WILL TEENS SMOKE MORE DOPE IF POT IS LEGAL?

Dear Straight Talk: I'm writing about marijuana legalization, which
is being discussed in California. As California's largest cash crop,
I understand the appeal to solve the state's economic problems
through regulating this drug, but I worry that more teens
will become addicted at younger ages. From your vantage point, do
you think legalization will cause an increase in use among teens? --
Gary, Huntington Beach

Charles, 23, Sacramento: We have lots of freedom in America. People
do what they want in the privacy of their homes no matter what the
government says. The argument that kids will smoke more pot if it's
easily obtainable is flawed. It's already freely
available! Prohibition was a disaster and the current drug cartels
will continue as long as pot remains illegal. I'm pro drug control;
however, there is no ethical difference between the 21-year-old who
drinks and the 21-year-old who smokes weed.

Emily, 16, Sacramento: Teens do drugs mainly because it's sneaky and
illegal. If weed were legal, they wouldn't find as much rush in it
and would cut down. But that doesn't mean it should be legalized --
more people, into adulthood, would ruin their lives with it.

Jacob, 20, Arcata: Marijuana is already legal in California for
medical purposes. Fully legal, the price and tax will skyrocket like
for cigarettes, and people would smoke less due to the higher prices.

Ashley, 21, Auburn: If cigarettes and alcohol are legal, marijuana
should be, too. It's not as bad for you and lots of people already
use it. But there should be no advertising, and no other drugs should
be legalized.

Michael, 17, Fair Oaks: It's no worse than cigarettes and alcohol, so
yes, legalize it. But it bothers me that it's being debated as a fix
for the economy instead of on its own merits. Right now 80 percent
of young people don't see weed as bad. But remove
parental disapproval (a big reason many teens don't use) and use
would probably go up. My worries: Would we become slower and dumber?
How will secondhand smoke affect children?

Elizabeth, 20, Rocklin: It shouldn't be legalized. There would be
more dropouts, more unemployment, more "high" drivers, more obesity.

Graham, 15, Fair Oaks: People who want to smoke pot already do. Once
legal, people will buy it highly taxed rather than from a dangerous
underground network -- and it won't be laced.

Lara, 17, Fair Oaks: The mind is amazing and right now we need good
minds. People think weed enlightens you but it doesn't. Regular users
just can't remember what a natural high feels like. Yet, I am for
legalizing it. I've smoked it, and I think if people could try it
legally, paying taxes and lowering crime, and if money went for
education and health awareness, fewer people would get addicted.

Dear Gary: I live, breathe and teach addiction-free living and here
is why I support marijuana legalization: When alcohol prohibition
ended, and when cigarettes became commercially viable, use increased
for both. But since the 1970 ban on TV ads for cigarettes -- and a
society-wide increase in health consciousness -- both cigarette and
alcohol consumption per capita have decreased. I believe the same
thing would happen with marijuana. At first, due to novelty, use
would increase, but if advertising was barred and money went into
education around marijuana, I believe use would fall rapidly below
current levels. Another improvement would be the availability of
weaker grades of cannabis (teens today smoke pot 10 to 15 times
stronger than their parents smoked). Marijuana is no more a gateway
to harder drugs than alcohol -- the real gateway is the black market.
By legalizing marijuana, youth exposure to the black market will
become almost nonexistent -- and after an initial "honeymoon" of
increased use, I believe use will drop off.

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