Prohibiting marijuana puts children in danger

The New York State Parent Teacher Association is wellmeaning but mistaken in opposing legalization of marijuana for adults. Cannabis prohibition is extremely harmful for children.

1. Ending prohibition in Colorado and Washington has not increased teen drug use. Cannabis and illegal drug use in Colorado among 12- to 17-year-olds went down significantly after legalization in 2014. Colorado was the state with the highest marijuana youth use before legalization, three years later it was seventh.

2. If cannabis leaks out from adult dispensaries to underage users, kids will not smoke more cannabis, but they will smoke safer cannabis. Prohibition leaves users exposed to heavy metals, mold, pesticide and other toxins.

3. Prohibition has bred disrespect among many kids for our law enforcement officers and laws.

4. With prohibition, many kids resort to using “synthetic marijuana” aka “K2” or “Spice.” Several Americans died from synthetic marijuana in 2018. These deaths were due to prohibition.

5. A Medscape poll found a majority of American physicians, psychologists and nurses support legalization.

6. It is devastating for children when parents are incarcerated for selling cannabis. roger Green, MD Woodstock Executive Director, Hudson Valley NORML