Couple of related articles:
Cannabis Is Safer Than Alcohol
[quote]The Beckley Foundation’s Global Cannabis Commission document said the cannabis ban had backfired and called for a “serious rethink” of drugs policy.
The ban has had little or no impact on supply and has turned users into criminals, it said.
“Although cannabis can have a negative impact on health, including mental health, in terms of relative harms, it is considerably less harmful than alcohol or tobacco,” the report claimed.
Historically there have only been two deaths worldwide attributed to cannabis, whereas alcohol and tobacco together are responsible for an estimated 150,000 deaths per annum in the UK alone.
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…and…
Marijuana — Safer Than Aspirin and Other Legal Drugs
[quote]Cannabis is a safer drug than aspirin and can be used long-term without serious side effects, says a book by a leading Oxford scientist.
The Science of Marijuana, by Dr Leslie Iversen of Oxford University’s department of pharmacology, found many “myths” surrounding marijuana use, such as extreme addictiveness, or links with mental illness or infertility are not supported by science.
He also found cannabis is an inherently “safe drug” which does not lead to cancer, infertility, brain damage or mental illness. Legalisation of the drug for medical conditions should be considered, he says.
Dr Iversen’s findings will increase pressure on the Government to reopen the debate about the decriminalisation of marijuana.[/quote]
Now if only Sanjay Gupta would read these reports! You can read the new surgeon general’s utterly FRAIL reasoning behind his support for the continued criminalization of marijuana - even for medical purposes - at the link attached to his name.