Attorney General Martha Coakley said Friday that Question 2, the ballot measure that would decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, sends the wrong message to children and adolescents.

Coakley, a Medford Democrat, was speaking at a conference with legal officials and school officials in Somerville.

"Decriminalization of marijuana will send a message to children and young adults that it is okay to use and abuse illegal substances," Coakley said, according to a statement. "Not only is there a direct link between marijuana use and juvenile crime, but marijuana use is also the primary cause for adolescent inpatient substance abuse treatment. Those of us in the law enforcement community, and perhaps more importantly, those who work directly with children and teenagers, are gravely concerned about the impact any decriminalization will have on our youth."  

A recent poll showed that supporters of Question 2 hold a lead, 51 percent to 32 percent, but that the race is tightening. Several law enforcement personnel, particularly several of the the state's district attorneys, have come out strongly against the measure.