NCJ Number
223488
Date Published
July 2008
Length
28 pages
Annotation
This report presents a data summary on the patterns and trends, health effects, criminal justice aspects, and the supply network of marijuana, and the issue of so-called medical marijuana for 2008.
Abstract
Highlights of findings include: (1) 14.8 million Americans were current (past month) users of marijuana in 2006; (2) marijuana use rates accelerate to a peak at age 20, with one in five reporting current use of marijuana; (3) marijuana initiation occurs at a younger age than for most drugs of abuse; (4) early initiation of marijuana use is associated with drug dependence as an adult; (5) there has been a steady increase in treatment admissions with marijuana as the primary substance of abuse since 1994; (6) emergency department episodes involving marijuana almost tripled from 1994 to 2002; (7) youth who engage in antisocial behavior are far more likely to use marijuana than those who do not engage in these behaviors; (8) marijuana users spent an estimated $11 billion to obtain marijuana in 2000; (9) the largest number of eradicated marijuana plants are concentrated in the West and in Appalachian States; (10) in April 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an interagency advisory stating that it had not approved smoked marijuana for any medical condition or disease indication; (11) 12 States had medical marijuana programs in effect as of July 2007; and (12) only a small minority of marijuana dispensary customers have AIDS, glaucoma, or cancer, aliments for which medical marijuana is advocated by proponents. This sourcebook recognizes marijuana as a major component of the illicit drug problem. Regardless of the progress achieved in reducing youth marijuana use, the overall demand for marijuana remains strong. The data summary presented in the sourcebook examines marijuana use patterns and trends, health aspects, the supply network, and the issue of so-called medical marijuana for 2008. Tables, figures and charts