The New York Times made headlines not to long ago by coming out in favor of marijuana legalization. Our national partners at the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids issued the following statement as a response to this article and as a message to parents everywhere. This week's blog highlights Partnership for Drug-Free Kids CEO, Steve Pasierb's, response.

To the Editor:

As your July 27 editorial “Repeal Prohibition, Again” says: “There are legitimate concerns about marijuana on the development of adolescent brains. For that reason, we advocate the prohibition of sales to people under 21.”

Our concern about legalization is its effect on kids. Society may not do much better at enforcing this restriction on sale and marketing of marijuana to kids than we have with alcohol and tobacco. Research shows that use of any of these drugs in adolescence — especially early adolescence — significantly heightens risks of substance use disorders in later life.

We need to provide a much better prevention and treatment infrastructure, which expanded access to marijuana and increasing teenage use will require. That begins with limiting marijuana marketing that kids will be exposed to, and equipping parents with information about the very real health risks of early use.

These are not details to be sorted later, but vital considerations. These are the considerations that matter most to us, and to most parents, including — research shows — those favoring legalization.

STEVE PASIERB
President and Chief Executive
Partnership for Drug-Free Kids
New York, July 29, 2014