NORTHWEST CENTER FOR
HEALTH & SAFETY
419 E. 4TH ST., #A209 l LA CENTER, WA 98629
PH: 360-263-5905 l FAX: 360-263-3964
August 25, 2004
NO LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA
American Academy of Pediatrics
The June issue of Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of
Pediatrics, featured a policy statement entitled "Legalization of
Marijuana: Potential Impact on Youth." It should be noted that
their two recommendations (see below) endorse scientific research on
cannabinoids, not cannabis/marijuana, i.e., legitimate scientific research into
possible medical applications for the more than 60 cannabinoids found in the
marijuana plant.
"RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. The American Academy of Pediatrics opposes the legalization of marijuana
2. The
The Policy statement notes:
"In contrast [to their recommendation for scientific research] the
significant neuropharmacologic, cognitive,
behavioral, and somatic consequences of acute and long-term marijuana use are
well known and include negative effects on short-term memory, concentration,
attention span, motivation, and problem solving, which clearly interfere with
learning; adverse effects on coordination, judgment, reaction time, and
tracking ability, which contribute substantially to unintentional deaths and
injuries among adolescents (especially those associated with motor vehicles);
and negative health effects with repeated use similar to effects seen with
smoking tobacco."
With regard to increased use with liberalization or decriminalization of
marijuana use, the Technical Report on which the recommendations are based
notes:
"From 1984 to 1996, the period during which Dutch prosecution of
marijuana-related offenses became virtually nonexistent, marijuana use
increased consistently and substantially until 1992 while decreasing or
remaining stable in other countries. Among 18 to 20-year-olds, the
proportion who reported ever having used marijuana increased from 15% to 44%,
and the proportion who reported using it within the previous 30 days increased
from 8.5% to 18.5%. Use among adolescents in the
It should be noted that in 1992 President Clinton appointed Dr. Joycelyn Elders as Surgeon General, an individual who,
advised by Eric Sterling and other proponents of legalization, publicly
endorsed medicalization of marijuana. This gave
youth the perception that marijuana was not only harmless, but that it was
medicine and is thought to be the impetus behind the upsurge in marijuana use
that began in that year.
Sandra S. Bennett, Director
gabriel364@aol.com