TRUTH IS MORE EFFECTIVE THAN CRIMINAL LAW

Truth is more effective than criminal law

Re: Alice Englin's Dec. 18 piece: "Survey shows drug abuse among
youth is down."

I have digested the results of the 2009 Monitoring the Future study
and found two important things not mentioned in the press release.

First, no mention of daily pot smoking, found only by drilling down
to Table 4. Seems to me such use by kids indicates problem use and
should have been discussed. The good news is that it is very small.

Second, recent trends in kids' smoking. For 13 years, cigarette
smoking among kids has declined every year, far more rapidly than pot
smoking, and all without the threat of felony arrest, even though
tobacco is more addictive than pot. The message for our legislators
is that candor is more effective than the criminal law to persuade kids.

John Chase

Palm Harbor, Fla.