Parents should talk to their adolescent children about marijuana and the findings of the Institute of
Medicine study released yesterday. Children are being exposed to a pro-marijuana "spin" of the report's findings, and parents should be certain that young people are hearing the truth about the dangers involved with smoking marijuana.
    Pro-marijuana spokespersons are bombarding the Internet and many talk shows declaring victory for
marijuana as "medicine". Actually, the study re- affirmed the dangers of smoking marijuana. It stated
that the cannabinoid components should be researched for safety, efficacy and better therapeutic
delivery systems, just as science was able to extract penicillin without recommending that people
smoke or eat mold.
    "When we visit with students in schools, conferences or programs, they consistently tell us that
marijuana can't be harmful because it is medicine'," states Susie Dugan, Executive Director of
PRIDE-Omaha, Inc. "They also tell us over and over that their parents don't really talk to them about
drugs."
    There has been a 61% increase in the use of marijuana by ninth through twelfth grade students in
Nebraska from 1993 to 1997.* Research has also shown that children are less likely to use a drug if
they perceive that the use of that drug might harm themselves or others.
    Now would be a good time for parents to get the facts and talk to their children about the dangers of
smoking marijuana. Parents should also convey their strong expectations that their children NOT use
marijuana and should set meaningful consequences if these expectations are not met.