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Marijuana is a much bigger part of the American addiction problem than most people - teens or adults - realize.

Teen drug use went up dramatically in the 1990s.

There are many drugs that have many serious side effects and that are harmful to people. Marijuana is no different than that. And especially we should try to discourage young people from using marijuana.

In recent years, we have been sending a clear, consistent signal about the harms of drugs, particularly marijuana, which for most young people is the first illegal drug that they are exposed to.

Even if one takes every reefer madness allegation of the prohibitionists at face value, marijuana prohibition has done far more harm to far more people than marijuana ever could.

All too many young people are receiving mixed messages and inaccurate information about drugs.

We all have an interest in making sure teens grow up healthy and drug-free.

Kids are going to try drugs and alcohol; that's part of society.

Today's marijuana is also twice as strong as it was in the mid 80's.

I just think it's shocking how many of these young people wind up in prison and they get turned into hardcore criminals because they had a possession of a very small amount of controlled substance.