CONTROLLING DRUGS WOULD CURTAIL ACCESS TO THEM

Marshall Frankis column about the failure of drug prohibition made a number
of important points ('Time to wake up and decriminalize drugs,' June 30).

Here is one simple fact that illustrates the futility of current policies:
According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more
U.S. teens now smoke marijuana than smoke cigarettes. And while teen
cigarette smoking is well below the level of a decade ago, teen marijuana
use is up, and teens are reporting that cigarettes are becoming harder for
underage kids to buy at stores or gas stations.

That's because cigarette merchants are licensed and regulated, giving
society some control. We can fine them or put them out of business if
they sell to kids. It is long past time that we used the same,
sensible approach with marijuana.

Bruce Mirken

Director of Communications

Marijuana Policy Project

Washington, D.C