The Physicians' Case for Marijuana Legalization

For decades, preventive education reduced the rates of alcohol and tobacco use by minors, whereas underage marijuana use has fluctuated despite its prohibition for adults. Since the 1970s, 80% to 90% of those aged 18 years have consistently reported easy access to the drug.4 Unfortunately, prohibiti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of public health (1971) 2017-11, Vol.107 (11), p.1746-1747
Main Authors: Nathan, David L, Clark, H Westley, Elders, Joycelyn
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Adults
AJPH s
Alcohol
Arrests
Attitude of Health Personnel
Cannabis
Cannabis industry
Children
Criminal statistics
Decriminalization
Drug abuse
Drug legalization
Drug policy
Drug trafficking
Drug use
Drugs
Editorials
Elders, Joycelyn
Female
Fines & penalties
Government
Government waste
Health care industry
Health Policy
Health Professionals
Health services
Human Rights
Humans
Legislation, Drug
Male
Marijuana
Marijuana Smoking - legislation & jurisprudence
Medical Marijuana
Medical personnel
Mental health
Mental health care
Middle Aged
Minors
Organized crime
Physicians
Physicians - psychology
Prohibition
Public health
Public Opinion
Regulation
Socioeconomic Factors
Substance Use
Teenagers
Tobacco
United States
Citations: Items that cite this one
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Description
Summary:For decades, preventive education reduced the rates of alcohol and tobacco use by minors, whereas underage marijuana use has fluctuated despite its prohibition for adults. Since the 1970s, 80% to 90% of those aged 18 years have consistently reported easy access to the drug.4 Unfortunately, prohibition sends the message that marijuana is dangerous for everyone, because it is illegal for everyone, and children know that is not true. [...]where marijuana is merely decriminalized, the point of sale remains in the hands of drug dealers, who will sell marijuana- as well as more dangerous drugs-to children. [...]under a decriminalized system, the government prosecutes marijuana growers and sellers, thus constricting the supply chain.
ISSN:0090-0036
1541-0048
DOI:10.2105/AJPH.2017.304052