Pubdate: Sun, 12 Sep 2004
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (WI)
Copyright: 2004 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Contact:  http://www.jsonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/265
Author: Bruce Mirken
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n1261/a03.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion)

MARIJUANA

Nation's Drug Policies Are Misguided, Failing

The Sept. 6 story, "City teens use pot more than U.S. peers" failed to note 
the proverbial elephant in the living room: If the goal is to discourage 
teen use of marijuana, our current policies have utterly failed.

The same report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
referenced in the article also includes this alarming statistic: 
Nationwide, more teens are current smokers of marijuana than of cigarettes.

At first, this seems astonishing: A substance that is completely banned is 
more widely used than one that is allowed - but regulated - for adults.

In fact, prohibition encourages teen marijuana use by keeping the marijuana 
trade in a completely unregulated criminal underground. Walk into just 
about any store that sells cigarettes and you'll see a great big, 
red-and-yellow sign saying, "We Card: Under 18, No Tobacco." Have you ever 
seen a drug dealer post a sign like that?

The current unhappy state of affairs is a direct result of misguided policies.

Bruce Mirken, Director of communications, Marijuana Policy Project, 
Washington, D.C.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager