this article is full of things that are simply not true and have been proven untrue in sincere and scientific ways. Though we want to keep our children away from this stuff, it's important ot note that if it were taxed and regulated, it would be much harder for children to obtain (just like alcohol and tobacco) and we wouldn't be locking our kids up in jail, exposing them to rapists and murderers and ruining their lives with criminal records

Attention, learning and memory problems. There has been no proof of this, from every scientific study ever done.

Clearly the best way to reduce teen access to cannabis (like alcohol) is to legalise and control sales to ensure that adults have legal access. However, I presume the proposal of this sensible measure is not allowed under your grant conditions. For that reason, and your use of simplistic imagery of "battle"I can only suggest you are setting yourself up for failure. However, at least you will have the funds to toast your success or lack of it at the end with societies more dangerous yet legal substance.

furthermore

Impaired driving due to delayed reaction time. This has been proven completely wrong, in fact a study done in the UK of over 10,00 individuals showed the exact opposite, that marijuana users are more careful behind the wheel and actually showed improved driving skills.
Increased risk of respiratory disease and cancer. This is absolutely wrong, in fact, the study done in the US recently showed that chronic users of marijuana are at no more risk of Lung disease (ie COPD) and actually showed a reduction in risk of lung cancer (unless accompanied by tobacco use)
Addiction, Marijuana is proven not to be an addictive drug and it's also been proven that the "Gateway" theory proposed by Refer madness advocates everyhwere is absolute nonsense and that marijuana smokers are far less luilely to try other drugs. in fact, the states where medical marijuana is allowed, alcohol use has gone down and fatal driving accidents reduced 3 fold because of less people drinking and driving. please don't make yourself look like a fool by publishing this refer madness nonsense. this information is readily available

lets start to be honest with our kids, I have a son, I don't want him to smoke marijuana, but more so than that, I don't want him put in handcuffs, and locked up with rapists and murderers to be "Taught a lesson" and Rehabilitate" him. and have his live ruined because of a criminal record. bottom line, the punishment is far more harmful than the crime could ever be. The police will tell you "This never happens" but it happened over a million times in the country alone last year

the author of this article should be ashamed how many dishonest and easily disprovable point they made in this.

its actually pretty embarrassing for you

readin the lies here is sickening. cannabis use heals people and make then healthy. it is not nonaddictive and it CURES cancer

i have 3 children 2 boys in their teens and a little girl. i hope they all use cannabis.

http://www.theweedblog.com/cannabis-science-presents-photographic-evidence-showing-cannabis-shrinking-cancer-tumors/

yes, good, lie to the kids so that they can discover for themselves the truth about marijuana. that these so -called 'do-gooders' have nothing better to do than 'educate' people about the dangers of a naturally growing plant, a plant with healing properties. yeah kids, stop using marijuana and start smoking & drinking more alcohol cause your Government says it ok!

i hate this lying bull article and those three dudes up in the corner pic. and that women's blouse makes me want to spew.

Have to admit Shawn, you are correct on the numerous errors and scare tactics in this article, that are actually from the 50's. How shameful some still think the kids are stupid and would even fall for such dribble. The information is available on the internet without the all the lies in this article.

It made me laugh as much as I do when I watch the reefer madness movie, which I have a copy of ;-}.

Though I still don't see how to legalize it totally, as there are a lot of things that need to be done to do that, I am very upset that our governor does not have the guts to stand up to Obama on the Medical marijuana, which needs to be legalized all over the country in my opinion. Though there are problems with that as we have seen, the people who do really need it, benefit greatly from it.

This money would be better spent to protect the medical marijuana clinics from the stormtrooper HOLDER!!!.

Yes... medicinal uses for Marijuana/Cannibus. But, the big picture is this: even if the logic for task force formation is flawed & misstating statistics... Who wants children deciding at a young age to take part in recreational drugs, potentially lying and stealing to purchase them, or growing and selling, illegally, & yes, risking a police record, and their potential future as, intelligent, constructive, & hard working citizens? And there are clear negative common denominators amongst most people who use illegal substances regularly. Further, if BHS Students believe that 50% of their peers use Marijuana, evn though illegal, won't legalizing it just give even more access? Won't they want what they can still grow or buy or steal? i.e. a better version that the government does not control? It is clear that the other contributors here do not seem to have any problem with any uses of cannibus, and if they did, they forgot to mention that in their comments... But in truth, wouldn't all parents agree that if we have no control over what is available to our children, as is the case, don't we, at least, hope that our children are being constructive, avoiding sneaky behavior, and not feeling like they need to be impaired or mind-altered, during their down time? And although these comments here all have merit for certain forums, it is unfortunate, that some children reading over their parent's shoulder may believe we condone the use of an illegal substance from age 11 up...

Can we at least get links to the studies that validate these claims? Cite your sources, it makes for a more convincing argument.

Let's do an excersise: Think about all the people you know. How many have been in, or are currently serving, a prison sentence? Personally, its a few friends and family members.

1 in every 50 Americans is currently incarcerated.[1] Americans only make up a small fraction of the world's population, but we have over half of the world's prisoners. There is something really skewed within the US Justice System, too many people watching their own backs and protecting their interests.

Change is a long and drawn out process, it's not only external, but internal as well. Although a sample representing over half the US population is pro-legalization, the majority in power isn't. But change is coming, be ready.

[1]http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=2237

Everyone is quick to want to keep marijuana illegal until thier kids life is ruined by the laws and punishments that come along with it's illegality. It's also fair to mention, that unlike ANY other drug. marijuana has no fatal overdose amount, in fact no one has ever died from marijuana in over 10,000 years of documented human consumption

I think the idea here, is to keep our local youths from using marijuana, knowing there is no positive outcome for them at such a young age. I never saw or plan on seeing this movie,you keep referring to... but do understand that there is are many sides to the controversy. I also know that it take object continual studies to prove anything, scientifically and controlling for all necessary variables... But, condoning use of something still illegal, is not going to help our kids. And although there are hundreds of thousands of adult, productive and successful users, there are are just as many adults who may have started at a much younger age, that lacked the motivation, and the clear mind to make more responsible choices for themselves. It seem that the flawed statistics upset many here, but unforunately, sidetracked the point that we do not want our school-age youths using marijuana... just like we do not want our children sneaking alcohol, or using fake IDs, or making poor choices about legal, yet controlled narcotics and pills. Our youths are at risk for thinking it is okay and common, when, in fact, I am sure we all agree we would rather they make better choices and not feel like to be cool is to use... because their is nothing cool about it. If when they are adults and choose to use any mind altering substance, so be, but middle school and high school are not where we hope it starts.

Whe you become a prisoner. You actually become a "Legal Slave of the state" Your life is ruined from criminal records that will haunt you the rest of your life, you wont be able to get work and your life in society as we know it will never be the same again. These are the cold hard facts that parnets should be really angry and opposed to, The "Rehibilitation" that the US Government will give to your son or Daughter. Most people who go to jail, turn into animals, because you have to become and animal in prison just to survie. Thats what parents should really be scared about...Thats what they should be focused on Ending

Shawn,

I have to second the request for links to the "studies" you claim have been performed. So far, you've done nothing but spout off a bunch of nonsense.

Waiting.......

absolutley no problem at all..:)

http://www.drugpolicy.org/facts/drug-facts/marijuana-facts

there is tons of honest information here regarding scinetific studies and thier outcomes.

http://norml.org/library/recent-research-on-medical-marijuana

http://www.mpp.org/issues/marijuana-market-economy/

and more,

http://www.mpp.org/issues/research/

this is a great source of information and is run by a group of active dutypolicemen and retiered law enforcement describing the literal failure of "The war on drugs" and the disgusting effects it has on human lives.

http://www.leap.cc/

patch reader, besides the reaserach That is readily availble for anyone to read, the statements I've made regarding incarceration and the ill effects to human society are well known to any individual. you dont have to be a rocket scientist or a pot smoker to understand and realize the complete & utter failure and dire consequences of Marijuana Prohibtion

Shawn Christopher...are you serious????!!! And the rest of you who want to claim that marijuana does nothing but good for people; try teaching a bunch of teenagers who smoke marijuana regularly...do you think they are high achievers, paying attention, focuising, etc. I assure you, they are not. I am disgusted by your remarks quite honestly.

"Prohibition... goes beyond the bound of reason in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded" -Abraham Lincoln
"The prestige of government has undoubtedly been lowered considerably by the prohibition law. For nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced. It is an open secret that the dangerous increase of crime in this country is closely connected with this." - Albert Einstein quote on Hemp
"Two of my favorite things are sitting on my front porch smoking a pipe of sweet hemp, and playing my Hohner harmonica." - Abraham Lincoln (from a letter written by Lincoln during his presidency to the head of the Hohner Harmonica Company in Germany)
"Hemp is of first necessity to the wealth & protection of the country."
- Thomas Jefferson, U.S. President
"Make the most you can of the Indian Hemp seed and sow it everywhere."
- George Washington, U.S. President
"We shall, by and by, want a world of hemp more for our own consumption."
- John Adams, U.S. President

Lets have a look back to Richard Nixons own commision to find out the dangers of Marijuana. The the commission released its findings to President Nixon in 1972 he was not pleased. The Shafer report found, “Neither the marijuana user nor the drug itself can be said to constitute a danger to public safety.” The report also found that marijuana use caused “no significant physical, biochemical, or mental abnormalities,” and that “most users, young and old, demonstrate an average or above-average degree of social functioning, academic achievement, and job performance.” The Shafer commission also recomended that marijuana be decriminalized and at least be removed from its Scedule 1 status. Nixon refused to even read the report and stated in a press conference,

“I am against legalizing marijuana. Even if the Commission does recommend that it be legalized, I will not follow that recommendation.”

KH Parent. I never once said I supported a teenager smoking marijuana. I simply dont think they should go to jail for it either. read before you get angry and have "angry, knee jerk reactions" it's hard to admit you've been wrong about something your whole life

and yes "KCparent" I am serious and I stand with the other 50% of america who now realizes the same thing as I do. Marijuan Prohibtion is a failure.

I"ll also mention it takes 2 police officers off teh street solving real crime an average of 8 hours total. combined with court costs etc, it's already costsing us an average of 20,000$ per arrest in police and court time, if convicted, it costs an aveage of about 40,000$ a year to incarcerate someone. add that to the staggering billions of dollars a years spent on "the war on drugs" it's pretty clear what the failuyre is here

The article being commented on here, is simply regarding an attempt at reducing the use of marijuana by students & kids, both high school and hopefully middle school-aged children... not on legalizing marijuana, jailing or not jailing offenders, or keeping cancer patients from using it for medicinal purposes.

my response was based on the misinformation provided in the article

I believe that the dangers from lying to our kids about marijuana has even worse consequences. if we're telling our kids that marijuana is goig to kill them and make them stupid and they see other people do it or try it them selves and say, oh wait, "They 've been lying to me", they may just draw them same conclusion about heroin or cocaine or crytal meth, drugs that can actually kill you and I as a parent am fully capable of talking to my kids about the dangers of drugs. I dont need the US governemtn stepping in to "rehibilitate" them. my points are completely valid and relevant in the context of this article

It should also be pointed out that the rehtoric and misionformation in this article is exactly what law enforcement uses in defense of thier dracion and archaic laws that opress our children and family members. that they continue to defend as protecting our children. NO ONE HAS EVER BEEN PROTECTED BY THESE LAWS!!!!! NO ONE!!! ONLY LIVES RUINED. THATS THATS THE BOTTOM LINE

The article is about helping to decrease marijuana use among teenagers. Shawn Christopher you are going off on rants that have nothing to do with the purpose of th article. Alcohol is legal but does that mean we should ignore and not waste our resources in trying to prevent teenagers from drinking?? Making something legal does not change the impact it has on young people whose brains are not fully developed and can barely make good choices when stone sober. I tell my children that drugs are bad, all of them. You're telling me I am a liar? What does my child have to gain by using drugs? My goal as a parent is to raise my children to be comfortable in their own skin so that they never have the need or desire to turn to drugs.

And Shawn Christopher, why don't you start getting your information from sources other than wikipedia or similar places? Try reading a research based medical journal article about the dangers of marijuana use and how it can alter the development of the brain.

I didn't post a single wikipedia link, nor did I call you a liar. All of those links I posted are from official medical Studies done worldwide and all have been published in medical journals in the US and around the world.

and I will say again, everyting I have said here today is based on the misinformation and rhetoric provided by the author. the links I posted, because you asked me too KHParent. If you had gone to any of the links to find out what I"m talking about, you would not have made such a ridiculous accusation...your rage reveals your ignorance and predjudace. My point here is that AS A PARENT I would like to control what my child puts in his body. I want to take care of my chiild, Its my responsibility, not that of Law Enforcement I dont need the US Government to step in and "rehibilitate" them for me. KCParent, Do you feel comfortable having those decisions made for you? would you like to see your son or daughter rot in jail? or do you want to have the chance to take care of the situation yourself..I understand that what they are trying to do is keep Children away from drugs. my point is the police should let groups klike this do thier job, and not do it for them with dracoinan and barbaric parctices that do nothing good for anybody.

here is a recent new york times article for KHParent and PatchREader. now read these and tell me if e should still be putting people in jail for this?

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/11/marijuana-smoking-does-not-harm-lungs-study-finds/

http://www.allgov.com/Unusual_News/ViewNews/Medical_Marijuana_Reduces_Traffic_Deaths_120119

There are also direct links to the studies themselves in the report

@KHParent. As I said, I did not call you a liar, but if you tell your kids they are going to get lung cancer and die from marijuana, then yes, yes, that would most certainly, undoubtedly qualify you as a liar, for sure, and I dont think anyone would disagree with that, not even the DEA.

Did I mention that I would tell my kids they would get lung cancer from marijuana? I think that when parents accept that its the norm and a rite of passage for their kids to smoke and drink, it perpetuates the already big problem. If my child is caught doing illegal drugs, they are going to suffer the consequences legal and otherwise. It is against the law, we need to teach our children to respect laws and authority, whether we agree with the laws or not. I am sick and tired of parents making excuses for their children and not holding them accountable for their choices. And when was the last time a teenager 'rotted' in jail for using marijuana? Seriously.

here's an article from today talking about the 50,000! yes thats fifty tousand possesion for marijuana arrests made in New York City in the past year alone. most are the age of 18-25

http://www.wnyc.org/articles/wnyc-news/2012/feb/01/city-hits-highest-marijuana-arrests-more-decade/

do your research, rethink your life and face it, The laws in this case are wrong, there is no way to defend them being in place any more

one more thing, if you have ever comsumed an alcoholic beverage in your life then youve done far more damage to yourself already than any person smoking pot ever could and that would also make you a hypocrit

Maybe you should go smoke another one and respond five more times. Why don't you have a pep rally to exhibit all the ways drugs should be legalized. Lobby politicians and do something about it since you obviously feel so strongly about what you think is right. I will never agree with you.

Thanks for all the great links to the marijuna studies. Another link that should be looked at is this: http://phoenixtears.ca/what-it-does-and-how-it-works/

I wrote the following in response to a previous article:

The hemp plant from which marijuana is derived contains an oil with amazingly curative properties. Hemp oil goes way beyond what is ordinarily called the "medical use of marijuana" by smoking to effectively treat various ailments including cancers, especially skin cancer. And it is reported that only very very small doses are required to effect healing. Various attempts to inform, promote and legitimize hemp oil in North America have been stedfastly opposed by the legal/pharmaceutical establishment consortium. But for people willing to exercise their freedom to think outside the box, information is widely available such as at http://phoenixtears.ca/what-it-does-and-how-it-works/. If it is freely legal to buy alcohol which is used even in over-the-counter medicines yet is abused every day, why should it be any different for hemp? People who abuse any substance to the harming of others should be prosecuted. People who use the same substance to heal should be applauded, promoted and funded. An intelligent society will be able to tell the difference. (See http://portsmouth.patch.com/articles/video-dr-bock-talks-security-opening-of-medical-marijuana-center)

cannabis is the most popular drug in the world because its ^%$^%$^%$ great . and you just cant handle it, its hilarious .you will never change my mind either . Do you believe in god?then you would have us believe he messed up when he made weed i don't think so. most other drugs are not natural all undergo a man made process , which will always fall short compared to natural, think side effects .pots side effects are completely inconsequential for MOST people,and it offers so much. sorry it doesn't do that for you but don't tell me it doesn't do that for me.