This is good news! But, it also demonstrates that there is much room for continued improvement.

Any parents that believes legal prescription drugs such as vicoden and zanax are safer than Cannabis are banana's. Those are some of the hard drugs that cannabis is supposed to lead to. Just because they're legal doesn't make them any safer, addiction is addiction. Those drugs can make you severely ill or even kill you! All those legal pharmaceuticals can. Cannabis on the other hand is the safest medicine known to mankind and can't kill you. Cannabis is healthy for you!!!

And why do we continue to lump cannabis and alcohol together as if they are equally damaging to society when the only dangers from cannabis are the the immoral, ungodly, antichristian laws, the prison industry here in the land of the free, and all those that propagate the lies, while alcohol and tobacco kill a million people every year just in the U.S.A. and effect many, many more lives in a negative way.

Cannabis should be in a category all by itself.

I wonder how many alcoholics and drug addicts we can heal with medicinal cannabis?

www.mikuriya.com/alcsub.pdf

More propaganda from the dis-Associated Press. If it isn't doom and gloom, then AP publishes only lies, distortions or cover-ups emanating from Washington... It is the publicity arm of the federal government.

This is good news, but I think the education should really shift towards prescription drugs, which are much easier for kids to get than meth or heroin, and some are just as bad if not worse. They should also receive more non-biased education about drugs and how they work, not only emphasizing the risks involved, and not resorting to distortion and lies to try to scare people. Drug education needs to be credible or teenagers will throw the baby out with the bathwater so to speak. Teens understand that getting drunk a few times or smoking cannabis on occasion isn't going to really hurt you, but they often underestimate the potential dangers of drugs and drug addiction because the education they receive doesn't match up with the reality they experience.

I'm glad that there are more and more people seeing through their bs news stories. Pot should be legal period. Everything the government ever sad about pot is a lie. Just like all their lastest ads. Let's see. "If you smoke pot you'll only be half as good as you could be" I guess that means ypu could be Mr. Universe, Governor of serveral states, a few presidents of the US, Oh, or 8x gold meldelist. Yeah, the list goes on and on. I guess all of them are only being half of what they could be.

Pot is utterly harmless. That's not to say that teenagers should toke up and head to school or anything, but parents do a disservice to their kids by lying to them about dangers that don't exist. The most dangerous aspect of marijuana is that you might get arrested.

I'm so tired of the government criminalizing marijuana. Study after study after study shows the dangers they harp about don't exist. We sell booze on every street corner and it is far, far more deadly than pot will ever be.

I'm just glad that my daughter thinks smoking weed is for scumbags....

having gone through 2 detox programs in the past 20 years I will say this-meth, cocaine & the opiods are 100% more harmful than pot...period....even the counselors in detox admitted that pot was not harmful although they still continued the "gateway drug" propoganda....if that is true, then alcohol should be a gateway drug as well....pot should be legalized(no one under 21)and taxed....end of discussion from this end

How did you get out Sherri? Is there a hole in the fence somewhere? Go take whatever prescription drug your on and get back in the pen with the rest of the sheep until you can grow a brain and have an intelligent thought of your own.

I simply do not believe in putting other people down to make myself feel superior. We, who believe in common sense, are too often sucked in to the anger and self hatred of those who would harm others to defend their own private vision of morality. However, we must take care to respect those we disagree with, in order to show them how this can be done gracefully. The war on drugs itself, not drugs, has allowed the deaths of over 300,000 Americans in the last 25 years. These are all preventable deaths. Drug use is not the problem....it is a SYMPTOM of the REAL problems of emotional illness, nervous system injury (PTS) and/or mental illness. Period. A compassionate approach is the only cure.

The Marijuana Policy Project.com is a great source of information concerning the legalization of the pungent green herb.

Let's ban together and fight the government!

Please, the kids today would be better off with pot.

Kids today are popping pills from the drug store presrcibed by doctors for being a "kid" or having bad parents. Serious impact to brain chemistry, linked to the new teen pastime of shooting one another or themselves.

The best thing about this article is it proves EDUCATION is the only way to deal with drug PROBLEMS.

I stress education because the "War on Drugs" is a horrible, horrible thing. A waste of time, money, and assets. Time, money and assest that could be used for let's say a war on corruption, or tax evasion, but that is another story for another time. Jailing people for non-voilent crimes, that effect no one but themselves is wrong, and unconstitutional. Creating and illegal trade market in which nothing can be controlled is created the most voilent, corrupt under world on earth. Since everything about drugs is a illeagal there is no way to control the cash flow, no way to control what the multi-billion dollar industry puts its money towards, and the voilence that surrounds the world is ever present in the world around us.

The USA, who can't control its own economy thinks it can control the drug world ? LOL. You have to be kidding me ! The US, and the War on Drugs is out manned, out financed, and corrupted. It is a fools game. To pay taxes to the War on Drugs is no difference then paying someone for a dime bag. The money is all going to some corrupt politicians pockets. And all of it is driven by mindless propaganda.

Seriously, if the governmen was SO concerned with you "hurting yourself" then why doesn't it help everyone with health care? Why doesn't it make sure we all don't work ourselves into a stressed induced state of constant worry, exhaustion, and anxiety ? Why doesn't it ban alcohol ? Why doesn't it reduce speed limits ? Why doesn't it fund cures for cancer, AIDS, and stem cell reseach ? Why does it allow pharm companies to peddle "legal" drugs with exetremely harmfull side effects ? Well, you get the picture !!!

Yet when you ask "Why can't I smoke a joint in my own home, on my time, from a plant I grew ?" Answer: You are hurting yourself.

Education, treatment, and recovery support is the only way to control the problems that come with drug use. By de-criminalizing drug use, and legalizing trade you abolish the problems that come along with drug trade, and now can control the trade, and tax it.

Plus instead of propaganda, people will get the whole truth about each drug and the harm they cause. Let people learn the whole story about these drugs. It is not going to stop people from using, but neither are manditory minimum sentences, DEA's, "War on Drugs" and countless other programs that are not working. Drugs cannot be controlled, but I believe they can be regulated, and treated. Just like how drunks know alcohol is bad yet still drink, and tobacco smokers still smoke and know it is bad. At least they know the facts, and are left to their own decisions.

The important part is each to his own decisions tho. If I want to smoke a joint, fine, I should be allowed to do so AS LONG AS I AM RESPONSIBLE AND DO NOT INFRINGE ON ANOTHER'S RIGHTS!!!!!! (sorry to yell but that is very important)

If someone else doesn't want to smoke, then he shouldn't smoke. If he doesn't want his family & kids to smoke, then he should raise them not to smoke. It is that simple.

If you are against drugs that is fine. I understand why, and the point of view. But please, you must start being intelligent about the situation. Education is the only way to go, and treatment is the only way to fight problems associated with drug abuse.

Just think, if you continue to "fight the War on Drugs" maybe someone you love has a bad day, and makes a bad decision. He/she uses drugs, and that very night a cop see this happening. BAM. The next thing you know you are in court fighting to keep this person from being thrown in jail for 20 years. No, education, no treatment. Nope. You are just fighting to keep your life from plunging into a pit in which you never get out. 20 years...no joke. And who did this person hurt ? No one. Just smoked a joint, or did a line out of curiosity and now......20 years.

Sidenote: Mean while as you fret away in the court room, you listen to the "Armed Robber" and how he might go to jail for 5 years ?!?!?!?! Ridiculous.

That is your war on drugs. A knee jerk reaction from the government to an issue they never fully understood. It is a huge, HUGE problem in this country that has to be correct for more reason than you could count.

Pot should no longer be considered a "drug". Kids grab handfuls of pain meds each day from Mommy & Daddy's med cabinet and throw "skittle" parties where they just throw handfuls of pills in a bowl and chow down without thinking.. I do hope the current adminisrtation will get the feds & dea off of med cannibis growers and focus on bigger problems.. Besides NO ONE has ever OD'D on pot.. California is talking about finally legalizing and taxing pot due to the fact that it is a $14 BILLION dollar industry there and the state is broke.. Hope Calif. Has the balls to do so.

Wow.... We are in a Huge Economic Crisis and people think its because parents are talking to their children why drug use is going down. people cant afford to use drugs because everyone is unemployed. But those "parents" talking to their children about doing drugs are the same parents who are drinkin a martini or a beer while they are talking to their kids. Alcohol is the biggest problem as far as drugs go in the united states. But no one wants to admit it. Legalize pot and give us non drinkers our relaxation as well.

to add: these same parents say it is ok to drink soft drinks with caffiene and processed foods. lots of drugs in processed foods.

i wonder how many parents tell the kids about the dangers of common yard weeds growing?

do they wash their hands before eating after helping to do yard work. does a parent even tell the kids about why they should wash hands?

Marijuana use has NEVER in the history of mankind hurt a single person! In fact, it's the safest, most therapeutic substance on the entire planet!

MSNBC, please stop publishing misinformation and Washington propoganda! Education is what the people need. Don't jump on an ancient, broken down bandwagon. The war on drugs is failing more and more every year.

You know where the real info is, so I'm sorry if we're not as stupid as you make your readers out to be.

I continue to find it incredibly shameful that the media partakes in not educating the public properly. It's a shame that when kids find out for themselves that marijuana is ultimately harmless, they also have to wonder why they've been lied to all their lives about drugs.

In that respect, MSNBC is at least indirectly responsible for the outcome of these people's lives through the spreading of propoganda.

Shame on you, MSNBC!!

Cannabis is a very useful medical herb... most herbalist would tell you this but there are other methods of delivering the medicine other than smoking it. Tinctures, tea, and so on.

The problem with cannabis is it's a cross between alcohol (impairs one's judgement and abilities) and cigarettes, but also it forces others around the smoker to breath in the smoke... "contact high" and it's the right of others including family members to not have to be expose to it. Also because of the contact high it should never be smoked around minors- esp young ones. It's also been proven that smoking the stuff does as much damage to your lungs as tabacco does... It bringing in fumes that becomes toxic to the lung itself.. Truth is that cancer andother respiratory diseases can be caused by the act of smoking no matter what it is. Pot can be psychologically addicting just like food and other things. My cousin is a shining example of it.

I do agree that we should be concentrating on talking to our kids about the hard core drugs, the drugs that endanger their life. That includes prescription medication, 'huffing' harmful chemicals, choking, and addictive illegal drugs. Also because they don't show immediate harm to the person I do talk about limits... and reasons why pot andalcohol should be discouraged. Drinking in moderation, in a safe environment, can be done- but you have to know your limits. Also to show why addiction to alcohol and other drugs needs to be discussed as well. If it's legal or as common as pot.. kids are going to be pressured to try it. The argumentthat kids are going to do it anyways or that it's harmless... should never stop a parent from talking to their kids about it... at least talk about the legal ramifications as well as health and social problems that can arise for it's abuse.

I have always said "When everyone in America has been affected by drug abuse the problem will decline". Many of you out there have no idea about drug abuse and how it affects not just the user but the families of the user. The user (I don't care if it is pot or heroine) does not care about the effects to the people they hurt. The real victims are the families and friends that have to deal with the decisions, detriments and drag on society these users create. My family (upper middle class), great parents has dealt with drug abuse and it has a lot more to do with associations the kids have than with internal family problems. I have had a brother die from being high and crashing a motorcycle (just out partying) and a sister who is in jail and has done every drug conceived. What a loss and a drag on society and our prison system. Why? Because the communication from the my parents (who are in their 80's) never had to deal with the problem growing up. It took that generation by storm and they all trusted what the kids were saying.

Our generation including myself has held nothing back from my children. I tell them like it is. Scare them straight if that's what is takes. I believe people are starting to use these examples from their own lives to help their kids. Parents have become emboldened to tell their kids not to hang with others. The best education is communication. I have never had a hard time telling my story. Drugs suck and affect everyone not just the user.

Pot smokers win Olympic gold metalS!!!!!!!!!

I am glad M Phelps smoked POT. It was great. Yes you CAN smoke pot and be a Hero.

Reading all these comments it is obvious there are so many still out there who believe MJ is a terrible drug. But it is also obvious the real truth is that it isn't no more harmful then someone sitting at the bar having a couple drinks smoking a cigarette. Which is perfectly legal as long as your not over the limit when you drive home. Now you don't hear about someone sitting in thier own home smoking a cigarette aroung kids being illegal (which should be). Plus you don't have to smoke pot you can eat it in Brownies or something. Now they also can not come up with evidense that someone has died from POT only. Alcohol has thousands of deaths every year. Plus how many people suffer from cigarette and alcohol related health issues compared to pot. Single it out cigarette to pot, alcohol to pot. Yes the true facts are right in front of everyones faces. NONE has fewer. Plus I can bet there isn't even one person who has been hospitalised for a pot related incident. Addicted to pot??? There are more people addicted to caffine then there are pot. Don't believe me try taking away it in the US for two days and see what happens.

The funny part about the people who commissioned this study is they are pharmaceutical companies who provide drugs to kids. They can't help it...they need to sell more drugs and focusing on bad cannabis is a way to keep the lies going. All of the drugs they sell your kids (Xanex, Ridilin-->ie. Meth, etc) are much more dangerous than this plant. But the government continues to pump the lies out so they can protect their precious budgets at the DEA. Does anyone honestly believe we can win the drug war? Prohibition doesn't work and we've proved it out. I understand we want to protect kids from drugs, but fighting a violent war and spending $50 billion a year will never work. All it does is drive up the price of the drug, pump profits into the cartels and make our country less safe. Legalization and regulation similar to alcohol and tobacco is the only way we can get a handle on this problem. Locking people up and ruining lives will only continue to flood our prisons and won't stem the availability of these drugs. Someday, when we run out of money which is coming soon, the government will wake up and see they can actually make money from these narcotics while at the same time providing treatment and use reduction strategies at a fraction of the cost of the current drug war program. Speak up folks...the DEA is not helping us, they are only exacerbating the problems.

who the hell says we're listening!? jk, any teen dumb enough to do drugs deserves to suffer the side effects. i for one will never smoke or do drugs. alcohol's another story;-)