The study did not look into the behavior of young White females.

Black girls who smoke pot are far more likely to take sexual risks and to contract sexually transmitted diseases than non-weed-smokers, according to a new study that examines the behavior of young African-American females. Girls who took marijuana had significantly higher rates of STDs than non-marijuana users (32 percent compared to 23 percent), Emory University researchers found after studying marijuana use and self-reported sexual behavior of 439 sexually active African-American females between the ages of 15 and 21. Marijuana users also had more sex partners, riskier sex partners, including a partner just released from jail, and more recent episodes of engaging in vaginal sex, compared to those who did not use marijuana, the study found. “While adolescent African-American females remain a high-risk group for STDs, little research has examined their marijuana use, sexual behaviors and incidence of STD infection,” said study co-author Ralph DiClemente, professor of public health at Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health. “Although no differences in condom use were identified between marijuana users and non-users, results suggest that marijuana users are engaging in sexual acts with riskier partners and under riskier circumstances, and had higher rates of STDs,” DiClemente said. DiClemente and his team did not compare the behavior of Black girls’ using marijuana against White girls or girls of other ethnic groups. However, they recommend STD- and HIV-intervention programs designed for adolescent African-American females that promote condom use as well as emphasize the risks of drug use and STD and HIV infection. These findings are being presented at the International AIDS Conference meeting now in Mexico City.