washington and Colorado have all experienced greater drops in marijuana usage than have occurred nationwide. Only three states with medical marijuana laws — Maine, Oregon and Nevada — have lagged behind the national drop in teen marijuana use, the report said."If medical marijuana laws send the wrong message to children," the authors said, widespread attention to the debate "would be expected to produce a nationwide increase in marijuana use, the largest increase in those states enacting medical marijuana laws. But just the opposite has occurred."Tom Riley, of the president's Office of National Drug Control Policy, said the drop in teen drug use across the nation is attributable to the federal anti-drug advertising campaign in recent years, including $125 million spent during the federal fiscal year that ends Oct. 1.Snipped:Complete Article: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/medok.htmSource: Los Angeles Times (CA) Author: Eric Bailey, Times Staff WriterPublished: September 7, 2005Copyright: 2005 Los Angeles TimesContact: letters latimes.comWebsite: http://www.latimes.com/Related Article & Web Site:Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/Medical Marijuana No Influence on Teen Usehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21089.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml 
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Comment #6 posted by mayan on September 08, 2005 at 04:43:12 PT
Drug Warriors
If the drug warriors really cared about the children they would immediately call for the nationwide legalization of medical cannabis! If they don't then they are exposed as fakes.
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Comment #5 posted by John Tyler on September 07, 2005 at 19:51:43 PT
Wrong again!
Gosh. Drug Warriors wrong again. What a surprise. Well, at least they are consistent... at being wrong! 
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Comment #4 posted by Jim Lunsford on September 07, 2005 at 12:26:34 PT
Teen Use
I guess some of the "forbidden fruit" syndrome was not present for them to sample. Kids just want to be kids. If we let them be just that, they won't feel the need to rebel against us. Amazing what a little honesty will do for your kids. Thanks again PotPal for that previous link. There were some good effects out of it, and I appreciated it. Many people will see this, and if they don't see this one, they will see another one. Soon, if not now, people will get fed up and change. Isn't this a wonderful time we live in? Life: The best channel on TVRev Jim LunsfordFirst Cannabist ChurchCompassion: It's just a choice
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Comment #3 posted by charmed quark on September 07, 2005 at 11:31:22 PT
Medical Marijuana takes the fun out of it
I imagine all the publicity about medical marijuana has probably had a deterent effect on California teenagers. It has basically associated the drug with being old(er) and sick. Sort of takes the party drug fun out of it.-CQ
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on September 07, 2005 at 08:46:04 PT
Press Release from The Marijuana Policy Project
September 7, 2005 New Report: Teen Marijuana Use Down in States With Medical Marijuana LawsFirst Comprehensive Analysis of State and National Data Finds:*Teen Marijuana Use Down in Every Medical Marijuana State -- Overall Decline Equals or Exceeds National Average*California Shows Huge Drop: 40%-50% in Some GroupsRead the report: 
http://www.mpp.org/teens.htmlCONTACT: Bruce Mirken, MPP director of communications, 202-543-7972 or 415-668-6403WASHINGTON, D.C.—A new report released today provides strong evidence that state medical marijuana laws have not increased adolescent marijuana use, contradicting claims made by opponents of such laws. The report—co-authored by substance abuse researcher Mitch Earleywine, Ph.D., of the University at Albany, State University of New York, and Marijuana Policy Project Legislative Analyst Karen O'Keefe, Esq.—is the first comprehensive analysis of all available data from state and national drug use surveys to determine trends in teen marijuana use in states with medical marijuana laws. Among the key findings:**No state that has passed a medical marijuana law has seen an overall increase in teen marijuana use since the law's passage.**The decline in teen marijuana use in states with medical marijuana laws slightly exceeds the decline seen nationally.**California, which passed the first effective medical marijuana law in 1996, has seen particularly large reductions, ranging from 40% to 50% in many categories.Opponents of medical marijuana laws regularly claim that such measures increase teen marijuana use by "sending the wrong message to young people." Most recently, such arguments were cited in June by Rhode Island Gov. Donald Carcieri (R) when he announced his veto of medical marijuana legislation. A vote to override that veto is pending in the Rhode Island House of Representatives."While survey data alone cannot prove cause and effect, there is no evidence whatsoever that medical marijuana laws have increased teen marijuana use," Dr. Mitch Earleywine said. "None of the states with medical marijuana laws have seen an overall increase in adolescent marijuana use, and some have had huge reductions.""Again and again, opponents of medical marijuana laws claim that such proposals are dangerous because they encourage young people to use marijuana," Karen O'Keefe said. "There is now a massive body of data showing that no such effect has happened, and it's time for those who want to continue arresting patients to stop making unsubstantiated claims."With more than 17,000 members and 120,000 e-mail subscribers nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP works to minimize the harm associated with marijuana—both the consumption of marijuana and the laws that are intended to prohibit such use. MPP believes that the greatest harm associated with marijuana is imprisonment. For more information, please visit: http://www.MarijuanaPolicy.org/
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on September 07, 2005 at 08:00:35 PT
News Article from KGMB9
Marijuana Clinic to Open in HonoluluLisa Kubota September 6, 2005 Oahu's first medical marijuana clinic is getting ready to open on Wednesday. Hawaii law allows patients with a debilitating illness to use marijuana. The new facility is aimed at getting more people to sign up for the state's program. The Hemp and Cannabis Foundation is based in Oregon, and runs marijuana clinics in Portland and Seattle. Now the non-profit group is opening one on Queen Street in Honolulu. Nalani Kalilikane has suffered from multiple sclerosis for the last 11 years. "Muscle spasms and I give myself a shot once a day," said Kalilikane. "I go for chemotherapy every three months." The 28-year-old said the only thing that offers relief is smoking marijuana, but her doctor would not certify her for the state's program. So she is turning to the new clinic for help. "He wasn't authorized to prescribe medical marijuana," Kalilikane explained. "So he told me, if this will help, then go for it." Paul Stanford is the executive director of the Hemp and Cannabis Foundation. "We realized that the program, compared to other states, is underused," he said. "So what we do is we help patients whose doctors won't sign the medical marijuana recommendation." There are nearly 2,800 certified patients statewide. More than half live on the Big Island. Each person is allowed to have three mature marijuana plants, four immature plants and three ounces of marijuana. But the law does not go into how to get the drug. "The physicians are scared to death to even be associated with cannabis," said Dr. Thomas Orvald, the physician at the clinic. "They're all worried about having their licenses taken away." State officials disagreed. "I think some of them were worried," said Keith Kamita, chief of the state narcotics enforcement division. "They called us, but our numbers haven't slowed down. We've consistently been getting patients coming in." Orvald will fly to Oahu one week a month to work at the clinic. But for now, state officials remain skeptical. "You also have to look at, is there going to be adequate care?" questioned Kamita. "What if there's a drug interaction or problem? Who's going to take care of this?" Those living in pain, however, insist the push for patient pot is not full of hot air. "I'm very excited," said Kalilikane. "Trying to get this out of my way so I can go about doing it legally." Prospective patients must have medical records that show they have been diagnosed with a debilitating illness. To make an appointment, call 1-800-723-0188. Copyright: 2005 KGMB9 http://kgmb9.com/kgmb/display.cfm?storyID=5840
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