Over half of American adults have tried marijuana: survey

More than half of American adults have tried smoking weed at some point in their lives, according to a new survey.

According to the researchers at The Marist Institute for Public Opinion in the US, most Americans are not especially worried about marijuana use among the youth.

They are just as concerned about children experimenting with cigarettes, alcohol and sex.

While marijuana use by their children tops the list of parents' concerns, they are just as apprehensive about other risky behaviours.

Researchers conducted telephonic interviews of 1,122 adults residing in the US, who were selected to ensure that each region was represented in proportion to its population.

Americans' opinions about marijuana are shaped by their experience with it, researcher said.
Their relationships and lifestyle are reinforced by these experiences.

A majority of Americans, 52 per cent, said they have tried marijuana at some point in their lives, and this experience makes a difference.

People who have tried or use marijuana are more likely to worry children will smoke cigarettes, according to the survey.

Marijuana tops the list of concerns for Americans who have never tried marijuana.

When it comes to marijuana use for medical reasons, Americans are much more accepting.

Still, there is debate about whether or not medicinal marijuana should be prescribed to children, if it were legal.

Regardless of whether marijuana is consumed for recreational purposes or for medical treatment, those who have either tried marijuana or currently consume it are more accepting of the use of the drug than those who have not had experience with marijuana.

A majority of Americans think marijuana use is socially acceptable. Americans are more likely to think that their close friends would find their marijuana use acceptable than their spouse, partner, significant other, their children, or their parents.

However, Americans are more likely to think their loved ones would approve of their marijuana use if it were for a medical reason.

Many Americans, though, do not think using marijuana to ease pregnancy symptoms is acceptable.

On the question of respectability, majority of the respondents said that their level of respect for their doctor, religious leader or child's teacher would not be altered.

However, over seven in 10 Americans sadi they would lose respect for parents who used marijuana in front of their kids.

A slim majority of Americans consider marijuana use to be a health risk. However, many do not think regular use of marijuana is as great of a health risk as the regular use of tobacco, alcohol, or the use of a doctor's prescription for opioids.