WKOW-TV: Teen marijuana use on the rise

Article Date:

December 14, 2009

MADISON (WKOW) -- Recent surveys show marijuana is becoming more popular among U.S. teenagers, and some people believe the national debate over legalizing medical marijuana may be to blame.  It's known by many names -- marijuana, cannabis, pot -- and it appears teenagers are smoking more of it.

A study, released Monday by the University of Michigan, says marijuana use among 8th, 10th, 12th graders is up.

"Part of it is young people really minimize marijuana being an issue," said Shelly Dutch, director of Connections Counseling. "Part of it is looking at legalization in many states."

Researchers say it's the trend that's alarming. Marijuana use among teens had dropped every year of the past decade, only to bounce back up in 2008.  It doesn't matter if students are athletes or scholars, wealthy or poor. Counselors say everyone is a potential user and abuser.

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