Marijuana Use by Americans Strongest in West, Lowest in South

A new survey suggests whether you smoke pot might depend on what part of the United States you live in. According to a federal government report that also examined people's beliefs about the risk of harms associated with the drug, marijuana use by Americans is highest in the West and lowest in the South. According to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, among people 12 and older, rates of marijuana use in the past month were close to 10 percent in the West and slightly over 6 percent in the South. UPI reports that even among states, there were significant differences in marijuana use and whether people believed regular pot use was risky. For example, current marijuana use ranged from a low of almost 4 percent in one region in the southernmost part of Texas, to a high of 16 percent in San Francisco.