Thoughts On Pot vs. Alcohol From Former Police Chief
By Norm Stamper Of LEAP http://leap.cc
As 5:00 p.m. rolls around my interior clock starts chiming. I’ll have an ice-cold, bone-dry martini, thank you. Jalapeno olives and a twist. If the occasion calls for it (temperatures in the twenties, a hot political debate on the tube) I may substitute two fingers of Kentucky sour mash. Four-twenty? Doesn’t resonate. But with April 20 approaching and
More..Waldos of the world gearing up to celebrate their favorite day of the year, it’s not a bad time to consider, yet again, the pluses and minuses of alcohol vs. cannabis.
First, a disclaimer: I am a member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, but I don’t officially represent the organization in this forum. That said, I can’t very well check my affiliation, or beliefs, at the keyboard when I sit down to blog for HuffPost. We at LEAP are current and former cops and other criminal justice practitioners who have witnessed firsthand the futility and manifold injustices of the drug war. Our professional experiences have led us to conclude that the more dangerous an illicit substance–from crack to krank–the greater the justification for its legalization, regulation, and control. It is the prohibition of drugs that leads inexorably to high rates of death, disease, crime, and addiction.
Back to booze vs. pot. How do the effects of these two drugs stack up against specific health and public safety factors?
Alcohol-related traffic accidents claim approximately 14,000 lives each year, down significantly from 20 or 30 years ago (attributed to improved education and enforcement). Figures for THC-related traffic fatalities are elusive, especially since alcohol is almost always present in the blood as well, and since the numbers of “marijuana-only” traffic fatalities are so small. But evidence from studies, including laboratory simulations, feeds the stereotype that those under the influence of canniboids tend to (1) be more aware of their impaired psychomotor skills, and (2) drive well below the speed limit. Those under the influence of alcohol are much more likely to be clueless or defiant about their condition, and to speed up and drive recklessly.
Hundreds of alcohol overdose deaths occur annually. There has never been a single recorded marijuana OD fatality.
According to the American Public Health Association, excessive alcohol consumption is the third leading cause of death in this country. APHA pegs the negative economic impact of extreme drinking at $150 billion a year.
There have been no documented cases of lung cancer in a marijuana-only smoker, nor has pot been scientifically linked to any type of cancer. (Don’t trust an advocate’s take on this? Try the fair and balanced coverage over at Fox.) Alcohol abuse contributes to a multitude of long-term negative health consequences, notably cirrhosis of the liver and a variety of cancers.
While a small quantity, taken daily, is being touted for its salutary health effects, alcohol is one of the worst drugs one can take for pain management, marijuana one of the best.
Alcohol contributes to acts of violence; marijuana reduces aggression. In approximatelythree million cases of reported violent crimes last year, the offender had been drinking. This is particularly true in cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, and date rape. Marijuana use, in and of itself, is absent from both crime reports and the scientific literature. There is simply no link to be made.
Over the past four years I’ve asked police officers throughout the U.S. (and in Canada) two questions. When’s the last time you had to fight someone under the influence of marijuana? (I’m talking marijuana only, not pot plus a six-pack or a fifth of tequila.) My colleagues pause, they reflect. Their eyes widen as they realize that in their five or fifteen or thirty years on the job they have never had to fight a marijuana user. I then ask: When’s the last time you had to fight a drunk? They look at their watches.
All of which begs the question. If one of these two drugs is implicated in dire health effects, high mortality rates, and physical violence–and the other is not–what are we to make of our nation’s marijuana laws? Or alcohol laws, for that matter.
Anybody out there want to launch a campaign for the re-prohibition of alcohol? Didn’t think so. The answer, of course, is responsible drinking. Marijuana smokers, for their part, have already shown (apart from that little matter known as the law) greater responsibility in their choice of drugs than those of us who choose alcohol. Less..
Added: Apr 27 2009 In: yoursay
Recorded on: Apr 27 2009
By: Teahupoo 
- Views: 2091 |
- Votes: 4 |
- Recommendations: 0 |
- Comments: 20
Comments - sort by newest to oldest
ALcohol is more dangerous than THC, i agree with you all the way. but avoiding them both is good for your health and your wealth.
man ,nice place you're living in.
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Posted Apr-27-2009 by "BANBANBANG" (R)
do those tranfers wash off?
Posted Apr-27-2009 by "paulingrad" (R)
man ,nice place you're living in.
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Thanks for seeing what I am trying to get across. I am not saying that cannabis is harmless, but it is nowhere near as dangerous as alcohol, tobacco, or pharmaceutical drugs. Should be allowed as a choice for responsible ADULTS.
T
Posted Apr-27-2009 by "Teahupoo" (R)
I drink, and I don't smoke weed.
Drinking and driving is heroic, mostly coz you might totally ruin your life by ruining someone else's.
Smoke driving is still hazardous, but considering you're inevitably going 30km with a carload of paranoid ****s dying to alert you to any oversight, it doesn't usually end up a big problem.
Cheers Ciaopu! (that's how you write it in Italian!)
Posted Apr-27-2009 by "ChockFullOfNuts" (R)
i've seen alot of people in my life get ****ed up by alcohol. I cannot say the same about weed.
Good Video Brother.
vtd
Posted Apr-27-2009 by "legalfuckup" (B)
Anyone else sick of listening to pro-pot babble from someone who sells paraphernalia?
I mean, I'm not against pot, used to smoke it when I was young. But political ranting (and it is ranting at this point) from someone who sells drug paraphernalia is sort of a conflict of interest.
Posted Apr-27-2009 by "Gervy" (R)
BAHAHAHAHHAHA!
He must have bought a lot of bubblegum to get those :)
Posted Apr-27-2009 by "Travis1975" (R)
Most crime related to marijuana is due to the fact it's unlawful, for example theft of electricity would not happen if people didn't need to hide it. Most growers would gladly pay for it out of the profit they make. Also when you see news about a marijuana bust it's usually the "heard" drugs they where arrested/searched/detained for and the weed gets negative attention. I agree it's not "safe" because it's normally smoked , and lungs are not made for smoke, however a vaporizer does the trick. I also agree children (as with any other legal drugs) should not have it.
Ranting about it is good, after all it was those that "ranted" about declaring illegal that seem to have won.....for now..
Posted Apr-27-2009 by "yoshiegg2000" (R)
I was arrested for oui drugs "marijuana" and i believe it is totally unfair because the affects are totally different im not saying weed is good but they shouldn't be able to punish you with the same consequences of drinking and riving
Posted Apr-27-2009 by "monsonman45" (R)
There should be an "are you infantile?" checkbox when some of these morons sign up for LL.... the most obnoxious tripe spews forth without so much as a spark of thought... big tough mama's asswipes, the only thing they can brag about is that they possess an internet connection... albeit too frightened to go outside and say such immature and nonsensical utterings in public for fear of getting their young peach fuzz faces beaten raw....
At the very least it's scientific proof of the morons and imbeciles that live amongst us.
Posted Apr-27-2009 by "chartsky" (R)
Absolute truth. Been there and see that.
Posted Apr-27-2009 by "Plox" (R)
**** pot
LEGALIZE CRACK
its really good for you
Posted Apr-27-2009 by "JihadKiller1s1k" (R)
1. Don't you have anything else to talk about? Booooring.
2. You called Fox "fair and balanced reporting"??!!! LOL!!
3. There is such a thing as Marijuana-only?
Posted Apr-27-2009 by "jeff9971" (R)
legalize everything...let people make their own decisions...legalize pot now though...any of you guys like Bill Hicks?
Posted Apr-27-2009 by "HrCrimes" (R)
I mean, I'm not against pot, used to smoke it when I was young. But political ranting (and it is ranting at this point) from someone who sells drug paraphernalia is sort of a conflict of interest.
agreed!
Posted Apr-27-2009 by "LipStickCity" (R)