Pubdate: Sat, 7 Aug 2010 Source: DrugSense Blog Website: http://drugsense.org/blog/ LETTER OF THE WEEK FACE THE FACTS ON MARIJUANA As a representative of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, the primary organization working to reduce the negative impact that both drug abuse and drug policies have on young people and students, I couldn't disagree more with the statements made by Lyndon E. Lafferty ("Don't let the marijuana myth live on," July 25). Claiming that more teens are in treatment for marijuana than any other drug is a distortion. They aren't there because they think they have a problem. They are placed into treatment because they have been arrested for marijuana possession and given an ultimatum. Getting arrested and thrown into the criminal justice system is the biggest problem marijuana has caused many of these young people. I saw this firsthand during my time as a substance abuse counselor with teens. Mr. Lafferty conveniently leaves out an important fact: Marijuana prohibition makes it easier for young people to buy the drug in their schools. You don't see kids selling six packs of beer or cartons of cigarettes in the hallways; you see them selling marijuana. That's because it's unregulated, uncontrolled and highly lucrative. According to the Monitoring the Future Survey, more 10th graders now smoke pot than cigarettes. When more youth are using a drug that is illegal than a drug that is tightly regulated and highly taxed, it's time to admit that marijuana prohibition doesn't work. I hope California voters will vote "yes" on Proposition 19. Jonathan Perri Associate Director Students for Sensible Drug Policy Pubdate: Thu, 29 Jul 2010 Source: Times-Herald, The (Vallejo, CA) Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n590/a03.html - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake