January 27, 2010
Judge Tom
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Teen use of marijuana rises

A recent survey by the University of Michigan for the National Institute on Drug Abuse indicates an upward trend in teen use of marijuana and prescription drugs. On the other hand, teens have cut back on smoking cigarettes, binge drinking and methamphetamine use.

Professional Recreationalist

Marijuana use by eighth graders rose to 11.8% in 2009 compared to 10.9% in 2008. Tenth graders use was 26.7%, up from 23.9% in 2008. Researchers attributed the rise partly to the national debate over medical use of marijuana which can make the drugs seem safer to teenagers.

The study also indicated that fewer teens see a “great risk” in occasionally smoking marijuana. Among eighth graders, only 26% perceived any danger in using Ecstasy compared with 42% in 2004.

Judge Tom

The Author Judge Tom

Judge Tom is the founder and moderator of AsktheJudge.info. He is a retired juvenile judge and spent 23 years on the bench. He has written several books for lawyers and judges as well as teens and parents including 'Teen Cyberbullying Investigated' (Free Spirit Publishing) and 'Every Vote Matters: the Power of Your Voice, from Student Elections to the Supreme Court' (Free Spirit Publishing). In 2020, the American Bar Association published "Cyberbullying Law," the nation's first case-law book written for lawyers, judges and law students. When he's not answering teens' questions, Judge Tom volunteers with the American Red Cross and can be found hiking, traveling and reading.

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