Regulation, Not Prohibition is Key to Reducing Teen Marijuana Use

Unlike drug dealers, licensed merchants in a regulated market would be prohibited from selling to underage customers, be required to check IDs.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - An annual survey released today by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America shows that the number of American teenagers who use marijuana has increased for the first time in 10 years, with 25 percent of teens in grades 9 through 12 saying they’ve used marijuana in the past month, up from 19 percent the previous year.

“These latest numbers show that our current marijuana policies—which keep marijuana unregulated and in the hands of drug dealers—are clearly not working to help reduce teen use,” said Kurt A. Gardinier, director of communications for the Marijuana Policy Project.

“But if marijuana were taxed and regulated, and sold only by licensed merchants who would be required to check IDs, we could much better control marijuana and help to keep it out of the hands of teenagers. That’s why cigarette smoking among teens has continued to drop since the early ‘90’s, while teen marijuana use has not. Drug dealers do not check IDs.”

Proponents of marijuana legalization believe that incidents of teenage drug abuse will be down once marijuana is made legally available, because buyers will be made to show identification then. In the Netherlands, for example, marijuana is sold in regulated establishments to adults who must show proof of age.

As a result, according to a 2008 World Health Organization survey, the overall rate of marijuana use in the Netherlands is less than half what it is in the United States.

Additionally, only 7% of Dutch teens have tried marijuana by age 15. In the U.S., as many as 20.2% of teens have tried marijuana by age 15, according to government estimates.

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chmmrx March 23, 2010 8:11 am (Pacific time)

Full article with documentary video at:

opposingviews.com/i/marijuana-is-the-flame-heroin-is-the-fuse-lsd-is-the-bomb--3

MaryJane Cannabian March 8, 2010 10:39 am (Pacific time)

I agree, Editor and Management, imho, Salem-News is the most fair and unbiased news source when it comes to reporting about Cannabis, Prohibition and The War on Drugs. And thanks to the internets I get to read your articles from Canada. :-) Regarding the article, I can only hope that Light Bulbs will continue to go off and more and more people will realize that Regulation is the best formula to control drugs - we must take away the control of the market from drug dealers, Cartels, and Organized Crime. Prohibition = FAIL. http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/

Editor: Mary Jane, thank you!

Vic March 3, 2010 10:50 am (Pacific time)

Well, I was a "pothead" teenager...my friends all drank much more than I did, and in fact, I was the gang's "designated driver" way before the term was invented. I also was an honor student all through High School, and always had an after-school job. By the time I was twenty years old, three of my classmates were dead as a result of drunk driving...this from a graduating class of 55 kids...But liquor and beer is taxed and regulated, so the theory that govt control will keep it out of kid's hands is ludicrous. Where did my dead friends get their beer and liquor? Cut the crap..legalize weed and put anti-drug efforts into meth and destructive drugs..And I agree with Douglas Benson..pot prohibition is a cash cow that will not be given up easily. There are court costs/fees, lawyer fees, fines and of course, the expensive mandatory "intervention" classes where ex-junkies charge top dollar to "re-habilitate" you... It is all about MONEY...And if I were a cop, I'd much rather make my living busting peaceful potheads than tweaked out, paranoid and probably armed meth dealers.

douglas benson March 3, 2010 6:57 am (Pacific time)

Why would the goverment let marijuana cut into thier drug trade? They have a war on drugs while they are the ones bringing them here at huge profits .Marijuana is the only drug left that is manufactured here in the states by regular folks .They are just protecting thier drug profits . Ever wonder why the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana ? Even our local narcs are making big money off thier paid informants selling drugs to your kids .A new dealer pops up they bust the competition and give the product to thier dealers .

M Novaria March 2, 2010 4:19 pm (Pacific time)

Before marijuana is legalized, Americans will need to engage in an honest dialogue about drugs. The status quo (constructed by D.A.R.E. Programs, other drug education, media, parents, politicians...etc.) serves to indoctrinate us into thinking that all drugs are equally dangerous, instead of truthfully delineating which ones are the most harmful and why. The government classifies marijuana, LSD, cocaine and heroin as Schedule-I drugs, insinuating that they are extremely harmful, addictive and serve no medical value. In school and often at home, teens are told that marijuana is as equally dangerous as drugs like heroin and meth. It's not “Don't do the worst drugs!”; it's “Don't do [any] drugs!”. Marijuana use, which can be used responsibly and safely, is pushed underground, out of the control and knowledge of parents, into seriously dangerous territory. Although we shouldn't be astonished that upon realizing the relaxant and enjoyable effects of marijuana, many Americans come to rationally question the structure and nature of federal anti-drug policy. It's only beneficial for Americans to support legalization; an exercise of safety, rationality and fiscal responsibility, but most of all a display of individual freedom.

Editor: Thanks for your comment.

chmmrx March 2, 2010 2:58 pm (Pacific time)

Legal substances, things like water, alcohol, aspirin, cigarettes, kill more people per year. Marijuana being at a historical 0 death rate for over dose or any reason for that matter even when smoked. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1380837/?page=1 Marijuana use and mortality. That is a long term study of 65,000 people that smoked marijuana heavily all the way to the individual that did not smoke at all.. No increase in deaths for individuals that smoked marijuana as opposed to those whom did not! Kaiser Permanente is not some pro marijuana advocate either and has nothing to directly gain in marijuana legalization. Again no increase in death rate among the marijuana smokers period let alone the impossible over dose. The amount of danger involved with using this plant means, with effects less than that of other unscheduled already legal substances, it can only be a law dictated from opinionated hyperbole. To those whom are against marijuana – please free your mind of arguments attached to fear mongering, tired old stereotypes, and junk science. For those of you that FEEL marijuana use is just not right, you do not want it around, or do not want to deal with it, observe the machine behind your “If it feels good, do it” prohibition policy. They tout, it doesn’t have to be about anything other than a question of morality, but they also say it is something that should not be left up to the masses to decide. Just who else are they thinking should decide “morality”? One thing is for certain, they want it to be an entity that agrees with them. We the people of the United States of America do have the power to decide if we so choose. How dare any group think they will steal that right! Definition of morality is exactly when the masses should decide. Contrary to this double standard angle, they also “inform” citizens of inconclusive, out of context, out of date “info facts” from studies they just so happen to accept as valid. Beating the drum, saying let scientific studies decide the matter. Promised lighter sentences if the criminally charged agrees to go to drug rehabilitation. Then turn around and reference the amount of people that go through drug rehabilitation as why marijuana should remain illegal, and as proof there is indeed high addiction….. really? Not only does this also fly in the face of their morality arguments, it is their common enforced practice to ignore the majority of studies done, and any pro marijuana stance. Enforcement’s own chosen studies usually say there is no conclusive evidence for the very same “info fakes” they decide to reference. They understandably leave those parts out. Also, upfront denial of the fact that a doctor is more qualified than enforcement when determining what is the best treatment for a patient if it involves marijuana. Then they turn around and support exponentially more dangerous, pharmaceutical narcotics. Insisting this is fine for even children, if it is a doctor prescribed pharmaceutical product. The “If it feels good, do it” acceptance of this complete hypocrisy does not feel so good anymore when looking at our often attacked, delicate, eroding freedom and future that is at risk. Stop wasting resources on this plant. Record eradication every year – as well as – record growth and availability. A growing – 72 year – well funded – failing war that will never end. An anti-human rights money pit for something that is far less dangerous than alcohol. - A Great WAR - To see my full article with video please go to: www.opposingviews.com/i/marijuana-is-the-flame-heroin-is-the-fuse-lsd-is-the-bomb–-3

chmmrx March 2, 2010 1:58 pm (Pacific time)

Legal substances, things like water, alcohol, aspirin, cigarettes, kill more people per year. Marijuana being at a historical 0 death rate for over dose or any reason for that matter even when smoked. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1380837/?page=1 Marijuana use and mortality. That is a long term study of 65,000 people that smoked marijuana heavily all the way to the individual that did not smoke at all.. No increase in deaths for individuals that smoked marijuana as opposed to those whom did not! Kaiser Permanente is not some pro marijuana advocate either and has nothing to directly gain in marijuana legalization. Again no increase in death rate among the marijuana smokers period let alone the impossible over dose. The amount of danger involved with using this plant means, with effects less than that of other unscheduled already legal substances, it can only be a law dictated from opinionated hyperbole. To those whom are against marijuana – please free your mind of arguments attached to fear mongering, tired old stereotypes, and junk science. For those of you that FEEL marijuana use is just not right, you do not want it around, or do not want to deal with it, observe the machine behind your “If it feels good, do it” prohibition policy. They tout, it doesn’t have to be about anything other than a question of morality, but they also say it is something that should not be left up to the masses to decide. Just who else are they thinking should decide “morality”? One thing is for certain, they want it to be an entity that agrees with them. We the people of the United States of America do have the power to decide if we so choose. How dare any group think they will steal that right! Definition of morality is exactly when the masses should decide. Contrary to this double standard angle, they also “inform” citizens of inconclusive, out of context, out of date “info facts” from studies they just so happen to accept as valid. Beating the drum, saying let scientific studies decide the matter. Promised lighter sentences if the criminally charged agrees to go to drug rehabilitation. Then turn around and reference the amount of people that go through drug rehabilitation as why marijuana should remain illegal, and as proof there is indeed high addiction….. really? Not only does this also fly in the face of their morality arguments, it is their common enforced practice to ignore the majority of studies done, and any pro marijuana stance. Enforcement’s own chosen studies usually say there is no conclusive evidence for the very same “info fakes” they decide to reference. They understandably leave those parts out. Also, upfront denial of the fact that a doctor is more qualified than enforcement when determining what is the best treatment for a patient if it involves marijuana. Then they turn around and support exponentially more dangerous, pharmaceutical narcotics. Insisting this is fine for even children, if it is a doctor prescribed pharmaceutical product. The “If it feels good, do it” acceptance of this complete hypocrisy does not feel so good anymore when looking at our often attacked, delicate, eroding freedom and future that is at risk. Stop wasting resources on this plant. Record eradication every year – as well as – record growth and availability. A growing – 72 year – well funded – failing war that will never end. An anti-human rights money pit for something that is far less dangerous than alcohol. - A Great WAR - To see my full article with video please go to: http://www.opposingviews.com/i/marijuana-is-the-flame-heroin-is-the-fuse-lsd-is-the-bomb--3

ms moonbow March 2, 2010 11:34 am (Pacific time)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7O4Sa8sGXk

why is marijuana illegal? educate yourself on the historical facts vs the sensationalist "reporting" the media has been forcing down our throats for decades

Editor: I thought I'd be nice and make your site a hot link. I think you just need to preface the media point by saying, "Other than Salem-News.com...." Cool?

Thanks

The Management

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