As attitudes towards marijuana use relax across the country, teens are lighting up more than ever. According to a survey sponsored by The Partnership at Drugfree.org, 1 in 10 teens are smoking marijuana at least 20 times per month. According to the Associated Press, use of harder drugs among teens, however, has stabilized.
Marijuana Rally
It seems parents are talking about the more serious drugs when they speak to their kids about drugs. According to the Partnership President Steve Pasierb, “Parents are talking about cocaine and heroin, things that scare them.”
Pasierb suggests parents also discuss the dangers of marijuana. While some marijuana legalization advocates would challenge him about exactly what those dangers are, one certain risk is that of being arrested.
Marijuana possession remains illegal, despite being legalized for medical use in several states and despite support than ever for general legalization. The growing permissive attitude about marijuana among the general public may be having an effect on teens’ pot usage.
While others would contest the findings of another study by the Partnership, they report that marijuana use can possibly lead to other drugs. They say teens who smoke pot more than 20 times per month are almost twice as likely to use ecstasy, cocaine or crack.
When teens engage in risk-taking behavior, they have less of an everything-in-moderation approach, perhaps because their brains haven’t finished developing that impulse control.
A group on the other end of the spectrum, The Marijuana Policy Project suggests an all-out marijuana legalization may reduce teen marijuana usage. According to a spokesperson for that group, legalization would allow pot to be regulated, including the requirement for id checks, potentially reducing access to weed and pushing the use among teens down once again.
Possession of Marijuana Can Still Be A Serious Crime
Marijuana remains against the law for the average person in every state in the United States, at least for now. Whether you or your teen is caught in possession of pot, you can face tough legal sanctions and a possible permanent blemish on your record.
Don’t let the fact that more citizens support legalization now than ever allow you to think that the police and the courts somehow don’t care if you violate current marijuana laws. They do and they will prosecute you for it.
Marijuana laws vary dramatically from state to state. In some states, possession of a small amount has been “decriminalized” (not the same as legalized), carrying only a fine. In others, possession of even the tiniest amount can result in misdemeanor criminal charges.
If you are caught with marijuana, you need to treat it as a serious matter. Let us put you in touch with a local defense attorney today, one who knows the local marijuana laws and can help minimize the effect these charges have on your life.
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