PROP 1 SHOULD STIR COMMUNITY TO ACTION

By now we know whether Proposition 1, the marijuana initiative, was adopted
or defeated by Columbia voters yesterday. Either way Columbia has a lot of
work to do to reduce drug use.

Since analyzing the pros and cons of the proposed ordinance in this space
on March 12, I have received more reaction from readers than for any column
I had previously written. Interestingly, public reaction to my column
seemed to favor adopting the ordinance, but private comments to me
overwhelmingly opposed the proposal.

A local law enforcement official called me and argued that my perspective
on the proposed ordinance was too heavily concerned with college-age
citizens and overlooked the effects of marijuana use on the rest of
Columbia. This is a valid critique. While I was concerned with the message
that decriminalizing marijuana would send to junior high and senior high
school students, I did not adequately consider the devastating effect of
drugs on inner-city neighborhoods.

First Ward Councilwoman Almeta Crayton clearly describes the devastation
that the use of marijuana and other drugs has had on the black community.
There is a tradeoff between reducing the severity of sanctions out of
concern for college students who might lose federal aid and the devastating
consequences for those who are already at a disadvantage. The choice here,
for me, is clear: The most disadvantaged members of society should not be
hurt in the name of reducing sanctions on college students who should know
better than to smoke marijuana.

I don't know how many people in Columbia use marijuana, but my hunch is
that the number is much higher than most of us think. In the past month,
I've heard students say that "a majority of my friends smoked marijuana by
ninth grade" and "all but two of my classmates have tried marijuana."

Several parents have told me of the personal trauma their families have
suffered because a son or daughter used marijuana. If the impression I have
of marijuana use by teenagers is accurate, public school officials need to
wake up and do what it takes to get drugs out of schools.

Perhaps because of their own drug use earlier in their lives, some parents
seem uneasy about rigorous enforcement of drug laws. It is not that they
now approve of drug use; they simply feel hypocritical about punishing
today's young people for the same kind of behavior they once engaged in.
They need to get over it. We owe our children our best judgment, not some
simple notion of consistency. Not only has the present generation of
parents learned from its mistakes; it is also likely that marijuana has
become more potent over the past 25 years.

I have also heard over the past few weeks several stories of personal
hardship from people who said they became "addicted to marijuana." But I've
also heard accounts of longtime users who view marijuana as similar to an
evening cocktail. Medical research on the addictive qualities of marijuana
seems to conflict. For some people, marijuana tragically takes over their
lives. Others, however, can remain in control despite using it.

Regardless of voters' decision on Proposition 1, Columbia's leaders must
better educate citizens about the dangers of drug use. First, the mayor and
city council should specifically charge the city's Substance Abuse Advisory
Commission with carefully examining the best drug policy for Columbia.
Second, the Columbia school board should ask that the new superintendent
report on the extent of drug use among students and the status of district
efforts to reduce it. Finally, the local media should continuously follow
this issue.

Anthony Johnson and the proponents of the marijuana initiative did a public
service in focusing attention on local drug use and its consequences. Now
it is up to parents, school officials and elected officials to examine the
extent of drug use in our community and to do something about it.

David Webber is an MU associate professor of political science. You can
reach him via e-mail at editor@tribmail.com.