Washington State Heath Secretary Worries About Anti-Pot Efforts - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

Washington State Heath Secretary Worries About Anti-Pot Efforts For Teens

Posted: Updated:

SEATTLE (AP) - Washington state's top health official says she's worried that a new marijuana law may make teen smoking prevention efforts more difficult.
    
High school students who participated in a statewide survey say they are twice as likely to smoke marijuana as cigarettes.
    
Health Secretary Mary Selecky says she's concerned that marijuana prevention efforts aren't ready to ramp up in response to the new state law.
    
She says that "as the perception of harm goes down, use goes up."
    
More than half of 10th graders said in the survey that it's easy to get marijuana and about 19 percent said they smoked marijuana within 30 days of the survey. About 27 percent of 12th graders said they smoked pot.
    
More than 200,000 youth took the voluntary and anonymous survey in October.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

  • Top Stories from KHQTop Stories

  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:27 AM EDT2013-05-21 06:27:18 GMT
    KHQ.COM - The American Red Cross has advised the best way you can help the people of Moore, Oklahoma is by donating. 

     
    KHQ.COM - The American Red Cross has advised the best way you can help the people of Moore, Oklahoma is by donating. You can do so by clicking HERE, or by texting REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10

  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:14 AM EDT2013-05-21 06:14:39 GMT
    UPDATE: NBC News is reporting that the Oklahoma City Medical Examiner has confirmed at least 51  deaths following a destructive tornado in the town of Moore.

    UPDATE: A monstrous tornado at least a half-mile wide roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods and destroying an elementary school with a direct blow as children and teachers huddled against winds up to 200 mph. At least 51 people were killed, and officials said the death toll was expected to rise.

  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:19 AM EDT2013-05-21 05:19:50 GMT
    WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama has declared a major disaster in Oklahoma.
    WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama has declared a major disaster in Oklahoma as the state recovers from a massive tornado that ripped through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, killing at least 51 people and flattening entire neighborhoods.
    •