UNIVERSITY STUDY, CONGRESSIONAL PANEL MEMBERS OPPOSE LEGALIZING MARIJUANA

WASHINGTON -- While a congressional committee discussed the possible
decriminalization of illegal drugs Tuesday, the national Center on
Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University released a study
arguing that decriminalizing marijuana could threaten millions of American
children.

Decriminalization has been proposed by some because of the enormous
economic and social impact of imprisoning hundreds of thousands of drug users.

``Prohibition is hurting us,'' said Robert Stewart, a spokesman for the
Drug Policy Foundation in Washington, which advocates legalizing marijuana.

``Banning marijuana to everybody, to legal adults, is not solving the
problem,'' said Stewart, pointing out that since other drugs, such as
cigarettes and alcohol, are legal, the legalization of marijuana should at
least be considered.

``There is no perfect way to keep drugs out of the hands of kids,'' he said
in a telephone interview Tuesday. ``This is something that goes beyond
Congress.'' He added that ``the idea of prohibition is tantalizing; it has
a counter effect.''

But members of Congress rejected that view Tuesday as the House
Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources heard
testimony on drug legalization proposals.

``Drug legalization threatens to undermine our society,'' said Rep. Charles
B. Rangel, D-N.Y., former chairman of the Congressional Narcotics Abuse and
Control Caucus.

The report from the Columbia University center, CASA, supports that view.
The study found that in 1996 more teens entered treatment for abusing
marijuana than for any other drug, including alcohol. Nearly as many
children were admitted for marijuana treatment as for all other substances
combined.

``Teens who smoke marijuana are playing a dangerous game of Russian
roulette,'' said Joseph Califano Jr., CASA president and chairman.

Out of 181,784 teens and children who entered treatment in 1996, nearly
half were admitted for abusing marijuana. About 35,069 were admitted for
alcohol with a secondary drug, 21,594 for alcohol alone. About 5,323 were
treated for smoking cocaine, 4,354 for methamphetamines and 4,166 for heroin.

More than half the teens in treatment for marijuana were ages 15 to 17.

Califano warned, ``Teen experimentation with marijuana should not be
considered a casual right of passage.''

While Califano's group acknowledges that the medical value of marijuana
should be determined by physicians and scientists, it argues that
statistical evidence shows abusing marijuana is dangerous and that it can
be a ``gateway'' to other drugs.