cannabisnews.com: San Francisco Tops U.S. Drug-Use List San Francisco Tops U.S. Drug-Use List Posted by CN Staff on January 08, 2007 at 18:37:43 PT By UPI Source: United Press International San Francisco -- A new study says the San Francisco area has a higher percentage of regular drug users than any other major metropolitan area in the United States. The study from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found nearly 13 percent of San Francisco residents admit to using some type of illicit drug, including marijuana, cocaine or heroin, in the preceding month. USA Today said Monday that according to data from the National Surveys on Drug Use and Health in 2002-2005, the national average is 8.1 percent. Other metropolitan areas with higher than the national average drug-abuse rates included Seattle, 9.6 percent; Detroit, 9.5; Philadelphia, 9.1 and Boston, 8.5. Cities with the lowest admitted drug use were Houston at 6.2 percent and Washington, Dallas and Riverside/San Bernardino, Calif., all at 6.5 percent. Alice Gleghorn of San Francisco's Department of Public Health, told USA Today: "The fact that state law allows the use of medical marijuana and that we have a population with a high rate of AIDS that might need to use medical marijuana may contribute to the rates. We do have a cultural regional norm with regard to medical-marijuana use."Source: United Press International (Wire)Published: January 8, 2007Copyright 2007 United Press InternationalWebsite: http://www.upi.com/ Contact: consumerhealth upi.comCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #21 posted by FoM on January 10, 2007 at 16:48:47 PT Toker00 Defender of the down trodden. Good and worthy work to do. Thank you. [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by Toker00 on January 10, 2007 at 16:35:43 PT Funny how MSM seems to be the last one to "Get It& Things are building up just like before, FoM. But the good part is, over fifty percent of We the People are awakened, so I look for our protest crowds to begin to be much larger. I have one this weekend to confront the Racist Border Control people who have been heckling the day Laborers around Houston. Our group confronted them last week, but I couldn't be there. This week the Border Racists plan to be there with at least 75 people, so we have to do something. It takes place early in the morning, too. It has been promised, by them, to be an on-going thing, so I'm sure I'll get my chance to defend the down trodden. Peace to all who work for it.Toke. [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by FoM on January 10, 2007 at 09:29:51 PT Toker00 I just checked out Google News and this is right at the top of the page. Amazing.http://www.thephoenix.com/article_ektid31389.aspx [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by FoM on January 10, 2007 at 09:24:49 PT Toker00 Do you think there will be a really big march on Washington like during Vietnam? That is needed. I might even go to something like that. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by Toker00 on January 10, 2007 at 09:17:21 PT FoM How did we end the war in Vietnam? MANY People gathered. MANY People organized. MANY People took the chances necessary to make our voices heard, and respect demanded. (When respect is denied to deserving people, then yes, you can DEMAND it.) Television, Movies, Sports, Games, and Computers keep us from getting up and walking out the door and joining others in Protest. It's easier to just call or e-mail our reps., than to stand United, outside (or inside for that matter.) their buildings of Authority and actually, physically, demand Justice and the Changing of Unjust Laws, and the Ending of Unjust Wars. Til we do this in LARGE numbers, they will run unchecked. Of course, that is just my opinion.Toke. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by FoM on January 10, 2007 at 06:59:36 PT Just a Note I can't find any news to post but I want to say that today is a day that I will stay glued to the TV. We know what this administration has done to us and he is going to try to do more to us tonight. He has the power to do what he wants and he really seems to love war. We have slid to a very low level and it breaks my heart. Maybe when this war surge issue is over one way or the other we will get some news on our topic. What a terrible mess the Bush Administration has gotten us in. I long for the day when we can see common sense guide our country. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by OverwhelmSam on January 10, 2007 at 06:57:03 PT Dankhank Funny, I always thought the state of Utah put prozac in the Salt Lake City water. The people there seem as docile as cattle. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by Dankhank on January 10, 2007 at 04:25:47 PT did that ... There was a study of who medicated to what level, a few years ago and it turned out that Utah had the highest percentage of population under some form of hypnotic/sedative.Given where they live it's no wonder Utahans need to be sedated. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Toker00 on January 10, 2007 at 03:24:20 PT Hope Yes, they are. But, even though that is so, there are just as many cannabis users here as anywhere else. Cannabis use is kept below radar, OR, like a few others and me, it is fully known that you use and will defend your use, know your rights, and have a loud mouth and not AFRAID to use it. But , that is really a different story. Hope is right. Stealthy is Healthy in Houston and beyond.Toke. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by Hope on January 09, 2007 at 09:31:52 PT When you're down in Houston.... don't be admitting any illegal drug use...or you'll be hoping..."Yonder comes Ms. Rosie....papers in her hand...Younder comes Ms. Rosie...come to get her man. The Midnight Special...don't want that light shining on you...if you're down in Houston...don't admit anything to the "Man". Seems the "citizens" are pretty clear on that. I'll never understand or believe these polls. Some one from the government walks up to you, pencil in hand..."Sir. Did you break the law within the last month?? Are you a "criminal"? Tell us, so we can record it. Your name?"They ARE out to get you! [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Dr Ganj on January 09, 2007 at 09:26:05 PT What Else Is New? Of course San Francisco is number one. All this indicates to me is its people are more progressive, and free thinking. Something the rest of the country should consider trying.... http://www.maps.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by dongenero on January 09, 2007 at 09:22:10 PT contrast this with prescription drug use The interesting thing would be to contrast this illicit drug use poll with a poll on prescription drug use. What cities are using more prescription anti-depressents, pain medication, anti-anxiety medication, restless leg medication etc, etc, etc.I wonder if the areas using more marijuana, for instance, use less pharmaceuticals in the above classifications. Or, perhaps the same thing that leads people to use the illicit drugs also leads them to increased pharmaceutical use. The distribution of pharmaceutical use is certainly tracked by the drug manufacturers as part of their marketing research, although it is probably highly guarded corporate info.I also would like to see a contrast with illicit use of pharmaceutical drugs. This would probably be the 800 pound gorilla in the room. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by JoeCitizen on January 09, 2007 at 08:55:21 PT Admitted vs. Non-admitted The article (instantly suspect, since it's from the Moony-owned UPI), glosses over the fact that the survey was based on voluntary admissions.It begins by making an assertion of fact, not one of opinions based on a suspect survey."A new study says the San Francisco area has a higher percentage of regular drug users than any other major metropolitan area in the United States."Without much notice, they then switch to talking about the fact that the survey was based on voluntary admissions of drug use.Never discussed is the fact that San Francisco's more tolerant, compassionate environment makes people more likely to 'fess up to drug use. If you live in more restrictive climates, such as Houston (Texas) or San Bernardino (Southern California) you are much more likely to keep your mouth shut when the interviewer asks you that question. Or just to lie about it completely.So while the article uses the survey as a proxy for drug use, it is really a measure of social tolerance and drug policy in an area. And yes, by those measures, San Francisco comes out on top, by a mile.JC [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on January 09, 2007 at 07:27:55 PT Ethan Nadelmann on Colbert Report The links were in my e-mail and I thought people who missed the program might like to see it.Ethan Nadelmann on Colbert Report, Jan. 8, 2007Part I:http://www.comedycentral.com/motherload/?lnk=v&ml_video=80472Part II:http://www.comedycentral.com/motherload/?lnk=v&ml_video=80471 [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by OverwhelmSam on January 09, 2007 at 06:54:27 PT Drug Czar Thanks You for Not Passing Question 7 “You can’t go into a drug treatment facility in this country and talk to someone who is addicted to meth, heroin, or cocaine that says they didn’t start with alcohol and marijuana,” says Scott Burns. That's because marijuana and alcohol are infinitely more available dumb a$$!Drug Czar in Reno http://www.ktvn.com/dyn_fullnews.asp?area=fullTopStory&storyid=8686 [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by afterburner on January 09, 2007 at 06:20:03 PT 'the War on Some Drugs is over' Lifted out of context. Yes, that's what we had in Canada briefly during the Summer of Legalization. It was beautiful. No fear. "No need to smoke and hide when you know you're takin' a legal ride." (Peter Tosh) We came above ground and met each other, and we still struggle on in these New Dark Ages. "I say, bring on the brand new renaissance Cause I think I'm ready I've been shaking all night long But my hands are steady" (The Tragically Hip) TRAGICALLY HIP LYRICS - Three Pistols Lyrics [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Toker00 on January 09, 2007 at 05:03:13 PT I want to Know. How many DEA agents will turn to crime to support themselves when the War on Some Drugs is over? All they know how to do is assault people with weapons, steal property, lie, murder, oppress, intimidate people in general, but also the weak and the sick and the dieing, and then stick together like a Band of Thieves, lying and denying. Or is it a Pack of Wolves? Who will hire them with those "credentials"? (Besides another Government Agency.) Toke. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Toker00 on January 09, 2007 at 04:28:29 PT DPA Poll. Do you guys think, since marijuana is America's Top Cash Crop, that this indicates that it should be Legalized and Taxed?NO: 49.22%Yes: 50.78449 votes.http://www.drugpolicy.org/homepage.cfm [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by HempWorld on January 08, 2007 at 23:45:31 PT Substance Abuse? Cigarettes Kill 470,000 Annually! Yeah, right! 'Substance abuse' when all use is abuse, and when cigarettes are 'Ok' never mind that this is the #1 killer in America and world-wide. 470,000 Americans dead from cigarette smoking and additionally, 32,000 from 2nd hand cigarette smoke (among which many children) annually. The US Federal government distributes cannisters of marijuana cigarettes to 7 patients who are part of the Federal Compassionate Use program, is the Federal Gov't then breaking its own laws? One of many contradictions in US laws and practice. Then a woman in SF get jail for cultivating mari ju ana. How can this be? (I guess because she pleaded guilty, poor soul.) Marijuana has killed no-one and helped millions for 10,000 years... [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by The GCW on January 08, 2007 at 19:47:54 PT Cannabis is good plant not illicit drug. The Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration calls cannabis (kaneh bosm / marijuana) an "illicit drug."On the very 1st page of the Bible, the Ecologician says it is a good plant.Gen. 1:11-12 & 29-30.http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=1&chapter=1&version=49&context=chapterWho do You believe?The Green Collar Worker [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by user123 on January 08, 2007 at 19:29:26 PT: We're #1 Representin' Sunset District. Every damn day I smoke dank. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment