cannabisnews.com: Congressional Panel Members Oppose Decrim.





Congressional Panel Members Oppose Decrim.
Posted by FoM on July 14, 1999 at 07:50:49 PT
By Kevin Harris, Herald Washington Bureau 
Source: Miami Herald Online
WASHINGTON -- While a congressional committee discussed the possible decriminalization of illegal drugs Tuesday, the national Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University released a study arguing that decriminalizing marijuana could threaten millions of American children.
Decriminalization has been proposed by some because of the enormous economic and social impact of imprisoning hundreds of thousands of drug users.``Prohibition is hurting us,'' said Robert Stewart, a spokesman for the Drug Policy Foundation in Washington, which advocates legalizing marijuana.``Banning marijuana to everybody, to legal adults, is not solving the problem,'' said Stewart, pointing out that since other drugs, such as cigarettes and alcohol, are legal, the legalization of marijuana should at least be considered.``There is no perfect way to keep drugs out of the hands of kids,'' he said in a telephone interview Tuesday. ``This is something that goes beyond Congress.'' He added that ``the idea of prohibition is tantalizing; it has a counter effect.''But members of Congress rejected that view Tuesday as the House Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources heard testimony on drug legalization proposals.``Drug legalization threatens to undermine our society,'' said Rep. Charles B. Rangel, D-N.Y., former chairman of the Congressional Narcotics Abuse and Control Caucus.The report from the Columbia University center, CASA, supports that view. The study found that in 1996 more teens entered treatment for abusing marijuana than for any other drug, including alcohol. Nearly as many children were admitted for marijuana treatment as for all other substances combined.``Teens who smoke marijuana are playing a dangerous game of Russian roulette,'' said Joseph Califano Jr., CASA president and chairman.Out of 181,784 teens and children who entered treatment in 1996, nearly half were admitted for abusing marijuana. About 35,069 were admitted for alcohol with a secondary drug, 21,594 for alcohol alone. About 5,323 were treated for smoking cocaine, 4,354 for methamphetamines and 4,166 for heroin.More than half the teens in treatment for marijuana were ages 15 to 17.Califano warned, ``Teen experimentation with marijuana should not be considered a casual right of passage.''While Califano's group acknowledges that the medical value of marijuana should be determined by physicians and scientists, it argues that statistical evidence shows abusing marijuana is dangerous and that it can be a ``gateway'' to other drugs. Pubdate: July 14, 1999Copyright 1999 Miami Herald 
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