About one of every 11 residents in the Sacramento region smoked pot during the last month, a usage rate roughly 30 percent higher than the statewide average, according to a new federal study.
Local residents were more likely than the rest of the state to have a casual attitude toward pot usage. Just 29 percent of the region's residents saw "great risk" in smoking marijuana once a month, well below the statewide average of 37 percent.
By contrast, about three quarters of local residents saw "great risk" in regularly smoking tobacco.
The study found the highest pot usage rate in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, and the lowest rate in Los Angeles County. The Fresno area was the most likely to be worried about the health effects of pot usage; Sacramento residents were the least concerned.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration released the study Friday. It's based on interviews with about 200,000 people age 12 or older throughout the United States conducted between 2006 and 2008.
Updated to replace area with most marijuana usage as Santa Barbara and Ventura.
Marijuana use in past month, by region, 2006-2008
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.