Pubdate: Mon, 28 Jan 2013 Source: Wall Street Journal (US) Copyright: 2013 Paul H. Kuhn Contact: http://www.wsj.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/487 Author: Paul H. Kuhn Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n037/a04.html Note: Fourth of 4 LTEs on this subject POT PROHIBITION, REGULATION, AND DANGER TO THE YOUNG According to Dr. Rosenthal, "Among the many thousands of adolescents we have treated at the programs of Phoenix House over the past four decades, the overwhelming majority have used no drug more potent than marijuana." I'd bet the overwhelming majority also used alcohol and tobacco, both of which are potentially more potent and deadly than marijuana but apparently are not considered "drugs" by Dr. Rosenthal. And I'd guess that many, if not a majority, of teen patients in his program are there not because they need treatment but because a court gave them the choice between treatment and jail. We agree with Dr. Rosenthal that marijuana is not harmless. This is why our society should impose common-sense controls over who can legally produce marijuana, who can distribute it, who can consume it and under what circumstances its use is lawfully permitted. Two states just took this step. More will follow. Paul H. Kuhn Chair National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws Nashville, Tenn. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D