MARIJUANA USE BY LATE-TEEN OFFENDERS RISING

Marijuana use is on the rise among 18-to-20 year olds who are in trouble
with the law, according to a study published today by the National
Institute of Justice, part of the U.S. Justice Department.

The rate of marijuana use among youthful offenders increased steadily from
25 percent in 1991 to about 60 percent in the late 1990s. Marijuana use in
the general population, however, has held steady at about 5 percent.

Fewer young lawbreakers use marijuana in Houston than in other large
cities, however. Houston was one of 23 municipalities analyzed as part of
the study.

The rate among youthful offenders went from a low of 19 percent in 1992 to
43 percent in 1995. In 1996 and 1997, the rate slipped to 31 percent but
then returned to 49 percent by 1999. That increase, however, may be
attributable to sampling procedures, researchers said.

Later that year, marijuana use among all people arrested in Houston tracked
at 31 percent -- well below the rate observed in the late 1980s.

The study, however, indicates troubled youth are turning to marijuana
instead of harder drugs.

"Unlike previous generations of marijuana users, those affected by the new
marijuana epidemic are not expected to go on to harder drugs, like cocaine
or heroin," said Andrew Golub , a senior researcher at the New York-based
National Development and Research Institute.

"It would be good news if the new marijuana epidemic is a rejection of
crack and heroin because of the potentially devastating consequences
associated with those drugs," Golub said.

An official with a group that supports legalizing but regulating marijuana
use said he had no figures to rebut or support the study's numbers, but
dismissed the report as a scare tactic.

"They're getting this data on teenagers so they can scare the soccer moms
into thinking there are more kids smoking weed these days," said Steve
Nolin with the Houston chapter of the National Organization for the Reform
of Marijuana Laws. "I think that is a kind of (anti-marijuana) propaganda
so the government can get more money."