Pubdate: Tue, 05 May 2015
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2015 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

MARKETING OF MARIJUANA

To the Editor:

Re "The Perils of Smokeless Tobacco" (editorial, April 23) and "It's 
Time to Regulate E-Cigarettes," by David A. Kessler and Matthew L. 
Myers (Op-Ed, April 23):

We applaud your editorial and Op-Ed essay for highlighting the rise 
in electronic cigarette use among high school students and for 
condemning the tobacco industry for aggressively targeting kids.

Unfortunately, the noxious tactics of Big Tobacco - flavored 
products, colorful packaging, kid-friendly advertising - are not 
limited to the marketing of e-cigarettes. They also characterize the 
commercialization of marijuana in states like Colorado, where pot has 
been legalized. Attempts to ban edible marijuana products that target 
youth, such as "Pot Tarts" or "Pot Lollipops," have been met with 
fierce opposition from a burgeoning marijuana industry eager to hook 
kids early, and ensure a steady stream of future profits.

As we condemn the harms of e-cigarettes and their marketing to youth, 
we should also acknowledge that the legalization and mass 
commercialization of marijuana means yet another industry that 
thrives on addiction and recklessly targets the most vulnerable in 
society. We can reform our drug laws and address the currents 
pitfalls of prohibition without giving rise to the next Big Tobacco.

PATRICK J. KENNEDY

KEVIN A. SABET

Princeton, N.J.

The writers, a former congressman and a former White House drug 
policy adviser, respectively, are leaders of Smart Approaches to Marijuana.
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