BETTER THAN ONE-THIRD OF TEENS PUFFING POT

'Friends are doing it' among reasons: report

TORONTO -- About 85,000 Canadian teens smoke marijuana daily, according to
research commissioned by Health Canada. A survey of 12-to 19-year-olds
conducted this fall found that 34% said they had tried marijuana on more
than one occasion.

Among those repeat users, one in four smoked at least once a week, including
8% who smoked daily.

"Curiosity, friends are doing it, relaxing and just wanting to have fun are
the main reasons given for smoking marijuana," the 74-page report said.

Eleven per cent of the teens surveyed said they had tried "magic" mushrooms,
but experimentation with such other drugs as ecstasy, crack cocaine and
heroin was low.

The survey, conducted by GPC research, also said more teenagers now drink
alcohol regularly than smoke cigarettes.

Today's teenagers also say that tobacco is far more harmful to one's health
than alcohol or marijuana. Almost 80% said cigarettes were harmful, but only
39% said that for marijuana and 13% for alcohol.