Pubdate: Fri, 13 Sep 2013
Source: Detroit News (MI)
Copyright: 2013 The Detroit News
Contact:  http://www.detroitnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/126
Author: Sabrina Fendrick
Note: is the director of Women's Outreach at the National 
Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) in Washington D.C.
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n458/a06.html

LEGALIZATION WILL HELP CURB TEENAGE POT USE

In light of the Department of Justice's announcement last month that 
it will not challenge Colorado and Washington's legalization efforts, 
there has been much discussion surrounding the possible impact these 
new regulatory schemes may have on children. It's completely 
understandable for parents to be concerned with how these evolving 
policies may potentially impact their child's use and accessibility 
to the substance.

I agree with Margaret Farenger ("The Case Against Normalizing 
Marijuana," September 6th), that teens should not smoke pot or be 
consuming any mind-altering substances. These are important 
developmental years.

Our opinions begin to diverge, however, when Ms. Farenger elects to 
misrepresent data and use exaggerated rhetoric to defend the 
continuation of a failed, financially wasteful policy of prohibition. 
She supports the continuation of a prohibitionist policy that has 
failed to protect our youth in every way possible. The status quo 
gives adolescents uncontrolled access to the black market, promotes 
disrespect for the law, and breeds distrust in drug education. The 
alternative is to implement a controlled, age-restricted, legal 
framework that creates a retail system for marijuana, promoting a 
policy of moderation and responsible adult use.

Farenger claims that adolescent marijuana use is on the rise, citing 
a University of Michigan study from 2011. Yet, the latest version of 
this study, looking at national data from 2012 failed to report a 
nationwide rise in daily or annual teen consumption of marijuana.

Moreover, in Michigan specifically, which imposes medical marijuana 
legalization, the most recent data from the Center for Disease 
Control's Youth Risk Behavioral Survey, provided that the percentage 
of teenagers who had ever used marijuana in Michigan is the lowest on record.

Michigan is not alone. A growing number of medical and academic 
studies show that use among minors in states with established, 
regulatory frameworks for cannabis production and distribution is not 
associated with an increase in marijuana use among adolescents. In 
fact, some states have even seen a decrease in use among their youth 
population, including Montana and Arizona. Data published this past 
June in the American Journal of Public Health found that medical 
marijuana laws in various states has had no "statistically 
significant . effect on the prevalence of either lifetime or 30-day 
marijuana use" by adolescents residing in those states. These studies 
point to a growing trend that above ground regulated marijuana 
markets have not only failed to show an increase in marijuana use, 
but may actually help in efforts to contain and minimize use among minors.

Farenger also misses the connection between the decrease in alcohol 
use by adolescents, (a regulated, adult-only consumable product) and 
how imposing a similar regulations on cannabis would have a similar 
effect dissuading youth marijuana use. Positive evidence surrounding 
the effects of education and a reduction in teen consumption of 
legal, age-restricted substances are a result of sustained and 
concerted efforts by the government, certain companies, and 
educational institutions on promoting responsible use. Those efforts 
have driven teen alcohol use down to a record low, according to the 
Monitoring the Future Survey (MTF). The same principle holds true for 
tobacco. This study also reported that education and regulation (not 
prohibition) has created an environment in which cigarette usage and 
availability has fallen to an all time, historical low.

The evidence is clear. The best way to reduce youth access and 
consumption to adult-only substances is through a system of 
government-controlled regulation, education and a message of 
moderation. Marijuana legalization will only add to the success that 
reform efforts have had already on teen marijuana use rates.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom