Pubdate: Mon, 10 Jan 2005 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2005 The Province Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Author: Jack Aubry, CanWest News Service Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) AGE CURBS MAKE MARIJUANA EASIER TO BUY THAN CIGARETTES Teens Say Smoking Is More Of A Health Risk OTTAWA -- Marijuana is perceived as easier to access than cigarettes on Canadian school grounds, a Health Canada report on teenagers shows. The easier access to pot is due to the legal age limit for smoking cigarettes and the fact that you have to buy cigarettes through outlets, such as corner stores. The report also states that marijuana is perceived among teens to be less harmful than cigarettes because of the effective messages on the health effects of cigarettes and second-hand smoke. Teens "generally felt that the only exposure they had received on issues dealing with marijuana were on legalization or the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes," said the report. It said the teens had a genuine sense that those who were marijuana smokers do not know the adverse effects of the substance "aside from killing brain cells or making users lazy" and do not understand the health reasons why they should stop smoking it. The report is being released as the federal government promises to move on legislation before the House of Commons that will decriminalize marijuana. A poll released in November last year found Canadians are smoking marijuana more than ever before and that almost 30 per cent of 15- to 17-year-olds and 47 per cent of 18- and 19-year-olds had used marijuana in the past year. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin