Marijuana

More Americans are using marijuana, according to a new government report. About 8.4 percent of Americans ages 12 and older were current users of marijuana last year, up from 7.5 percent in 2013. The percentage of teens ages 12 to 17 who smoke, drink or use prescription narcotics nonmedically has fallen, HealthDay reports.

A study that tracks when college students first try drugs and alcohol finds June is the most popular month for initiating marijuana and alcohol use. Winter is the peak season for full-time college students to start using prescription drugs, such as stimulants and pain relievers, in non-medical ways.

Almost 6 percent of college students say they use marijuana daily or almost daily, the highest rate since 1980, a new study finds.

E-cigarettes are being used by more people to smoke marijuana or synthetic drugs, CNN reports. People use the devices to get high without police, parents or teachers knowing.

Marijuana businesses are increasingly using technology to grow, test, sell and deliver their product, according to CBS News.

Top headlines of the week from Friday, August 7- Thursday, August 13, 2015.

A national group representing state legislatures is calling on Congress to allow states to set their own policies on marijuana and hemp. The National Conference of State Legislatures urged the Obama Administration not to interfere with state marijuana and hemp policies.

Top headlines of the week from Friday, July 31- Thursday, August 6, 2015.

A branch of the Federal Reserve has turned down a request by a credit union that wants to serve the growing marijuana industry in Colorado. In response, the credit union filed a lawsuit against the Federal Reserve, demanding “equal access” to the financial system.

A growing number of medical marijuana users are choosing to use vaping devices rather than smoking the drug, Reuters reports. Some people believe vaporized marijuana is safer. Several states, including New York and Minnesota, do not allow people to smoke medical marijuana.

Oregon residents age 21 and older will be able to legally buy recreational marijuana starting on October 1, instead of late 2016 as had been expected, The Huffington Post reports.

A growing number of teens are smoking marijuana, a new study shows. The increase is greatest among black teens. Use of alcohol and cigarettes among this age group is declining, HealthDay reports.

A new Gallup poll finds 44 percent of American adults say they have tried marijuana. This is the largest percentage since Gallup began asking the question in 1969.

Some retirees are choosing to move to states where marijuana is legal, according to Reuters.

Providing broader access to medical marijuana through dispensaries may have the potential benefit of reducing prescription painkiller abuse, a new study suggests.

A new study finds marijuana use among young teens is on the decline, while disapproval of the drug among this age group is increasing. Marijuana use is also on the decline among teens ages 15 to 17.

Eight U.S. senators are calling on the federal government to facilitate research on the potential benefits of medical marijuana. The senators say the research is needed because millions of Americans are now eligible by state law to use the drug for medical purposes.

A study of why teens use marijuana finds almost one-third say they use the drug to alleviate boredom, HealthDay reports. Teens who use marijuana because they are bored are more likely to also use cocaine, the study found.

Viewing ads for medical marijuana may influence middle school students to use the drug, a new study suggests.

Recreational marijuana became legal in Oregon on July 1. People 21 and older can possess up to eight ounces of marijuana at home and an ounce of marijuana when away from home, NPR reports.

A review of 80 studies of medical marijuana concludes it may be useful for treating certain conditions, but the evidence is weak in supporting the drug’s use for many others. The researchers said any benefits of medical marijuana must be weighed against side effects.

A study conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found using marijuana and alcohol together impacts driving more than using either substance alone, Time reports.

Many marijuana growers in states that have legalized recreational or medical marijuana use pesticides, without any federal regulations, according to NPR.

Top headlines of the week from Friday, June 12- Thursday, June 18, 2015.

Marijuana “dabbing,” a potentially dangerous way of using the drug, is increasingly popular, a new study finds.