published Stoneham Sun, March 2, 2005
Officer Rotondi's Feb. 24 article is a very good example of why we need to start talking
differently about drugs. Parents who tell their kids not to use marijuana still need to be
vigilant in looking for indicators of use shows: 1. Some kids will do things their parents
don't want them to do, and 2. law enforcement has been unsuccessful in enforcing
abstinence through arresting people on marijuana charges.
Children should not use drugs recreationally; almost all parents agree. But Officer
Rotondi's approach, raising anxiety by making frightening assertions, is a strategy that
has failed for the 120 (not 20) years it has been practiced. It will not reduce the use of
marijuana, and may spur some people to use drugs to treat their anxiety about illegal
drugs.
The problem is, we want to reduce drug use, but we have never scared or arrested our way
to a reduction in use, much less abstinence. Marijuana use was localized and subcultural
at the turn of the 20th century, the very same policies that were supposed to keep people
from using marijuana, helped lead to its popularity in the 1960s.
We've reduced tobacco use without prohibiting it and without feeling the need to tell
people, "Don't think it can't happen to you." We need to better control
marijuana, and there's no evidence that prohibition and promoting anxiety are achieving
this.
Keith Saunders
Bexley Road
