cannabisnews.com: Gov. Survey Finds Medical MJ Does Not Lead 





Gov. Survey Finds Medical MJ Does Not Lead 
Posted by FoM on August 19, 1999 at 18:49:32 PT
To Increased Recreational Marijuana Use
Source: Marijuana Policy Project
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The 1998 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, released today by the U.S.Department of Health and Human Services, found that medicinal marijuana reform does not lead to increased non-medical marijuana use.
"Today's findings should dispel the myth once and for all that medicinal marijuana sends the wrong message and leads to increased non-medical marijuana use," said Chuck Thomas, director of communications for the Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project.Important findings include:Despite a nationwide debate about the medicinal use of marijuana that has been making headlines since 1996, the survey found that "past month" marijuana use -- particularly among young people -- has dropped since 1997 and is now at the same level as in 1995. (Table 5B, page 67; Table 7, page 69) Despite the fact that since 1996, patients in California have been allowed to grow and use marijuana upon their doctors' recommendation, there are no statistically significant differences in reported marijuana usage rates among 12- to 17-year-olds in California than in the rest of the nation. (Indeed, "past month" usage rates are currently lower.) (Table 55, page 122) While the government is quick to note that "past month" usage rates are currently higher among 12- to 17-year-olds in Arizona than the rest of the nation (Table 55, page 122) -- and to blame the state's new medicinal marijuana law -- the Marijuana Policy Project refutes such a connection by pointing out the following. Usage rates have been much higher among all age groups in Arizona for many years, as evidenced by the higher-than-average "lifetime" rates. (Tables 54 and 55, pages 121-122) The Arizona medicinal marijuana law -- unlike the California law -- is largely symbolic with no real practical effect, as a doctor's "recommendation" is not sufficient to exempt patients from criminal sanctions and patients are not allowed to grow their own marijuana under any circumstances. It strains credulity to say that this law would affect teen marijuana usage rates when the much more tolerant California law has had no effect. By now, the news that marijuana has medical benefits has reached the ears of children and adults nationwide. If this fact "sent the wrong message," then usage would be up -- rather than down -- nationwide, not just in Arizona. "There was no significant change in illicit drug use in California between 1997 and 1998, either for youth or for adults. By contrast there were significant decreases in Arizona during the same period in the rates of illicit drug use among youths age 12-17 and young adults 18-25 years of age," although use in Arizona is still slightly higher than in the rest of the nation. (quoted verbatim from page 3) "Since 1996, drug czar McCaffrey and his ilk have been trying to scare the American people by claiming that the medicinal marijuana initiatives would cause more adolescents to use marijuana," said Chuck Thomas. "Clearly, this hasn't happened. Teens obviously understand the difference between medicine and drug abuse."FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AUGUST 18, 1999http://www.mpp.org/
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