TEEN MARIJUANA USE ON THE RISE

Marijuana use by young people is on the rise, and officials say
conflicting messages about the dangers of marijuana contribute to the increase.

The annual Monitoring the Future Survey conducted by the National
Institute of Drug Abuse found that use of the drug on a daily basis
has increased among eighth-, 10th- and 12th graders.

One in 16 high school seniors used marijuana daily or almost daily,
and for the second year in a row more 12th graders used marijuana
than smoked cigarettes. More than a fifth of the seniors said they
had used marijuana within 30 days of the survey while about 19
percent had smoked cigarettes.

Despite the risks of marijuana use, students in all three grade
levels have a more favorable attitude than those questioned in
previous surveys.

White House drug czar Gil Kerlikowske and others attribute the change
to the legitimizing of medical marijuana in recent years.

In contrast to clear anti-smoking messages that tobacco kills, the
message is murkier on marijuana, officials say, making it more
difficult for schools and parents trying to prevent children from
turning on to drugs.