Pubdate: Sun, 11 Aug 2013
Source: Daily Camera (Boulder, CO)
Copyright: 2013 The Daily Camera.
Contact:  http://www.dailycamera.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/103
Author: Sabrina Fendrick
Note: Sabrina Fendrick is the Director of Women's Outreach at the
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (or NORML) in
Washington, D.C.

MARIJUANA REGULATION COMBATS TEEN USE

Deb Roberts, Executive Director of Alternatives for Youth/iTHRIVE is
correct when she says marijuana "should not be available to youth
under 21 years of age" ( "Marijuana negatively impacts teens," August
4). As an outreach coordinator for NORML -- the National Organization
for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, I concur that teens shouldn't be
consuming any mind-altering substances (alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or
otherwise) at all, period.

Those are important, developmental years.

That said, I am inclined to challenge Ms. Robert's argument that
Colorado's recent change in marijuana laws has led to a proliferation
of adolescent cannabis use. She writes, "Colorado schools are
reporting an alarming growth (or 33.5 percent increase) in
drug-related problems." Yet, the latest Youth Risk Behavior Survey
(YRBS) reported by the Center for Disease Control found that teen
marijuana use has actually declined in Colorado. In fact, Colorado
adolescent consumption rates have even fallen below the national
average. This same study also found that, in the era of government
regulated marijuana programs, availability on school grounds in
Colorado went from 22.7 percent in 2009 to 17.2 percent in 2011, a 5
percent drop overall.

Availability to minors in Colorado is now 8.4 percent below the
national average.

Despite consistent marijuana coverage over the past few years, as well
as an ongoing attempt by policy makers to conflate the rising number
of state regulated marijuana programs (and popular legalization
efforts) with a rise in use, the 2012 Monitoring the Future Survey
(MTF), a nationwide study on teen drug use conducted by the University
of Michigan reports that there was no rise in daily or annual
marijuana consumption among teens.

Emerging research continues to provide evidence that rates of
marijuana use among teens do not increase in states with regulated
marijuana programs.

Some of these states, including Colorado, have even shown a decrease
in pot use among their youth population.

For example, the 2011 YRBS found a statistically significant decrease
in the number of high school students in Montana (a state with a
medical marijuana program) who had tried marijuana.

In another study, researchers found that there was no statistical
increase in marijuana use among high school students in Rhode Island
following the implementation of a medical marijuana program in 2006. A
2012 study, analyzing teen use in multiple states with regulated
marijuana programs, conducted by the University of Colorado, found a
negative relationship between legalization and the consumption of
marijuana by high school students.

These results are consistent with national and international data
showing similar trends.

Polling data by Gallup released just this week showed nationwide use
among 18-29 year olds has fallen 20 percent since 1985. In 1985, 56
percent of 18-29 year olds admitted to having tried marijuana, which
dropped to 46 percent in 1999, and is now down to 36 percent.

This decrease has occurred while twenty states approved medical
marijuana legislation, sixteen states have decriminalized possession,
and two states have fully legalized marijuana.

The threats of skyrocketing young adult use seem incredibly unfounded
when it appears the current trajectory towards marijuana legalization
has had the opposite effect.

Despite Ms. Robert's specious allegations, her overall concerns are
understandable. All of us should work to minimize any potential
negative impact of marijuana abuse, particularly as it pertains to
young people.

We all want our kids to grow up healthy, happy and able to reach his
or her full potential.

That is why a regulated market puts parents and educators in the best
position to mitigate any such risks; through harm reduction education
and teaching the difference between responsible use and abuse.

Just like with alcohol and other legal mind-altering substances (whose
effects are equally concerning to the parents of growing teenagers) it
is regulation, not prohibition that has reduced its use and
availability among teens.

I applaud the passage of Amendment 64, and encourage Boulder to allow
retail stores to sell marijuana to adults, aged 21 and over. A retail
system in Boulder will only add to the positive impact that the
current regulated marijuana market has had on adolescent use rates in
the Centennial state.
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MAP posted-by: Matt