Pubdate: Mon, 26 Aug 2002 Source: Boston Globe (MA) Page: A10 Copyright: 2002 Globe Newspaper Company Contact: http://www.boston.com/globe/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/52 Author: Bruce Mirken WRONG APPROACH TO POT USE BY TEENS The survey results released last week by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse showing, among other things, that teenagers say that marijuana is easier to buy than beer are not a surprise (Globe, Aug. 21). The center has been reporting similar results for years, as has the government-funded Monitoring the Future survey of teen drug use: Every year since that survey began, between 83 and 90 percent of high school seniors have reported that marijuana is "fairly easy" or "very easy" to get. These numbers have remained virtually unchanged despite a near- tripling of marijuana arrests since 1991 and waves of "just say no" propaganda. In the Netherlands, where marijuana is sold openly through regulated outlets, surveys of 10th graders show rates of marijuana use one-third lower than in the United States. Perhaps it is time to consider the possibility that marijuana prohibition - which has created a completely unregulated, underground market - is not the best way to curb marijuana use by young people. BRUCE MIRKEN Director of communications Marijuana Policy Project Washington - --- MAP posted-by: Beth