Downer, man

Laws allowing marijuana to be used for medicinal puposes may be having an unexpected side effect: in some of the states that have approved them, teen pot use is declining even faster than the national average, according to a new report by a UAlbany associate professor and the Marijuana Policy Project.

The authors, who included Mitch Earlywine, an UAlbany associate professor of psychology, found the apparent pattern in California, Washington, Hawaii, Nevada, Colorado, Vermont and Rhode Island. It wasn’t the case everywhere, though: In Montana, current use was not down as much as the national trend, although lifetime use was. Oregon generally didn’t see as big a decline as the rest of the country other states.

Overall, though, the decline in the 11 states that allow medicinal marijuana use slightly exceeded the national trend, the study found.

Whether there’s any cause-and-effect here is unclear, but, the report notes, the findings seem to suggest that allowing people to use marijuana for medical reasons doesn’t have the negative effect that some critics predict:

“When states consider proposals to allow the medical use of marijuana under state law, the concern often arises that such laws might ‘send the wrong message’ and therefore cause an increase in marijuana use among young people. The available evidence strongly suggests that this hypothesis is incorrect and that enactment of state medical marijuana laws has not increased adolescent marijuana use. Consequently, legislators should evaluate medical marijuana proposals based on their own merits — without regard for the speculative and unsupported assertions about the bills sending the ‘wrong message.’ ”

You can read the report here, which is on the Web site of the Marijuana Policy Project, a group that is pushing to medical marijuana laws and for pot to be legal and regulated in the same way alcohol is.

  1. Ty the Conniving Enthusiast says:

    First of all, no one in their right mind will tell ANYONE truthfully that they use marijuana! Its a illegal substance, but what students are really abusing are controlled substances; for example Adderall and other amphetamines!

    Two years ago I went into my doctors office and stated “look I need help studying and staying awake in class, I need you to prescribe something that will enhance my motivation” and low and behold this doctor was like sure what ever! I told him I wanted Adderall and I was prescribed it. Man doctors have no ethical standards!

    Adderall is a GREAT drug to be on! Apparently its supposed to treat those with A.D.H.D. What doctors will do to make money off of health insurance! I took it for a month and it was a waste of time, side effects; dry mouth, immense amount of concentration; insomnia; its like being the energizer bunny all the time! I like my natural high of being loud and obnoxious attempting to gain attention the right way! I don’t need drugs to help me do that! My body is my home, and my soul I must preserve!

    From the research I have done and the individuals that I have spoken to; is that amphetamine prescription drugs have the same effect as using cocaine! One of my buddies I have know for a very long time is a very well regarded professor at Albany College of Pharmacy.

    So make sure if your kids are taking amphetamine prescriptions PLEASE monitor how much they take and make sure they are not selling it to their friends!

    I went to high schools and colleges where these following four drugs were abused of course in most cases illegally; alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and Adderall ruled these education institutions! A majority of high schools and colleges have this problems but my ELDERS AGAIN DON’T CARE about this so why should I!

    UAlbany is a HUGE SUPPORTER OF UNDERAGE DRINKING! If you don’t believe me, drive through Collins Circle on a Thursday, Friday, & Saturday nights when UAlbany is in session. Goto the following night clubs all you will see are under age UAlbany students; Bogies, 518, Michaels! UAlbany is a major part taker in underage drinking and the use of illeage drugs. Its pathetic UAlbany does nothing about it!

    I tried to expose this to the administration, what did they do, the ruined my creditability and threw an innocent 22 year old Pakistani-Muslim-American-Student in a mental institution and wrote on my transcript “disciplinary-expelled.” I attempted to do a noble thing and help out a couple of my buddies who had drug problems but administrators, law enforcement and politicians still wouldn’t listen to my two cents! Please tell me if my elders don’t care why should I?

    I don’t get it: if I don’t follow the law I will get in trouble, if I try to follow the law I will still get in trouble! I wonder why I have rubbed so many people in the wrong direction. I figured it out finally IT UNDERMINES THE AUTHORITY OF ADMINISTRATOR AND LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO WANT TO PRESERVE THE ARYAN STATUS QUO! I have finally hit the nail on the head!

    Give minorities an opportunity and I will guarantee their hard work will pay off! Look at Governor Patterson hes black and hes doing a good job.

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