FACE THE FACTS ON MARIJUANA

As a representative of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, the primary
organization working to reduce the negative impact that both drug
abuse and drug policies have on young people and students, I couldn't
disagree more with the statements made by Lyndon E. Lafferty ("Don't
let the marijuana myth live on," July 25).

Claiming that more teens are in treatment for marijuana than any other
drug is a distortion. They aren't there because they think they have a
problem. They are placed into treatment because they have been
arrested for marijuana possession and given an ultimatum. Getting
arrested and thrown into the criminal justice system is the biggest
problem marijuana has caused many of these young people. I saw this
firsthand during my time as a substance abuse counselor with teens.

Mr. Lafferty conveniently leaves out an important fact: Marijuana
prohibition makes it easier for young people to buy the drug in their
schools. You don't see kids selling six packs of beer or cartons of
cigarettes in the hallways; you see them selling marijuana. That's
because it's unregulated, uncontrolled and highly lucrative. According
to the Monitoring the Future Survey, more 10th graders now smoke pot
than cigarettes. When more youth are using a drug that is illegal than
a drug that is tightly regulated and highly taxed, it's time to admit
that marijuana prohibition doesn't work.

I hope California voters will vote "yes" on Proposition
19.

Jonathan Perri

Associate Director

Students for Sensible Drug Policy