USA TODAY's article "Marijuana's celebrity stigma goes up in smoke" exposes the real problem with celebrities using marijuana: the effect it has on their young fans.

Research finds that the developing adolescent brain is more vulnerable to the damaging effects of marijuana. And marijuana is the most common drug cited in addiction treatment admissions among teens. The younger teens are when they use marijuana, the higher the risk of addiction.

Unfortunately, our culture is rife with messages that encourage marijuana use. It's no wonder teen marijuana use has risen.

What celebrities do and say in public affects our children. We need to be responsible about the substance use messages we send to children. Any substance use by children is risky to their health and development.

Emily C. Feinstein, program director; The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University; New York

Comments from Facebook:

I don't care about celebrities. They are the last people I would ask for advice on anything. That said, the whole "plant police" nonsense has to end.

It's time to grow up, America. We can no longer afford to maintain prohibition against marijuana.

Chas Holman

Hedonistic habits and celebrity lifestyles go hand in hand.

If you were living the high life of yacht parties, exclusive resort vacations and luxury shopping sprees, knowing it could all vanish in a pop cultural instant, wouldn't you be doing it too? Of course you would.

Kristopher Spencer

A vice is a vice. That vice can be anything that people use and abuse: food, texting, sex, drinking or smoking cigarettes.

Maybe many people just don't understand how many very respected, intelligent and hardworking people smoke pot.

Plain and simple: Pot has been found to be safe and has medical benefits.

Sean Elstins