Recently, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released a state-by-state drug use report that is both useful and informative. These government reports, like others regarding drug use, are based on surveys and the willingness of respondents to be truthful about their illicit drug use.
According to SAMHSA, what states had the highest and lowest marijuana rates of cannabis use? Rhode Island (16.2%) and Utah (7.17%) respectively.
The New York Times‘ Economix blog created some helpful interactive mapping to illustrate the SAMSHA data.
At least they only had to buy one marker to colour the map in!
Why do I always see surveys and reports about the number of marijuana users in the U.S. yet my friends and I have never been questioned about our use. Sounds like a bunch of bullcrap to me.
Sarah Palin is reportedly moving to Rhode Island. I wonnder why?
Looks like all the go-green campaigns work quite well! Oh wait, wrong map… Beautiful, nonetheless.
ALOT of people smoke marijuana in Iowa so my guess is alot of people here wasnt truthful 3.5% that shits funny
I love Rhode Island.
BTW that map is hilarious. XD
haha i like that map!
Yeah, what a huge waste of money! The billions pumped into prohibition could be used for ummmmm HEALTHCARE!
Eventually, there will be more of us than there are of them. Good riddance
I just read where our famous FEDs have arrested more old people in California for using cannabis for medical reasons…We must stop this!!
CFHJ
The real rate here in West Virginia is more like 40% at least. In my town, the rate is probably around 70% of residents smoke marijuana at least once a year.
This is actually hilarious.
The dea has a supply of marijuana too, it’s just not available to the public lol…or maybe it is. (added by Mobile using Mippin)
Would someone please use this information to estimate state by state tax revenues? Based on California’s $1.3 billion annual revenues if cannabis were taxed, estimates could be made taking into account the population of the rest of the states. I don’t know of any state that does not need revenues to get out of the hole. A report such as this ought to put even more pressure on the feds to end federal prohibition and let the states decide.
Hey anyone: two days ago i commented on the big local raid in my small town. Due to this huge raid my town is VERY dry and i suffer from mental illness… i self presribe. So my best friend in a large city a few hours away wants to send me some thru the mail. So to anyone who may kno… is it possible to do without gettin caught? How should it be done? He jus wants to hollow out a candle and stuff a sack in. Id welcome any logistic knowledge or otherwise.
Wait a minute… read the full report. The survey was taken on individuals ages 12 and older. I want to see the statistic without the 12 to 18 year olds. I bet the “legal” aged percentages would be significantly higher!
C’mon Utah, you’re slacking!
That map made me litterally laugh out loud when i saw it. The prohibition on marijuana definitely seems to be working.
wow see what happens when the econamy crashes now people are worried. Sooooo with worry falls somethin to help cope and what do you have thats safe? WEED. At least with weed you dont have to worry about killin yourself when you drive home from your friends house. Unlke Booze where you hit the first tree!!!
As for our beloved Hemp plant being a (controlled substance ) They.. (the imperial federal government of the divided states of america ) do a lousy job of contolling it ! The only things these morons control is we the people ! Well I say fuck them ! These idiots cant even run cash 4 clunkers !Iam the dictator of my world & I declare Hemp Fuckin legal !!!! Boycott Big Pharma! Their poison will kill U !!! Let every day be independents day ! Let Freedom Ring ! Free the flowers !
I love the map. That’s really all that’s needed, it says it all. My favorite is the tiny orange dot representing DEA headquarters.
Has anyone heard the new ad obviously put out by the Drug , Tobacco and Alcohol industry ?
It starts out with a Mother telling her son that in School they will be doing drug testing . She then asked her son if he ever tried Pot . Then she says cocaine , heroin , speedballs , etc. What they are attempting to do is combine marijuana w/ all hard drugs to decieve you the public into thinking that , Pot is exactly like all other hard drugs .This is what is meant as ” deceptive ” advertising which really means they are cleverly telling you lies about marijuana to steer you to taking their HARD drugs which can cause death , addiction or irreversible harm to the human body . Marijuana does none of these things .
I’m sure there’s actually a ton of marijuana in the DEA headquarters. Too bad none of them actually try smoking it and see how much it expands your mind. Maybe then they wouldn’t kill people who do use it.
I wonder what this map would look if it were done in the alcohol prohibition era? Pretty much the same I would guess
I call BS on that, Rhode Island the highest rate of Cannabis use? lol, yeah right.
Apparently they haven’t been to NY. From what i experienced, at least 7 or 8 out of 10 smoke the herb over here.
Hell NYC alone smokes a hell of a lot more than those Rhode Islanders any day of the week. This survey is vague at best, i’m guessing Rhode Island is just more honest with it’s use than the other states. Can you really blame the other states for that? It’s Illegal, why admit use if there is a possibly that they would be monitoring you every second of the day till you get caught smoking.
I’ll tell you this much NORML, when it does finally become legal THAT’S when you will see a true honest poll about there herb use and i guarantee NY will be number 1.
Questions:
I went to the Economix blog and read the article. It indicates that 51% of Americans drank alchohol over the one year period. If this figure is true of alchohol, why would marijuana usage rates not look similar if it were to become legal as well?
Another interesting point made on the matter of drug use beyond marijuana that Ive heard recently is that alchohol and tobacco kill far more people because they are legal, and usage rates are far higher than that of cocaine or other hard drugs. If these harder drugs were legalized, how much net increase of drug related deaths would result?
Im not making the case for prohibition, just trying to sharpen my apologetics. Any thoughts?
YOU ARE FOOLIN’ YOURSELVES if you think the DEA “doesn’t have [cannabis] available!”
They have all the best stuff!
Smoke all ya want, we’ll grow more!
If…our elected representaitves won’t act on a 85% mandate by We the People, then We the Pople must prevail by initiative. “WE ARE NO LONGER ASKING…
WE’RE TELLING.” Political correctness be damned. We the People have a grievance. Then will you hear us now! We the People are unequivocally giving our elected representatives notice that their political careers are hanging in the balance. [MORE TO COME]
There’s an old adage that “THE SQUEAKY WHEEL GETS THE OIL.” It’s our objective to squeak until we get the oil…or…squeak until we run our prohibitionists out of office, which ever comes first. There’s no two ways about it. Our elected representatives are going to represent We the People or suffer the consequencse.
Obeying the power will be a mute subject to our ears. Another adage is…”SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO PLAY THE TUNE THE AUDIANCE WANTS TO HEAR,” or your audiance may walk out on you…if not…throw tomatoes at you. In either case…the audiance will bring the curtain down on you.
SINGLE MINDED PURPOSE
Today…”85% of We the People want medicinal cannabis legalized.” Somewhere within the remaining 15%, we identify the power that denies us, We the People, our medicine of choice, not to mention “Anything else” that power doesn’t want us to have. “Anyhting else” is a different story for another time. We must maintain a “SINGLE MINDED PURPOSE.” That purpose is to “Legalize” medicianl cannabis in all fifty states as expediently, efficiently, and effectively as humanly possible.
It’s our intent/objective to direct our energy (bring pressure) on the U.S. Health and Human Services Department, and the Food and Drug Administration to re-schedule the whole plant material from a schedule I substance to a schedule III substance by:
1. “Defining” the whole plant substance.
2. Prove that medicinal cannabis has “Current recognized medical utility, with no potential for abuse.
By proving cannabis has current acceptable medical use…”BY LAW”(Controlled Substances Act-CSA)…
it “MUST BE REMOVED” from schedule I.
Adopted in 1970 The Controlled Substances Act-CSA, established a federal regulatory system designed to “RECREATIONAL DRUG ABUSE”…not…”MEDICINAL.”
It’s federal government’s view that cannabis is a drug with “no currently accepted medical use.” This posture underscores government’s lack of knowledge, and the practical use of that knowledge. In fact, it’s ludicrous at the very least.
Foregoing a protracted discussion…”WE’VE BEEN TOLD…WE CAN’T HAVE IT.” We cannot consume a medication recommended by our physician while under that phyician’s medical care. “Being a True American,” the only response we could possibly give is…”NO CAN DO!…FUCK YU…AND YOUR DELUSIONAL STATE OF MIND.” While we’re at it…quit messin’ with our Constitution…or…your political career will be political grass. Your political ass will be buried face down…and…you will know waht a “Sorry Ass” is…in the end.
Rebel with a cause [CA-GD]
my marijuana use just peaked at 100% today.
Don’t let the number of marijuana users in Utah fool you. Utah dwarfs all other states in opiate usage. Esspecially perscription drug abuse. The Word of Wisdom (A health guide for the majority religion) doesn’t say anything is wrong with taking a pill.
I want to see the map that illustrates the percentage of those surveyed who were unwilling to be truthful, or even respond about their illicit drug use when surveyed by the same government that wants to put them in jail,take their property and ruin their lives. My drug use, and/or non-use, is none of anyone else’s damn business, and especially governments’ at any level. The truth is almost all people take drugs (from coffee to PCP), and not one of their body metabolisms differentiate among them based on current legal status. How the hell did we ever let government start getting involved in things that are not specifically authorized by the Constitution? Whatever happened to freedom and liberty? Do we truely deserve to be nothing better than slaves, wards of the government?
Still there is a fire erupting even in Utah I live here n see it. Can anyone else smell that legilization? (added by Mobile using Mippin)
Way to suck, survey. Here’s the definition of an illicit drug:
Across the United States, 8.1 percent of people had used an illicit drug in the last month. Illicit drug use was lowest in Iowa (5.2 percent in the last month) and highest in Rhode Island (12.5 percent). (Here “illicit drugs” includes “marijuana/hashish, cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, or prescription-type psychotherapeutics used nonmedically.”)
Notice how meth and painkillers aren’t on there?
Like I said, way to suck.
I’ve been driving high about everyday the past 2 years and I say it’s actually helped my driving skills lol. Perfectly clean driving record. Wouldn’t be the same if it was alcohol!
Marijuana is sooooo misjudged =/
This map makes you think the green party just won the election. What happened to the red and blue states? Oh yea someone let the cat out of the bag about cannabis and now everyone everywhere is using! This prohibition is working about as well as most government run programs. I think their goals are to spend a lot of money and get almost nothing in return. I guess us pot takers are slowly taking over the whole dam country.
hey General-Jake, if you need any bud i got you some exotic
Humm . see the nice green map there, all that green tells anyone with an average I.Q. that prohibition..wait for it…ISNT WORKING!!!
I looked at the other maps also, there are lots of people in Iowa that drink. No doubt bout that. What it doesnt show is people in Iowa smoke lot of cannabis contrary to the maps. It just means most Iowans wont admit to it.Not to mention those that grow their own here.Its simple, dont want the law getting their hooks in ya, Dont talk. Smarter than the average ? Dont know. These polls are so outta wack in so areas. really,how do these poll takers know if someone is honest in their answers? they dont and never really can.
I live in nothern va and there is plenty of bbud to go around whats with the red dot
Mike H at the top of this page hit the nail on the head.I know a lot of smokers myself included ,and nobody has ever surveyed us.these polls are useless propaganda
designed to make us smokers think we are a very small group .I can give a more accurate guess just from looking at all my friends , relatives and past and present co-workers my guess is 45% nationwide and Ill bet I’m closer than the polls…
Just because the DEA headquarters isn’t open to the public, doesn’t mean there isn’t high availability there.
Check out my new video. Pass it ’round.
Cannabis Prohibition: A Materpiece in The Art of Brainwashing
Awesome! Now if they will just hurry up and legalize & tax it we can get the economy back to normal and move on to more important things.
@ #25
Not happening though, right? Killing and looting is the DEA’s bread and butter. They won’t give that up until Congress tells them they have to.
Yea i am definatly positive that alot more than that smoke pot i have only met 2 ppl in my life that never did it n that goes to show its about time to legalize the shit aint it
See just legalize it already America. I serve this country and i want to smoke LEGALLY!!!!!
The Army is turning me into an alchoholic and i dont like it!!!!!
Haha I knew us Virginians smoked more than most people.
@ Chris #28
Tobacco and alcohol do not kill people because they are legal, they kill people because they are poisons. Marijuana is natural and when used responsibly, poses no serious health risks.
If MJ was legal, we would likely see alcohol and tobacco usage drop as more people would make the smarter choice and use MJ over alcohol and/or tobacco which would be a very good thing.
Most people in society have already tried MJ and have already decided if it is for them or not. If its legalized, rates of use will likely not increase a considerable amount. Those who use will continue to use, those who don’t will continue to not use.
#37 I agree if we keep at it we will WIN THIS SHIT….lol full legaliziation once they sit the fuk down n c …WOW more money than they thought it will b some conflicts but MONEY Talks .ON to Normal ask the gov y they put people in jail/prison for pot for periods of times ,but yet the pedophiles still run the streets ……well till they finally kill that innocent child ..while thats proly there 3rd or 4th offence being let out they then kill the shits is sick an ASS BACKWARD
I agree with mike h. and kevin about it being propaganda to make us think that there are a lot less of us than there are so that we don’t realize our strength and pull together. They can dream can’t they. Not!!!
#30 Behind The Green door? Doesn’t putting activist next to our name and the state we’re from make us stand out a little more than reg posters labeling us a shitstarter to local authorities maybe raining down a shitstorm on us, especially those of us who are stuck in states that don’t offer legal protection for medical patients? I would hate to abandon my state for greener pastures but I’m beginning to think that I could be a much better activist if I didn’t have to worry about getting busted! What ya think?
Maybe everyone who can should move to California in time to register for their big vote in 2010 to legalize and after that we can move on to the next state. One state at a time. Its that Important!
Just a thought lol, Those of us who can should move to where their vote will be more useful. Especially those of us who live on social security. California pays a lot higher than most states so your check would most likely go up a couple hundred dollars. Let the Government pay for us to move and protest with our vote ha ha. of course it cost more to live there but no matter where you live you can find reasonable priced digs. I’ve lived there before as cheap as I do here in Texas. I loved it. my check went from 650 to 850 and I bet if I went back it would go up to over a thousand. I looked at apartments on the internet and you can find decent apartments for 600 to 800 a month in northern cali, its beautiful there, not to mention most people getting a check will get prorated rent based on their income if they want. I seriously don’t know why the hell I ever moved back to Texas, lol
Hey thanks kevin. o wait i dont know you so your exotic will not be helpin me anytime soon. Holla if you ever go to the no mans land that is Kansas.
Rhode Island is only highest due to size. Why doesn’t someone post the population per state?
great work here
I just bet there are some smokers at the DEA ! Ever hear Dirty Cop ? Need I say more ! They allways get the Best Buds ! So why not try them out ! ROTFLMAO, Peace out!MDZ
@ macdaddy
this is not propaganda, but a true story.
about 8 years ago, i’m standing inside a all in one convinence store talking to one of the clerks, he was moonlighting and is head of security at the local big city high school. In walks 3 guys in their drug task force uni’s. the guy i’m talking to says he knows one of them and that he is a coke head he knows from his neighborhood, then i said to my friend thats nothing the other guy I know as a pot head from back in high school and as recently as 2 years before when i worked with his girlfiend in a deli down the road. The 3rd guy, who knows. But the moral of the story is, the DEA is bullisht and they know it. Big Pharma contributes too much money to campains for puppets to write or deny laws in Big Pharma’s favor and the DEA is just the gustapo hired by the politico puppets to enforce the laws that keep us hooked on Big Pharma narcotics.
Its This Simple End the Suffering and FREE THE MEDICINE…. Eveyone knows that cannibus is the No.1 Cash Across The USA and The Biggest reason they won’t leagalize is the government is afraid of losing the Big Pharm. Company’s I mean if they would pull there heads outta their you know whats they would see that if Cannibus was in fact leagl we would be outta our national Debt the Tax Money alone from Growers would bail us out but then again what do I Know I am Just a Redneck.
RE: # 59
Thanks Jeff!
53 HooterJack [TX-GD]
Medicinal cannabis is legal. If not in Texas, our objective is to make it legal in Texas. Now is not the time to timid. The Green Door is aggressive to the core. Remember…we’re talkin’ medicinal cannabis.
[MORE TO COME] Check out next post.
wow theres some proof that the war on drugs is working!
This just in from the CNN News crawl:
Argentinia’s supreme court decriminalizes personal use of cannabis.
(Note: the crawl said decrim. not legalize)
NOW! IS THE TIME.
The Lords of the Modern World only have three strings on their fiddle. if they think that they are going to prevent We the People from obtaining a medication that works. Our strong 85% in favor of medicinal cannabis overrides their batam bitching bullshit. On the other hand, how sturdy is a house without a foundation? Our foundation is the “support of We the People.” Without that support, the big bad wolf will huff and puff and blow our house down.
NOW! IS THE TIME.
for tenacity and perseverence to infect those who are unwilling to acquiesce to the Lords of the Modern World. There’s no more ridding the “Coat Tail” of Success. IT”S TIME…to join with the tailor and “FASHION THE COAT.” IT”S TIME…to realize that those who will sacrafice freedom for order, will receive neither.
NOW! IS THE TIME.
to act. If you support the Green Door,
1. Put your state’s initials and GD behind your posting handle. EXAMPLE: John/Jane Doe Activist [CA-GD].
2. Then, wear a plain hunter green polo/T shirt “all the time”…until someone asks you why you always wear a green shirt. Then, answer their question with the cause.
Although we all promote total legalization of cannabis, we must “stay centered” in our objective to legalize medicinal cannabis in all fifty states.
“Stay specific.”…your words will fall on less deaf ears.
“Once again, Iowa had the lowest rate of marijuana use (3.8 percent) in the last month, and Rhode Island had the highest rate (10.3 percent).”
Which numbers would be correct? Norml and NYTimes differ
[Editor’s note: There are two data sets, monthly vs past year. 3.8/10.3 represents past monthly use, the data cited by NORML is cannabis use for the past year.]
To Sean (50):
I was mostly talking about harder drugs rather than marijuana. I agree if pot smoking replaced alchohol consumption’s 50%, we’d all be much better off.
It’s interesting… if alcohol use is at 50%, I’d guess legal weed would be near 25-30%. Not saying that would be a problem at all.
I speak the “truth” with respect…because…
the “truth” finds its way to the surface every time. Even from the darkest depths of deception the “truth” will rise to the occasion.
Politicians are all actors. There’s nothing genuine about them. They play the part, Lords of the Modern World, cast them to play. They tote the tyrant’s baggage, and are lickspittles.
“OUR CONSTITUTION IS JUST.” It is up to We the People to keep it free from injustice. If we do nothing, it is well to remember that “For every action, there is an equal and opposite re-action.” If we do nothing, we will receive nothing. We have allowed ourselves to be tyrannized. “We have no one to blame but ourselves.” There’s no more fence ridding. We must decide, once and for all, how our lives are going to played out. It’s no longer an option we give politicians. They do it our way…or…they don’t do it at all.
“IF WE ARE DYING FOR THE ‘TRUTH’…WE SHOULD NOT LET OURSELVES BE BURNT FOR OUR OPINIONS: WE ARE NOT THAT SURE OF THEM. BUT PERHAPS FOR THIS: THAT WE MAY HAVE AND CHANGE OUR OPINIONS.” NIETZSCHE
Argentia has just followed suit with Mexico and decriminalized all drugs. Columbia will be next, probably next week.
In April the leaders of those 3 countries petitioned Obama to do the same.
The DEA is in orange. I would think they’d possess tons of weed…
Water water everywhere but not a drop to drink!
Too bad our unenlightened overlords are so keen on keeping distribution in the hands of teens, illegal immigrants, and others who hate the government.
Meanwhile people who love God and are trying to love our country are suffering and being denied access to (at least) this plant that could ease their suffering: chemo patients, Parkinson’s sufferers, Alzheimer’s sufferers, etc… and all those who are helping them!
The BIG Bull is 30 million Americans have tried or are smoking pot at any time.The truth is 100 million people smoke pot regularly..Hey isn’t that enough to start another party?
Alot of people see positive things with these latin american countries goin decrim. Not me. I cant put my finger on it. I should be excited to hear of these places changin policy and i am but it smells fishy.
Like it implies in the article itself, if these countries wanted to stop jailing people, help the sick, and harm the cartels, then they would just legalize it. It virtually aids the cartels makin the demand for drugs acceptable but the purchase and use still illegal. Ever feel like your a rat in a maze?
#31 – sick of it all: You’re comment was priceless, thank you.
#43 – Mark – Best one yet, thank you.
#43 Mark,
Very well said. You need to submit that to all of the news media outlets and see if you get any takers. You might also think of making it an “I Report”. Nice work.
That’s the funniest thing I’ve seen regarding cannabis in a long time!
Hey Jerry # 78:
How do I go about sending this video to news media outlets when I get this on “NBC’s Contact Us” page:
“Finally, NBC cannot accept, consider or pay for any unsolicited creative ideas or materials. If you send something anyway, you waive any claims with respect to your submission. So why send it?”
Wow I am proud to live in RI! I hope Sarah Palin really isn’t moving here though.
Anybody know When is HR 2943 supposed to be voted on???
#64 BGD,
Thanks for the clarification and yes, I have balls!!! No timidity here!!! Laughing out loud! Sorry it took so long to post this, I have been out of town visiting my teenage children. One of whom is bipolar and is easily angered. I know how much cannabis can help to calm him down, but my hands are tied until Texas stands up for patients. This is much more important than people realize. Got two new green polo shirts and alternate them and have gotten a lot of people asking me why I always wear green. It seems to be working!!! Last I heard, Texas already has 75% in favor of use for medical purposes, only we need to get it on the ballot. Great Idea, Everyone wearing Green until all 50 states approve!!! Its my favorite color anyways Laugh Out Loud!!!
thats what they should do, let the states decide and then the states should take it by vote.
83 HooterJack, Activist [TX-GD]
Very happy to see it’s working for you. It works for me in California…but…it’s all pretty easy in Cal.
We in California did with an Inituitive H.S.11362.5.
Compassionate Use Act.
Stand by for next post 09.01.09
83 HooterJack, Activists [TX-GD]
The People of Texas need a referendum. Get the signatures and ram rod it through your legislature.
dude, the US would save so much money if they would just legalize marijuana . And most of the people who think marijuana is just a terrible drug, haven’t even done it before. so how do they know for sure? If you’ve never experienced it, then dont judge it. Its not like you can over-dose on marijuana and i happen to know that tobacco is more harmful to your lungs then marijuana. and did you know that one bundle of marijuana can produce as much as paper as one acre of trees? marijuana isn’t just a drug, it is a natural resource we should use more then what we do. marijuana isn’t an addictive drug, you can’t have withdraws, and to top it all off, it makes you feel good(: so basically, what I’m saying is…
BREAK IT DOWN, ROLL IT UP, LIGHT UP, AND GET HIGH!!!!!!!
~Sarah
P.S. If you just totally disagree with me, and want to share your oppinion, e-mail me at..
sju_a_bay_bay@yahoo.com ORRRRR
Message me on myspace…
Myspace.com/sarahjessicaunroe
To those who think polls are invalid because you personally were not interviewed: take a basic statistics class. Jeez.
To those who think polls are invalid because you personally were not interviewed: take a basic statistics class. Jeez.
i couldnt agree more with mike H on the 2 comment left i have never been that question whether i use or not nor have i and i knock on hard woodfor this one i have never had possesion charge so how does the goverment get these numbers, im not scared of to admit this i feel no guilt what so ever just wish that my job wasnt in on the line, because of something i do when im off work
74 JOHNNYbGOOD
IS ANYONE INTERESTED IN STARTING A NEW PARTY? WOULD THE INDIVIDUALIST PARTY RAISE YOPUR CURIOSITY.