Well it's about time our kids got smart! Rx drugs can kill...cannabis can't.

isn't it time we did a major longitudinal study on the effects/benefits of MJ use? Let's get some decent information here

Is it possible to smoke (inhale) mariuana and not get high?

As a counsellor dealing with adolescent problems for many years I am appaled that drugs such as Prozac and sleeping pills are being prescribed. It is a sad reflection on medical care.They are a quick fix to complex problems. Cannabis is a narcotic drug with hallucinogenic properties and addictive. It will not solve the underlying issues that these kids are struggling with but add to them. Treatment must include family members and not be administered in isolation. Cannabis is no solution.

I've used marijuana on a continuos basis since I was 17 years old I am now 55. And until recently even with Federal supervision on Marijuana related importation offenses, I still have the little voice telling me Marijuana is good for you. It really isn't! It hasn't improved my concentration, and in fact I really and truly believe that it would be a great mistake if we keep pushing this marijuana issue as medicine. Sure, I can see that if I had a severe disease, the high/effect from using MJ would get my mind off the disease, but there is no way that I would sit there and say that it helps me in any way other than to get Hi, and relax.

What a bunch of crap. One third of 63. Twenty one troubled kid one even acknowledges it harmful. This is a study? Join Together is now Join Together and pass the joint.

These kids need help. Not critical and political biases. Is it so much to ask to finally get teens to be honest with themselves and others. They like the distraction that getting high provides. They feel relief from stress just like an adult goes for a beer or glass of wine before dinner. They are using because it makes them feel good. They are not trying to ruin their lives or be unlawful. Let us teach kids anxiety management and see if these chronic issues improve. If not, honesty about liking the effects would be preferred.

Nina if you read what I wrote, in no way did my comment have anything to do with the youth. I took exception to the study itself and Join Together for running it. If I quoted a study of 63 youth with a headline saying "Youth Think Marijuana Is Bad For You", with only 21 saying marijuana was a bad drug to use in any circumstances, your side would be all over me for a bogus study.

Anonymous, I don't believe you. Nina and John, you are both on the same side (the one heavily based on personal opinion. Alexb, yes, it is possible to smoke cannabis and not get high, as any long-term medical cannabis user will tell you. The problem is, we are so trained to believe that the allopathic medications hawked to our doctors and on television and in magazines directly to consumers are our best choices; however it is good to remember that their manufactures have one bottom line (and it ain't public welfare). Frankly, I am delighted with the results of this study, and I commend jointogether for noting it. It is long past time that we, as a nation, started questioning our heavy reliance on commoditized and heavily promoted medication to solve our social ills.

Conditions like sleep problems, stress, anxiety, concentration, are often the results of poor life style choices. Medicating with or with out, a note from the doctors, who so willingly hand out the right to use and subsequently develop dependencies on substances are a major factor of what is wrong in America. Medicating these “conditions” with anything, is just treating a symptom, and ignoring the root cause of the problem. While this study was based on only 63 in depth interviews of teens, my lifetime experiences and observations of the 40 nieces and nephews I have, the children who were under my care in my day care business, and previous positions I held as a Nanny, confirm and support my belief that poor life style choices, exacerbate the above conditions. The number one offender of poor life style choices, specifically affecting those with ADD and ADDHD diagnoses, is poor nutrition. This takes place within the wealthiest of house holds. There is plenty of science to support this. I highly recommend a book: A Magnificent Mind at Any Age by, Dr. Daniel Ammens. Ground breaking scientific work has been done in his book, which addresses the above conditions. America is Addicted to Addiction. It is no wonder we are in such an economic mess. Alexb: No. You cannot smoke marijuana without getting high.

Read the entire article at http://www.substanceabusepolicy.com/content/4/1/7/abstract. The kids in this study have not found their answers in marijuana use ... and if you read then entire article that is clear. It is very sad to think that these young people (13-17 years) are trying to deal with serious issues such as depression and death of loved and insomnia and ADHD with marijuana. The authors of the article are not painting a rosy picture of marijuana use according to what I read. Instead, they are bringing forth information regarding how youth are coping by using marijuana. They also highlight how misinformed some of these youth are regarding the danger of marijuana use (especially for someone starting as young as these youth are). They also raise this question: does the governmental stance (British Columbia) play a role in the misconceptions (cannabis use for medical reasons is okay)and the ease of access (cannabis was easy for youth to obtain at the study sites). Read the entire study and you will see that JoinTogether missed the mark with their summary and with their headline.

JT Direct is always a source for a daily laugh: Youth's smoke marijauna to cure problems with concentration. People who wear "beer gear" (Tshirts with beer ads) are more likely to consume alcohol. High density of liqour stores in a neighborhood may lead to a higher crime rates. No wonder this profession has a lack of credibility. Who pays for these studies anyway??

Counselor2, if you actually bothered to read both the summary above and the original report, this study concerns youth choosing to turn to marijuana because the pharmaceuticals they have been presecribed are not easing their symptoms and are creating a condition they cannot accept. If anyone lacks credibility, it is someone who refers to themselves as "counselor" and fails to understand this scenario.

Join Together publishes brief summaries of research articles; these are not intended to be comprehensive overviews or capture every nuance of the original research. However, in this case the study conclusion from the abstract reads: "Marijuana is perceived by some teens to be the only available alternative for teens experiencing difficult health problems when medical treatments have failed or when they lack access to appropriate health care." We believe that this conclusion is accurately reflected in the summary. Of course, we always encourage readers to review the primary source for these stories, which is why we include links to the original journal articles whenever possible.

Robert- I also found the headline misleading. When I read the article headline I thought it was about teens turning to marijauna instead of Oxycodone or Xanax as a drug to abuse. Perhaps a better headline based on "Marijuana is perceived by some teens to be the only available alternative for teens experiencing difficult health problems when medical treatments have failed or when they lack access to appropriate health care" would be "Teens with health problems, lacking alternatives, turn to marijuana out of desperation."

Wow I know when I smoked this drug it was for coping and to help me function. It was an addiction. I'm drug free now for many years but I still have problems with an chemical imbalance but try to find other healthy outlets. I believe depression is part of the culprit, our predisposition but to be honest havent found a real answer yet but my walk with God. I look to Him to help me no longer an illegal substance to depend on. This drug is not the solution it lead to others and I spiraled down. God help us....

Guess I am just too old fashion because I still hold on to the crazy idea that the human sprit is amazingly effective at solving problems without drugs over time with a little effort. But hey, it is easier to just take drugs that can cause a whole set other problems and don't always solve the problem anyway. If I had a dime for every person I have seen over the past 15 years on medications who still have the same problems they are medicating for, I would retire. There has to be better way.

If any of like doing something we will naturally look for reasons to legitimize doing it. It is not that we are consciously lying, but we may not realize how much we're kidding ourselves. This study seems to tell us why some kids are using, but does not seem to control for their own denial or justifications. Self report can give us interesting information on perspectives, but does not reveal underlying motivations.

For "Alex B"- yes, it IS possible to smoke pot w/out getting high. Of the only 3 times I've ever tried it, I NEVER got much out of it. If anything at all. This is why I haven't tried it anymore. ;) It really depends on where the pot was grown and what plant species it came from. Guess I just never got the "good" stuff. Then again, one of those times I DID experience some UNdesirable effects like: heavy eyelid drooping & serious fatigue. Then another time (with a "Hawaiian" kind) I started laughing at just about anything anyone said. Which was kind of amusing I guess. But NOTHING as wonderful the euphoria & false sense of well being with narcotics!

ha ha, i love the people who post that they have either tried drugs or do them on an ongoing basis, and then you read their posts and they can't seem to write/speak properly.

I smoke marijuana and I enjoy smoking marijuana. They baned alcohol in 1918 & legalized it again in 1921!The people did just what the people are doing today.They are doing it anyway.There will be kids that don't do it and there will be kids that do do it.life go's on.This is America as long as you don't hurt any one all is good!!