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. MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom