Pubdate: Wed, 30 Oct 2013
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2013 The New York Times Company
Contact: http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/help/lettertoeditor.html
Website: http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Authors: Patrick J. Kennedy, Kevin A. Sabet
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n520/a10.html

ILL EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA

To the Editor:

By focusing on changes in California marijuana use since 1996, and 
then citing a controversial study called into question by some 
leading think tanks and experts in marijuana policy, "Few Problems 
With Cannabis for California" (front page, Oct. 27) does not reflect 
the growing reality of marijuana as a public health and safety threat 
in that state.

First, the important year to look at in California isn't when the 
medical marijuana initiative passed - 1996 - but rather when it was 
implemented in the form of "dispensaries," around 2004. And since 
then there has been a rise in marijuana use and marketing.

Second, the single academic study used to substantiate the article's 
thesis can be called into question for many reasons, including its 
silence about research that does not conform to the authors' 
pro-legalization perspective. That research finds that legally 
protecting dispensaries equals more marijuana use and more problems.

Finally, absent from the article was any perspective from educators, 
prevention groups or treatment centers in California, who have 
reported that as marijuana has become more normalized and accepted, 
their work has become harder and, in the case of treatment centers, 
much more in demand.

Also, there was little about the mental or physical health effects of 
marijuana. Those are not outcomes of marijuana use that should be 
brushed off, even if bringing them to light hurts the prospects for 
full legalization in 2016.

PATRICK J. KENNEDY

KEVIN A. SABET

Cambridge, Mass., Oct. 27, 2013

The writers are, respectively, a former member of Congress and a 
former senior drug policy adviser in the Obama administration. They 
are co-founders of Project SAM (Smart Approaches to Marijuana).
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom