Pot No Longer Focus of Anti-Drug Campaigns

CBS News Examination Finds Prescription Drugs Are Seen as Bigger Threat Than Marijuana by Government, Non-Profit Groups

(CBS)  This story was written by Elizabeth Sprague as part of a new CBSNews.com special report on the evolving debate over marijuana legalization in the U.S. Click here for more of the series, Marijuana Nation: The New War Over Weed.

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Over the last several years, without many people realizing it, the U.S. government has changed the focus of its anti-drug efforts, deemphasizing marijuana in favor of prescription drugs.

A CBS News survey of government and nonprofit anti-drug groups has found a retreat from anti-marijuana campaigns over the past several years as prescription and over the counter drug abuse has grown amongst teens.

In fact, the Partnership for a Drug Free America, the nation's largest creator of anti-drug messages, hasn't produced a single anti-marijuana public service advertisement since 2005.

The change comes as a result of the decline in marijuana use amongst teens, and growing worry over the abuse of prescription drugs. Marijuana use has been declining for 10 years and past-month use is down 25 percent since 2001 according to the largest tracking study in the U.S., "Monitoring the Future" by the University of Michigan.

Meanwhile prescription drug abuse has held steady over the past five years according to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, with nearly one in five teens (19 percent) abusing prescription medications to get high.

"There is a new threat in town," Robert Dennisoton of the Office of National Drug Control Policy said.

The concern about pills has been highlighted by a string of high profile deaths like that of Heath Ledger, Anna Nicole Smith, and possibly Michael Jackson -- all tied to the abuse of legal prescription drugs.

In an effort to spread awareness about the dangers of the misuse of prescription drugs, the Partnership for a Drug-Free America even refers to young people today as "Generation Rx" in TV advertisements that point to the dangers of misuse of those drugs.

"For this generation, high prevalence of prescription drug abuse was kicking in… there was a dawning, and a number of us began to feel that we need to do something about it," said Sean Clark, executive vice president with the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy, the government's drug policy wing, now dedicates all of its campaign resources directed at parents - some $14 million dollars since 2008 - to the abuse of prescription and over the counter drugs.

"The issue of prescription drug abuse, which the Office of National Drug Control Policy has been shouting about from the rooftops, it is a significant problem in this country," National Drug Control Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske said on "The Early Show" last week.

Advocates for marijuana legalization argue that the shift from anti-marijuana to anti-pill messages has come at least in large part because prescription and over the counter medicines are far more deadly than marijuana.

"While it is the most widely used illicit drug, it is much less dangerous than prescription drugs," said Bruce Mirken of the Marijuana Policy Project, a group that supports marijuana legalization.

"The government is talking about the dangers of acetaminophen - this stuff is given out like candy and can kill," he said. "When you put it in that context, marijuana almost looks benign."

The addictiveness of marijuana - or lack thereof - compared to other drugs is also cited by supporters.

"The bottom line is the Opiates and Stimulates are much more addictive than marijuana, those that try it are likely to return to them after first use." said Mitch Earleywine, associate professor of psychology at the State University of New York. "Maybe 9 percent of marijuana users develop problems but 14-23 percent of prescription drug abusers end up saying can't quit or report withdrawal when they want to stop."

Advocates also point to recently-released data obtained by the Web site ProCon.org which indicates that prescription drugs are responsible for far more deaths than marijuana.

WATCH:. A walk down memory lane with a look at anti-drug PSAs through the years.

PHOTOS: Graphs Showing Drug Use Statistics and Trends.

The report compared data on deaths due to marijuana with FDA-approved medications. It found that the approved drugs -- which included anti-psychotics, Attention Deficit Disorder medications, painkillers and other prescription drugs -- were suspected as the primary cause of 10,008 deaths and as a secondary cause in 1,679 more.

Marijuana, on the other hand, was the primary suspect in zero deaths and a suspected secondary factor in 279 deaths.

Another report recently issued by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement indicated that prescription drugs caused more deaths than illicit drugs - even including alcohol-related automobile accidents. Prescription drugs were the cause of more than 25 percent of drug related deaths in the state. Marijuana was not listed as a cause of death last year in Florida.

There are now more new abusers of prescription drugs each year than there are abusers of marijuana, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from the Department of Health and Human Services. About 2.15 million people started using prescription pain relievers to get high in 2007, while 2.09 million people started using marijuana that year.

[1966-1967]

I smoked cigarettes from the time I was 12 to 32 and almost lost my life. I had stents put in my heart to clear blocks of 90% & up! I've watched my family and friends suffer and die from lung cancer and heart disease from tobacco use. I've also seen lives destroyed from alcohol and pain pill abuse,but of all the folks that just smoke dope, no cancers,no death,no theft,no nothing! I lost a dear friend last year to overdose of pain killers! We smoked pot together for years, and raised kids along the way and all was good! He got into meth & coke & pills & it killed him! If I had kept on smoking cigs I would have died too! The bad dope is out there and it,s not pot! The Red Man smoked it in the peace pipe many moons ago and they never were a threat to society! Let's get the bad drugs off the street that are killing people and the people that are killing people and we might just survive this crazy world!

[jeff76er]

First, I would like to say that I am not some deadbeat who just wants to get stoned. Rather, I am a 32 year old, tax paying, successful small business owner, who is also a very happily married father of two.

As a citizen of the greatest country in the world, and huge supporter of a "Free America", where as a law abiding citizen I can supposedly do as I please, as long as it is not harmful to others, I feel that the "War on Drugs" has reached the level of ridiculous political posturing and nothing more.

I prefer being able to relieve my back pain and chronic indegestion by using a natural substance such as marijuana, rather than have to feel like I am a slave to pills. That is the medicinal side of things. On the pure pleasure side of the argument, I may enjoy a glass of wine from time to time, but outside of that, especially as I grow older, I prefer the escape of the relaxing effect of the "high", as opposed to the sloppy and unsafe drunken effects of alcohol. I do not smoke cigarettes or cigars. I do not use other drugs either, so I also take issue to the "gateway drug" assumptions. I simply would like my freedom, as a responsible American adult, to put into my body what I choose, without the the fear of incarceration for committing a victimless crime.

Of all of the promises made by Obama during his campaign, none of them matter more to me, than the fact that he is clearly a very smart man, that leads us with a "common sense" approach. Such a drastic change from the last administration is a very welcome change.

I ask you today, Mr. President, to use a bit more common sense, and figure out a way to do the following:

1. Please stop the prosecution against honest, hard working Americans for victimless crimes such as possessing, using and or growing small amounts of marijuana.

2. Let our American farmers grow, and sell, various types of medicinal and recreational marijuana to companies such as Pfizer and Marlboro and other businesses.

3. Regulate the industry, to ensure that Americans are only using safe and untampered product.

4. Allow for dispensaries to sell their products to clients who are over
21 years of age.

5. TAX IT! TAX IT! TAX IT!

Taking responsible steps such as these will create thousands of jobs, and billions in revenue. Also, the easiset way to put drug cartels out of business is to completely undermine and take away their industry. No one will ever buy from a drug dealer, if they can go into a convenience store and purchase marijuana like they can now with cigarettes or beer.

It is time to start being responsible adults, and to stop with the ridiculous "devil weed" rhetoric.

The American public are a group of well educated, responsible people. It is high time to let them act as such.

[Robert4229]

For parents, whether your teen is on pot, cocaine, H, sniffing glue, alcohol...whatever, I just wrote an article "23 Tell-Tale Signs Of Teen Drug Involvement." It's free to you on the FAMILY JOURNAL site at: http://www.familyjournal1.blogspot.com/ This was an interesting article; can I put it on my FAMILY JOURNAL site? Robert

[omnibus66]

When you contact your Senator/Representative to urge him/her to legalize the private use of marijuana, please, please also demand to outlaw advertising prescription drugs on TV. The drug companies have learned that Americans are largely hypochondriacs and are making billions hawking dangerous drugs on TV.

Your doctor should know what drugs are available, and if he/she is competent, will prescribe them appropriately for your particular situation. It is sheer nonsense for anyone to go to their doctor with a list of drugs seen on TV to ask "Is this right for me?".

But I fear that as long as Big Pharma keeps shoveling hundreds of millions to Congress through their lobbyists, nothing will change.

[AB390]

Tell your legislators in Sacramento to legalize, tax, and regulate marijuana. Visit http://yes390.org

[wisenowl]

Cant we just vote on it?

[troglobyte]

There are users and there are abusers, don't condemn the users for the acts of the abusers. People drink on weekends, that does not mean they are alchoholics. It is the same with those who use other drugs. Weed should be legislated exactly like alchohol.

Edit....

[troglobyte]

There are users and there a abusers, don't condemn the users for the acts of the abusers. People drink on weekends, that does not mean they are alchoholics. It is the same with those who use other drugs. Weed should be legislated exactly like alchohol.

[No_More_Neocons]

Alcohol was legalized after the Great Depression to raise money and stop crime; during this depression hopefully we'll do the same thing with marijuana. We cannot forget our history. Criminals like Al Capone and organized crime, dangerous speak easys, tax evasion, international waters issues, Canadian and Mexican alcohol imports, rum runners and boot legers were stopped overnight with the legalization of alcohol.

Correction: No one in history has ever died from M.J. Don

[Sober_or_Free]

$50 an ounce tax sounds fair, as long it taxes beer, wine, whiskey and all alcohol $50 an ounce. Who do these brain-dead drunks think they are?
This is a plant that grows from the dirt that god put here. This is pure idiocy.
We will be a sober nation, that means all alcohol producers are drug dealers now if we are truly "Saving the Children" . Anyone opposed to "Full Legalization" of marijuana better have proof of a lifetime of sobriety. That means if you ever got drunk you are a "druggy" and should be put in prison. Otherwise we are listening to a bunch of drunken idiotic hypocrites.
Time to end this drunk insanity. America will be sober or it will be free. No more drunken leaders!!!

[Chris44pot]

A last but higly important postscript:please do not forget that heavy barbituates in the 1960's were over perscribed to the tens of thousands of mothers forced to experience the Viet Nam War as management of thier anguish who were forced into conscription and training camps,often death camps for many and not just from pugel sticks before they would be free adults,while others fought for thier freedom at the cost of left over liberty for the rest.Also,neithr 04 presidentials mentioned that Viet Nam was fought not to win a war-but TO ENGAGE AN ENEMY,which together with the loss or dissaperence of the World Trade centers subterrianian international currency bank vaults brings us to the evil place we currently find civilzation.

[Chris44pot]

This is in fact a second post on this,though cannabis should not,except,at medicinal dispensary,be EVER sold by the GRAM-Coffee,which smoked or drank recreationally is most LIKE should be sold as Coffee by the POUND,preferablly in a sealed can(Alcoa are you there?stop selling aluminium waste for false medicine and fluride water source)or sell me the leaf at less cost than I would pay(180 commercialN.Y.180 high quality bud W.A.)how about a dollar an oz.as most financially able would neither smoke shaug' or leaf of the high quality cannabis!And please use a picture of musicians as Louis Armstrong or Jimi Hendrix!who risked all to better engage many and dont forget Jimi's tired humor after 100 same interview inquries"Just don't let any body sell you any bad stuff!"

[Chris44pot]

This is in fact a second post on this,though cannabis should not,except,at medicinal dispensary,be EVER sold by the GRAM-Coffee,which smoked or drank recreationally is most LIKE should be sold as Coffee by the POUND,preferablly in a sealed can(Alcoa are you there?stop selling aluminium waste for false medicine and fluride water source)or sell me the leaf at less cost than I would pay(180 commercialN.Y.180 high quality bud W.A.)how about a dollar an oz.as most financially able would neither smoke shaug' or leaf of the high quality cannabis!And please use a picture of musicians as Louis Armstrong or Jimi Hendrix!who risked all to better engage many and dont forget Jimi's tired humor after 100 same interview inquries"Just don't let any body sell you any bad stuff!"

[earthling76]

Source: www.examiner.com

Yesterday, Congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) introduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives to eliminate all federal penalties for marijuana possession. This came only one week after he also introduced a bill to protect medical marijuana patients.

The Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2009 would eliminate the threat of federal arrest and prison for the possession of up to 3.5 ounces of marijuana and the not-for-profit transfer of an ounce of marijuana; nationwide!

What's more, last week Congressman Frank introduced the Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act, which would allow states to protect medical marijuana patients from arrest and jail without federal interference, as well as allow pharmacies to dispense marijuana to patients with a doctor's recommendation. You can take action on this bill here,....... https://secure2.convio.net/mpp/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=339

[sugar_maple]

Count me in as a productive American citizen who uses marijuana occasionally. I have many friends who are professionals who use marijuana and have great jobs.

I also pay taxes, so stop wasting my money on pursuing individuals who use cannabis.


***How about we talk about INDUSTRIAL HEMP and why the hell that is illegal still in the country?!

[incog-nito]

Uh oh. Big Pharma is not going to like this news.

[sugar_maple]

It is time for the politicians to listen to the public and not the special interest groups such as POLICE, DEA, LAWYERS, CORPORATIONS (alcohol, pharmaceutical, cotton and timber).

All of those special interests will lose if cannabis is legalized.

BUT legalizing cannabis will allow farmers to grow hemp for industrial purposes, and will be able to produce marijuana for medicinal, therapeutic, and recreational purposes. The in return will create more jobs and an extra revenue source for state and local governments.

How can people view marijuana as controlled the way it is right now? Legalization will regulate and control it as a commodity.

I also consider myself a white and conservative voter. So you "neo-cons" can throw your hands up now.

[AttentionDeficit]

I meant it amuses me when OTHERS use pot to take a shot at "libs"

[rrozsa]

And by the same token, people assume that those who are staunchly against it must be conservatives. They do not speak for me or other conservatives. I am wholeheartedly in favor of legalization, even though I'm just about as conservative as you can get in some other areas.

[earthling76]

I don't think I fit into either category. Most people would say I am a liberal but I support second amendment rights which is stereotypical of conservatives. We need to accept that not everyone will agree with everything we believe and in most cases that will not change. If we can do that then maybe we would not be so hatefully divided as a nation. On the issue of ending cannabis prohibition, I will stand next to you no matter who you are as a person. I believe its that important.

[AttentionDeficit]

It amuses me to use pot to take a shot at "libs". I am a conservative, and most I know are of the same political orientation. Yet, we overwhemingly support legalization.