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MARK KARLIN, FOR TRUTHOUT
Despite the vast lobbying force arrayed against the legalization of marijuana (as detailed in an article posted on Truthout.org), the days of wasting resources arresting and imprisoning pot smokers are numbered.
That's because, with each new generation, America has a higher and higher percentage of citizens who have smoked or who are smoking marijuana. It's just a matter of time and numbers.
According to a report featured on The Partnership at Drug Free website, a new "Survey Finds Marijuana Use on the Rise Among Teens." In short, teenage marijuana use is once again experiencing a surge:
Nearly one in 10 teenagers are smoking marijuana at least 20 or more times a month, a new survey finds. The Associated Press reports that the survey, released Wednesday by The Partnership at Drugfree.org, found past-month use of marijuana rose from 19 percent in 2008, to 27 percent last year.
The Partnership Attitude Tracking Study found past-year use of marijuana rose from 31 percent in 2008, to 39 percent (six million teens) in 2011. The survey found lifetime use increased from 39 percent in 2008, to 47 percent (eight million teens) in 2011. The last time marijuana use was this widespread among teens was in 1998, when past month use of marijuana was at 27 percent....
The survey suggests teen marijuana use has become a normalized behavior. Only 26 percent agree with the statement, "In my school, most teens don't smoke marijuana," down from 37 percent in 2008. Also, 71 percent of teens say they have friends who use marijuana regularly, up from 64 percent in 2008.
Meanwhile, the Obama administration is cracking down on medical marijuana dispensaries in states that allow them and conducting a ruinous war on drugs in Mexico, Central and South America, much of it trafficking in marijuna.
BuzzFlash at Truthout has long pointed out that it is a bit hypocritical to be a nation with an excessive appetite for alcohol, tobacco and prescription narcotics -- which can have deadly consequences and cause illness and disease -- but classify marijuana and some other illegal drugs as virtually satanic.
Despite America's puritanical streak, you don't have to scratch too deep to find out that vast numbers of even holy rollers have a "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" attitude toward stimulants.
As with gay marriage -- when the numbers of Americans with gay members in their families or who have friends who are gay reached the tipping point -- the gates started to slowly open. The same will hopefully be true for redirecting our drug policy from gross and destructive hypocrisy into pragmatic acceptance.
Because when you deduct Americans who are addicted to or partake of alcohol, cigarettes, addictive prescription drugs, marijuana, cocaine, coffee, etc., you end up with a couple of Mormons - and that's not enough of a population for a country to function.
Until then, as a government, we will just be riding down the river of denial.
Despite the vast lobbying force arrayed against the legalization of marijuana (as detailed in an article posted on Truthout.org), the days of wasting resources arresting and imprisoning pot smokers are numbered.
That's because, with each new generation, America has a higher and higher percentage of citizens who have smoked or who are smoking marijuana. It's just a matter of time and numbers.
According to a report featured on The Partnership at Drug Free website, a new "Survey Finds Marijuana Use on the Rise Among Teens." In short, teenage marijuana use is once again experiencing a surge:
Nearly one in 10 teenagers are smoking marijuana at least 20 or more times a month, a new survey finds. The Associated Press reports that the survey, released Wednesday by The Partnership at Drugfree.org, found past-month use of marijuana rose from 19 percent in 2008, to 27 percent last year.
The Partnership Attitude Tracking Study found past-year use of marijuana rose from 31 percent in 2008, to 39 percent (six million teens) in 2011. The survey found lifetime use increased from 39 percent in 2008, to 47 percent (eight million teens) in 2011. The last time marijuana use was this widespread among teens was in 1998, when past month use of marijuana was at 27 percent....
The survey suggests teen marijuana use has become a normalized behavior. Only 26 percent agree with the statement, "In my school, most teens don't smoke marijuana," down from 37 percent in 2008. Also, 71 percent of teens say they have friends who use marijuana regularly, up from 64 percent in 2008.
Meanwhile, the Obama administration is cracking down on medical marijuana dispensaries in states that allow them and conducting a ruinous war on drugs in Mexico, Central and South America, much of it trafficking in marijuna.
BuzzFlash at Truthout has long pointed out that it is a bit hypocritical to be a nation with an excessive appetite for alcohol, tobacco and prescription narcotics -- which can have deadly consequences and cause illness and disease -- but classify marijuana and some other illegal drugs as virtually satanic.
Despite America's puritanical streak, you don't have to scratch too deep to find out that vast numbers of even holy rollers have a "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" attitude toward stimulants.
As with gay marriage -- when the numbers of Americans with gay members in their families or who have friends who are gay reached the tipping point -- the gates started to slowly open. The same will hopefully be true for redirecting our drug policy from gross and destructive hypocrisy into pragmatic acceptance.
Because when you deduct Americans who are addicted to or partake of alcohol, cigarettes, addictive prescription drugs, marijuana, cocaine, coffee, etc., you end up with a couple of Mormons - and that's not enough of a population for a country to function.
Until then, as a government, we will just be riding down the river of denial.
