NORML DOESN'T BELONG AT 3 RIVERS

The decision by the 3 Rivers Music Festival to allow the National
Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws to have a booth at this year's
festival may be defensible on free-speech grounds ("3 Rivers to allow
pro-marijuana booth at festival," April 8), but it should raise concerns
among parents and others interested in the welfare of our communities'
young people.

Although NORML's official position is that "marijuana smoking is not for
kids," the organization's presence at an event designed to draw large
numbers of young people will hardly make this point clear to the minors in
attendance - many of whom are already wrestling with the issue of marijuana
use. According to a 2001-2002 survey of South Carolina public school
students conducted by the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse
Services and the State Department of Education, approximately 36 percent of
high school students in our state have experimented with marijuana.

In addition, 48 percent of high school students felt there was "no risk" or
only "slight risk" in trying marijuana; 33 percent thought it was "very
easy" to get marijuana; and 26 percent said they had not decided to stay
away from marijuana.

It especially sends a mixed message to our young people for advocates of
marijuana use to have such a forum during the month of April, which Gov.
Mark Sanford has proclaimed as Public Health Month in South Carolina. Is
this really the message that we want to send to our children?

W. LEE CATOE

Director

S.C. Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services