Pubdate: Thu, 26 Sep 2013
Source: Oakland Press, The (MI)
Copyright: 2013 The Oakland Press
Contact:  http://www.theoaklandpress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2114
Author: Craig Covey
Page: A-4

MARIJUANA DECRIMINALIZATION COULD CURB TEENAGE USE

As voters debate the merits of decriminalizing marijuana for adult
private use in three Michigan cities this fall, there is one thing
that we can all agree on, and that is the need to prevent its use by
teens. No one working to pass these ballot initiatives in Ferndale,
Lansing, or Jackson wants this issue to allow more use by youth.

On the contrary, we believe that taking marijuana sales away from the
underground market, and regulating and taxing the product, will enable
better systems to restrict its availability to students.

That marijuana use by those underage is accepted as deleterious is not
disputed. We also know that alcohol and tobacco use can be dangerous
to young people. That is why we have made progress in limiting sales
of tobacco and alcohol to minors. Prohibition of marijuana in society
has not worked over the past 50 years, and finally taking it out of
the black market economy will allow society to better regulate it, and
even tax it for prevention education programs.

The price of marijuana has gone down over the past decades, while the
potency has gone up. It has always been readily available on campuses
since the 1960s. The highest use of pot ever measured was in the mid
to late 1970s, when half of all graduating high school seniors
admitted to trying it. We must continue to strive for prevention of
substance abuse among our young, focusing on the most addictive and
dangerous ones like heroin, meth, and the pills in the medicine
cabinet like oxycontin, codeine, and vicodin.

Voters in Ferndale, Lansing, and Jackson will most likely vote to
decriminalize marijuana for adult private use in the upcoming November
elections. We should use these developments to renew and strengthen
efforts to educate and prevent substance abuse by those who are underage.

CRAIG COVEY

Ferndale
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MAP posted-by: Matt