Kids Selling Weed: Convictions Highest Level in a Decade

Kids Selling Weed As Young As 10

As marijuana mainstreams, the number of kids getting their hands on weed has risen to an all-time high. Especially in countries that lack the regulation needed.

In Canada, the number of children convicted of marijuana possession and intent to supply has surged, going from 132 in 2005 to 193 in 2014. This is the latest year for the data, meaning that the numbers are currently still going up.

However, the number of kid smokers who were convicted fell 61 percent between the years 2010 and 2014. These figures prove that even though more and more children are selling drugs, most of them are getting away with it.

This is creating an incredibly complex marijuana culture, where marijuana isn’t necessarily legal, but doesn’t have any repercussions.

In the USA

This trend, however, is not happening in the United States. In fact, it’s quite the opposite because of new found regulations.

After the legalization of medical marijuana in Colorado in 2012, the rise of adult smokers increased, while the number of child smokers decreased massively.

This is due to the regulated system that was created after legalization. In the United States, the percentage of kid smokers and marijuana users went down from 23 percent in 2005 to 20 percent in 2014.

Three percent of teen smokers stopped smoking two years after legalization and regulation. Coincidence? We think not.

It was also reported by a Colorado report that students under the age of 13 were not smoking more pot since legalization.

However, as more and more parents and adults are smoking, children are becoming more aware of marijuana.

Analyzed figures from the National Poison Data System show that between by 2013, the rate of exposure of marijuana to kids was up by 147.5 percent. It was also shown that exposure was more apparent in states where marijuana was not legalized.

Parents should be open and honest, to normalize how their children perceive marijuana.

Author of Weed The People and father of two, Bruce Barcott states:

“I wanted to talk with them about marijuana in a way that came from honesty and facts. The truth and not have to resort to some sort of scare tactic to keep them off pot.”

This honesty could help Barcott’s children understand how to use marijuana safely, without overdoing it.

The general normalization of the cannabis culture is making teens not so, “rebellious.” The idea of secretly smoking in your parent’s basement doesn’t seem as crazy if it’s legal and your grandma is using it for her arthritis. Domesticating cannabis is taking away the taboo and in turn making kids less likely to be stupid about pot.