By S.A.J.
Murray, KY – The national survey, which questioned more than 46 thousand students, revealed eighth, tenth, and 12 graders are all smoking more pot. Donna Weisenhahn with Bluegrass Prevention says specific figures for Kentucky are due out in January. She worries they'll show abuse has spread since 2008, when the last survey was done.
"At that point 17 percent of tenth graders were using and five percent of eighth graders so if it's creeping down if it's going that's a huge concern," said Weisenhahn.
The prevention counselor says data indicates accessing pot is almost as easy as acquiring alcohol. Given such prominence, Wiesenhahn says some youth won't condemn marijuana use.
"And they said I'll work with you on alcohol, I'll work with you on tobacco, I'll work with you on these things, but not marijuana because people in my family have used it for a long time and I'm just not ready to deal with that," said Weisenhahn.
Weisenhahn believes it's important to focus the discussion on the damage marijuana does to developing brains. She believes the adverse health affects of pot have been minimized.
"Marijuana certainly is a drug as every drug, as every drug, affects the brain, marijuana doesn't get a by," said Weisenhahn.