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MARIJUANA REGULATION COMBATS TEEN USE

Deb Roberts, Executive Director of Alternatives for Youth/iTHRIVE is correct when she says marijuana "should not be available to youth under 21 years of age" ( "Marijuana negatively impacts teens," August 4 ).  As an outreach coordinator for NORML -- the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, I concur that teens shouldn't be consuming any mind-altering substances ( alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or otherwise ) at all, period.

Those are important, developmental years.

That said, I am inclined to challenge Ms.  Robert's argument that Colorado's recent change in marijuana laws has led to a proliferation of adolescent cannabis use.  She writes, "Colorado schools are reporting an alarming growth ( or 33.5 percent increase ) in drug-related problems." Yet, the latest Youth Risk Behavior Survey ( YRBS ) reported by the Center for Disease Control found that teen marijuana use has actually declined in Colorado.  In fact, Colorado adolescent consumption rates have even fallen below the national average.  This same study also found that, in the era of government regulated marijuana programs, availability on school grounds in Colorado went from 22.7 percent in 2009 to 17.2 percent in 2011, a 5 percent drop overall.

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