Pubdate: Thu, 10 Jul 2014
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)
Copyright: 2014 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc
Contact:  http://www.philly.com/inquirer/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/340
Page: A10

POT LEGALIZATION CRITICIZED IN WHITE HOUSE REPORT

WASHINGTON- A day after Washington state joined Colorado in selling 
marijuana in retail outlets, the Obama administration Wednesday 
criticized drug legalization and warned that a declining perception 
of risk was leading more teens to smoke pot.

In a report to Congress, the White House drug czar's office said it 
wanted to spend $25 billion next year as part of a broad 
drug-fighting plan, including more on treatment for people addicted 
to heroin and prescription painkillers. It described the abuse of 
opioids as a national epidemic.

"We cannot leave people behind," said Michael Botticelli, the acting 
drug czar, who announced the administration's 2014 national strategy 
in a visit to Roanoke, Va.

The report urged Americans not to stigmatize those who are addicted 
to drugs but to make sure they were told of drug risks. "And we must 
seek to avoid oversimplified debates between the idea of a war on 
drugs and the notion of legalization as a panacea," the report said, 
calling it a "false choice."

Groups backing marijuana legalization criticized the plan. Mason 
Tvert, with the Marijuana Policy Project, said: "Legalizing and 
regulating marijuana is not a panacea, but it is sound policy."

Also, a study Wednesday concluded that total market demand for 
marijuana in Colorado was about 130 metric tons a year: 121 metric 
tons for residents, 9 metric tons for visitors. The figures, compiled 
by Colorado's Department of Revenue, are for both medical and 
recreational marijuana.

This article contains information from the Associated Press.

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