Marijuana users, first-time

The number of persons who use a drug for the first time in a given year is an important measurement because it presumably relates to the effectiveness of drug abuse education and prevention programs (although there are many other potential variables, of course). The chart New Users of Marijuana, 1965-2001 measures first-time users in thousands per year. The data is broken into three groups under age 18, age 18 and older, and all ages. 

From 1990 to 1996, the number of first-time marijuana users increased significantly (from 1.4 million users in 1990 to 2.6 million in 1996). However, since 1996, the annual number of new users has fallen to about 2.0 million in 1999. These numbers show a steady decline in the number of teenagers who are trying marijuana for the first time. 

An excellent example comes from marijuana use. Most marijuana smokers have to learn how to achieve the d-ASC we refer to as marijuana intoxication or being stoned. Typically, the first few times a person smokes marijuana, he feels an occasional isolated effect like tingling, but the overall pattern of his consciousness stays quite ordinary and he usually wonders why others make so much fuss about a drug that has so little effect, with the assistance of more experienced drug users, who suggest he focus his attention on certain kinds of happenings or try to have certain specified kinds of experiences, additional... 

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