Public commenter urges commission to highlight youth risks from high‑potency marijuana

Peggy Walker of the San Guedo Alliance for Drug Free Youth used the public-comment period to urge Encinitas youth leaders to prioritize information and prevention around adolescent marijuana use. Walker cited a Wall Street Journal piece by Dr. Bertha Madras of Harvard Medical School and listed harms she associates with youth marijuana use: higher addiction risk, increased emergency-room admissions, poisonings, cardiovascular problems, traffic fatalities and psychiatric harms.

"Doctor Madras... wrote in the Wall Street Journal that she's concerned young people don't have the information they need regarding the pitfalls of marijuana use," Walker told commissioners. She said an estimated 30% of users develop dependence and that adolescents' addiction rates are nearly twice that of adults, and she asked commissioners to work with youth with these concerns in mind.

Chair Kelly thanked Walker for the comment. The remarks were made during oral communications and no formal commission action or staff direction was recorded in response during the meeting.

The claim references published commentary (Wall Street Journal column attributed to Dr. Madras) and represents a public appeal rather than a staff briefing or a commission finding. The commission did not issue a formal response or adopt any specific follow-up steps on record during the meeting.