cannabisnews.com: Misleading Conclusion Misleading Conclusion Posted by FoM on August 23, 1999 at 11:41:46 PT Source: Salt Lake Tribune The article titled "Parental Waffling May Boost Teens' Marijuana Usage" (Tribune, July 27) is intentionally misleading. The article asks why parents aren't talking to their children about cannabis use. It goes on to list many inflated survey results that are quite likely calculated in ways that help the surveyors get their point across, regardless of the truth. The article states that "of the 182,000 teens and children who entered treatment in 1996 for substance abuse, nearly half -- 48 percent -- were admitted for marijuana abuse or addiction." Of course, the surveyors forgot to tell you that a majority of the people who are in treatment for marijuana "addiction" were referred by the criminal justice system, not because they were addicted and needed help but as a part of their sentence in lieu of jail time. But the most blatant lie in the article is that "children 12 to 17 who smoke marijuana are 85 more times likely to use cocaine than those who do not." This isn't as true as it may seem. It's easy to lie with statistics. The statement should have read "children 12 to 17 who use cocaine are 85 times more likely to have used marijuana than their non-cocaine-using peers." I would venture to say that 95 percent of motorcycle drivers first tried riding a bicycle. But does that mean that riding a bicycle is a sure bet that later on in life you will be a motorcycle driver? Hardly. Please check the facts before reporting. Don't just parrot the prohibitionists' party line. Pubdate: August 23, 1999 JEREMY CRANFILL Salt Lake City Parental Waffling May Boost Teens' Marijuana Usage-7/27/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread2232.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by FoM on August 23, 1999 at 18:13:05 PT: Crossfire Was Great! Bob Barr sure did hurt his side. He said the woman who sold less then $50 in drugs should go to jail for 5 years! That was heartless. The war on drugs is a failure. I am watching CNBC and they are talking about the drug war! I'm so happy the subject is in the news! I think Governor Johnson is so wise beyond his years! He truly is a good man! He should run for President and I would rally behind him Republican or not!Peace, FoM! [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Rainbow on August 23, 1999 at 16:58:09 PT: Barr looses debate Wow did Barr show his ignorance and stupidity.Barr really hurt the prohibitionists.rainbow [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on August 23, 1999 at 15:54:34 PT: Here's The Web Site! Hi Rainbow!How about it! Johnson and Barr on Crossfire! Unreal! Here's the web site where we will be able to find the transcripts!We might win this darn war! Wouldn't that be great!Peace, FoM! CNN's Crossfire [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Rainbow on August 23, 1999 at 15:14:31 PT: Crossfire This is the wrong place but I do not have e-mail.Tonight on Crossfire (CNN) at 7:30 ET Gov Johnson and Antidemocracy and UnAmerican Senator Barr will square off on the need to change the drug laws.Wow is Bush ever helping the cause.CheersRainbow [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: