When should a kid be allowed to smoke?

[Yaotzin]

This is a question that has been bugging me all day! What do you think is the "appropriate" age for a "youngster" to start smoking the sweet leaf? I've met/heard people who have let their children start smoking as early as the age of 10. I personally believe that around the age of 13 is ok. at that age a child is aware of the legal issues of , at least enough to know that he/she would not want to get caught by "the law". any younger i believe the child may be a little to immature to consume . and also they may be a little "loud" about the fact that themselves and their family smoke. bringing you much un-needed attention. of course this is only my opinion. the plant is not that detrimental or addictive. it's more of a culture vibe, to me at least. you either like it and everything that comes with it or you dont really care for it that much. a child would... well, im not sure how a child would respond to being introduced to , which is why im asking you. lol. hopefully u can help me with your opinions. thnx. p.s. i know i just dragg on and on and on but that's what i do when im high

[all_toked_up]

I think that it all depends on the child. which also depends on how they are raised. what i mean is that i have seen very mature 13 year olds and very immature 13 year olds. so i think their maturity level would have alot to do with it. But if a child was raised around it for most of their life maby they could be ready at a younger age like 10.

I was at a festival this weekend and there was a family camping across from me and my friends. this family had a young girl who had to be around age 8- 10. i did not see the girl smoking or anything but she was around everyone who was smoking and doing various other drugs. I was kind of thinking about it while i was there. there are several people tripping and rolling around this young child but i'm guessing this isnt the girls first festival either. so i dont know in her case by the time she is 13 I'd say she would be ready.

[spicoli]

bad idea, imo. i surely wouldn't provide my kids with pot...they can choose to do so when they move out, as far as i'm concerned. i just couldn't imagine doing that with my kid. as an adult, it's different to me. but 13? i dunno. may 17 or 18...or not. i'll see when i get there with mine.

[HCL]

I say whenever you think your kid is ready. There shouldn't be an age limit on when you should show them or introduce the herb to them, but when they are mature enough to understand, then I say go for it. I have a friend who just graduated high school and he smoked out his brother when he was only in 4th or 5th grade. I thought it was pretty fucked up at first, but this kid has continually kept his grades up and has never blurted anything out to the "wrong people". So really, it all depends on if you think your kid is ready to handle what comes with smoking weed - the taste, the high, the possible troubles, etc.

[giftedunlimited]

18.

[Bad dog]

No way. I won't let my kids get anywhere near drugs until they are grown up and by then they should hopefully not want to have anything to do with them.

I blame the parents for allowing their kids enough freedom to go astray.
There really is so much potential to enjoy childhood without any need to do drugs.

[pacman]

I agree with alltokedup. Based on maturity level that is. I think it all depends on maturity, grades in school, and the people said kid is hanging out with. But I don't think I would let me kid smoke before the age of 14.

[HCL]

Originally Posted by Bad dog

No way. I won't let my kids get anywhere near drugs until they are grown up and by then they should hopefully not want to have anything to do with them.

I blame the parents for allowing their kids enough freedom to go astray.
There really is so much potential to enjoy childhood without any need to do drugs.

What's your reasoning on this? I mean, under your name it says you're addicted to marijuana and you're visiting a marijuana forum, so it's clear you smoke weed.

So what's wrong with your children smoking weed as teenagers or adults? If you really think it's that bad and don't want them smoking weed as kids/teenagers (and hope that they don't want anything to do with them as adults), then how about you start leading by example and quit the smoking? As a teenager myself, the most tempting thing is to do something you might want to do but forbidden to do by your parents (ala weed in your case) AND seeing/knowing your parent doing that same thing. It's a double standard that a lot of kids see fit to disobey. So set the example and quit the herb if you're that worried.

And for the second bolded sentence, I will openly and readily admit that marijuana helped my social life in so many ways. It was something I could relate with to other people when I moved and didn't know anybody in Oregon. My life is great because of the herb and I've never even considered thinking about what my life would be like without it. My childhood was fun and it's understanding to not want your kids to smoke then, but as a teenager, it made my life extremely more enjoyable.

[bud kid]

my mother showed my marijuana and ive smoked with her many times. she incourages my plant and gets me the best bud. she is 51

p.s im 14

[OldMan&TheWeed]

As the father of two teen-aged boys I can tell you that condoning underage mj use is a place I would never go. I consider weed analogous to alcohol. If they are too young to drink with, they're too young to smoke with. Just as a parent would never encourage underage drinking, so should a parent not encourage minors they're responsible for to use pot. On top of that comes the social taboo enforced by our justice system which holds a parent who smoke weed with his kids on par with parents who shop-lift with their children or who sexually molest them.

I think HCL makes a valid point when he says,

Originally Posted by HCL

If you really think it's that bad and don't want them smoking weed as kids/teenagers (and hope that they don't want anything to do with them as adults), then how about you start leading by example and quit the smoking?

Leading by example is a valid way to deal with this issue. But just as responsible drinking can be taught to teen-agers, so I believe responsible mj use can be taught.

My older teen-aged children know we smoke, but they also know it is not a lifestyle. It does not define us. We don't smoke every day, and sometime go months at a time without lighting up. They have NEVER been around us when we've smoked or we were high. The small quantity of weed we have is kept locked in a safe where our children could NEVER have access to it. My wife doesn’t even know the combination. If I die she'll be SOL. In short we advocate NORML's Principles of Responsible Cannabis Use, which read:

I. Adults Only
Cannabis consumption is for adults only. It is irresponsible to provide cannabis to children.

Many things and activities are suitable for young people, but others absolutely are not. Children do not drive cars, enter into contracts, or marry, and they must not use drugs. As it is unrealistic to demand lifetime abstinence from cars, contracts and marriage, however, it is unrealistic to expect lifetime abstinence from all intoxicants, including alcohol. Rather, our expectation and hope for young people is that they grow up to be responsible adults. Our obligation to them is to demonstrate what that means.

II. No Driving
The responsible cannabis consumer does not operate a motor vehicle or other dangerous machinery while impaired by cannabis, nor (like other responsible citizens) while impaired by any other substance or condition, including some medicines and fatigue.

Although cannabis is said by most experts to be safer than alcohol and many prescription drugs with motorists, responsible cannabis consumers never operate motor vehicles in an impaired condition. Public safety demands not only that impaired drivers be taken off the road, but that objective measures of impairment be developed and used, rather than chemical testing.

III. Set and Setting
The responsible cannabis user will carefully consider his/her set and setting, regulating use accordingly.

"Set" refers to the consumer's values, attitudes, experience and personality, and "setting" means the consumer's physical and social circumstances. The responsible cannabis consumer will be vigilant as to conditions -- time, place, mood, etc. -- and does not hesitate to say "no" when those conditions are not conducive to a safe, pleasant and/or productive experience.

IV. Resist Abuse
Use of cannabis, to the extent that it impairs health, personal development or achievement, is abuse, to be resisted by responsible cannabis users.

Abuse means harm. Some cannabis use is harmful; most is not. That which is harmful should be discouraged; that which is not need not be.

Wars have been waged in the name of eradicating "drug abuse", but instead of focusing on abuse, enforcement measures have been diluted by targeting all drug use, whether abusive or not. If cannabis abuse is to be targeted, it is essential that clear standards be developed to identify it.

V. Respect Rights of Others
The responsible cannabis user does not violate the rights of others, observes accepted standards of courtesy and public propriety, and respects the preferences of those who wish to avoid cannabis entirely.

No one may violate the rights of others, and no substance use excuses any such violation. Regardless of the legal status of cannabis, responsible users will adhere to emerging tobacco smoking protocols in public and private places.

Adopted by the NORML Board of Directors
February 3, 1996
Washington, DC

[Dezzy]

Your a fuckin idiot if you think it is ok for a child to start using marijuana at the age of 13 because they kind of understand the legal issues dealing with marijuana. When your 13 youre still a kid and have alot better things to do then sit there and get high.

I dont think anybody should starting smoking weed until theyre 18 because then they are responsible for theyre decisions.

[SpankyMcLankey]

This thread is way too fucked up for me to participate in.

No I don't think any kid should smoke before the age of 17+.

[HCL]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

Your a fuckin idiot if you think it is ok for a child to start using marijuana at the age of 13 because they kind of understand the legal issues dealing with marijuana. When your 13 youre still a kid and have alot better things to do then sit there and get high.

I dont think anybody should starting smoking weed until theyre 18 because then they are responsible for theyre decisions.

I'm 16 (17 in a few months) and I act more mature than a lot more people here. I also have a 3.6 GPA, been accepted to the Art Institute of O.C. and have many goals I'm looking forward to accomplish. So tell me I'm not mature or responsible enough to make my own decisions.

[testingdrugs]

When ever they want. Think about it. If you ground them, they will hold quick resentments, etc. In the end they are going to SMOKE no matter what you or I say to our kids.

[gweetar]

I say stick a toke in the kid's hand as soon as he can crawl. Why not earlier? Strain the peas and fill the bowl; Nuthin' puts your crying baby to sleep in the middle of the night like a hard toke. Then, watch him chow down on the Gerber...