MEDICAL MARIJUANA DEBATE IMPACTS TEEN DRUG USE

Americans Speak Out in FRC's Annual Drug Survey

WASHINGTON, Sixty percent of voters say the
debate about marijuana's usefulness as a medicine has had an impact on
teens' willingness to try the drug, according to a poll released by
the Family Research Council Wednesday. Also, 64 percent said they
opposed needle exchange programs when informed that recent scientific
studies have found that addicts who were not enrolled in exchange
programs were less likely to become AIDS- infected than those who were
enrolled.

"Americans are very concerned about the increase in teen drug use,"
said FRC's Robert Maginnis, senior director for national security and
foreign policy. "When presented with the details on drug policies,
instead of emotional appeals, Americans see right through the smoke
screen of drug legalizers and reject medical marijuana and needle
exchange programs."

The poll also queried voters on other hot topics within the drug
policy arena:

* Almost 90 percent of respondents said that pregnant drug users
should be considered guilty of child abuse.

* Fifty-six percent said they believe that doctors should legally be
able to prescribe as much pain medication as is necessary, even if that
runs the risk of addiction.

* Other results include a majority in support of random school-based drug
testing with parental consent.

For the second year in a row, voters tapped drug interdiction
to be the appropriate top federal priority in fighting drugs, with
prevention being the second most important priority.

The findings are timely, given the bills already introduced in
Congress would prohibit federal funds from going to needle exchange
programs, and distribute funds to school districts for drug testing.

Family Research Council commissions an annual poll on drug policy
issues. For this year's survey, one thousand voters were contacted
from February 8 - 10, 1999. SOURCE Family Research Council

Web site: http://www.frc.org/ Family Research Council