Pubdate: Sat, 11 Jul 2015
Source: Tampa Tribune (FL)
Copyright: 2015 The Tribune Co.
Contact: http://tbo.com/list/news-opinion-letters/submit/
Website: http://tbo.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/446
Author: John G. Chase
Page: A12
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n370/a11.html

IT'S ABOUT THE FACTS

In response to "Giant joint riles some" (July 7): Excellent report by 
Mike Salinero. He quoted one "drugfree" leader, "When you promote 
drug legalization on a float in a parade, it can give a really bad 
message to children." That may be obvious to adults, but not to kids.

Even the widely reported transition to recreational marijuana in 
Colorado, Washington, Alaska and Oregon has had no effect.

According to the "Monitoring The Future" reports, use of marijuana 
among U.S. adolescents decreased sharply in 2014, just as the media 
was reporting efforts to legalize in several additional states.

We must base policy not on belief or opinion, but on evidence when it 
is available.

John Chase, Palm Harbor
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom