Shocking study: 8 million American women are closet pot smokers

The research was discussed by Matt Lauer on Wednesday’s Today show, during an interview with two psychologists involved in a study that showed 8 million women in the last year preferred the recreational choice of using marijuana over alcohol.

Images of the couch-potato, loser, blood-shot, hippie-type, dope-head stoner portrayed in the movies, just got a major challenge from a surprising source: women who are successful mothers, career oriented, and intelligent functional participants in society.

A report published on June 25, 2009, asks this question “Is pot the new pilates?”

Evidently, stoking up is alive and well in suburbia. The image conjures up rebellious teenage girls, but research shows that the majority are soccer moms and women young, old or middle aged, that are preferring to light up. These women are not the stereotypical pot-head. In fact, they could be anyone from the woman next door, or the lady standing next to you at Starbucks, or you kid’s teacher: to your dental hygienist.

The website, Chikii.com, surveyed hundreds of women nationwide between the ages of 25 and 60 years old. Out of that group, 52% admitted to using marijuana at least ten times a year. In addition, 27% smoked between one and seven times a week. And 78% of those women knew someone who got high on a regular basis.

"Marijuana is the magic in my life that helps me unwind, stay sane, and have more energy," says Sonia, a 24-year-old mother from Los Angeles. Working full-time as a restaurant manager leaves Sonia feeling stressed out and drained at the end of the day. She smokes once or twice daily to relax. "I have a stressful job, so it's something that helps me wind down so I don't take out my frustration on my husband or my child."

A September 27, 2009 report in Opposing Views uses research from New York State University sociologist Erich Goode, who documented the media's complicity in maintaining cannabis prohibition by propagating the following five myths:

1. Marijuana Use Is Associated With a Rise in Incidences of Schizophrenia

Not true, according to a ten year study done at the Keele University Medical School in Britain, which compared trends in marijuana use and incidences of schizophrenia in the United Kingdom from 1996 to 2005.

2. Marijuana Smoke Damages the Lungs Like Tobacco

Wrong, according to a team of New Zealand investigators writing in the European Respiratory Journal in August.

3. Cannabis Use Potentially Harms the Brain

Is that true? Not according to recent findings published this summer in the journal Neurotoxicology and Teratology.

4. Marijuana will lead to Hard Drug Use

To the contrary: statistical data indicating that the overwhelming majority of those who try pot never go on to use cocaine or heroin.

5. Government's Anti-Pot Ads have Discouraged Marijuana Use

Actually, investigators at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania found that many of the government's public-service announcements actually encouraged pot use.

The debate over decriminalizing the use of marijuana continues to accelerate. Thirteen states already provide legal access to cannibus for medicinal purposes. The economic argument to legalize and tax the use of pot is getting the attention of law makers.

According to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, or NORML, marijuana remains the fourth largest cash crop in America, in spite of the estimated $10 billion that law enforcement spends annually to attempt to outlaw the plant.

Now, we find out that the biggest myth of all may be the type of person who prefers to risk smoking pot over the legal option of drinking alcohol, because that profile now includes 8 million American women of all ages and from all walks of life.

***Copyright DelilahStarling 2009