As experts in the health care of children and adolescents, pediatricians may be called on to advise legislators concerning the potential impact of changes in the legal status of marijuana on adolescents. Parents, too, may look to pediatricians for advice as they consider whether to support state-level initiatives that propose to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes or to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana. This policy statement provides the position of the American Academy of Pediatrics on the issue of marijuana legalization, and the accompanying technical report (available online) reviews what is currently known about the relationship between adolescents’ use of marijuana and its legal status to better understand how change might influence the degree of marijuana use by adolescents in the future.
Comments
Pfrohibition increases Use
Careful study of the effects of prohibition of alcohol use during the early 1920's showed that use of alcohol greatly increased during prohibition, and decreased at the end of this time. In addition there were many social disadvantages, including increasing criminal behavior, and providing funding to the underworld. Decriminalizing marijuana is not the same as approving its use. Legalization, combined with taxation and education, as well as counseling as needed would be much more effective. Thus, I strongly disagree with the Academy's position opposing the legalization of marijuana.Thomas R Rau MD