To say that marijuana has been given a bad rap over the past few decades is an understatement. If you’re like most Americans, you have been led to believe that marijuana is a dangerous and addictive drug that has destroyed the lives of millions of teens and adults. You have been encouraged to believe that marijuana causes lung cancer and is a “gateway” to harder drugs. The government has even tried to convince you that most people who use marijuana are losers who sit around on couches all day doing nothing.

What we would like to do is wipe the slate clean and start over. Forget everything you have heard in the past and be open-minded to the truth about marijuana. We are not here to tell you that it is without harms or is some kind of miracle drug. We simply hope you will come to understand that it is far, far less harmful than what your government has told you.

Part of the problem is that many people are simply unfamiliar with marijuana. They have never tried it (or perhaps only tried it a time or two decades ago) and assume the worst. They have been conditioned to think that marijuana use is bad and that people who use it are dangerous or strange or maybe even dirty. They have visions of people using marijuana and being totally zonked out, unable to maintain a regular conversation.

The truth is that marijuana is widely used in a manner quite similar to alcohol. Adults might consume it before enjoying a dinner party with friends. Friends might have a little before engaging in a spirited game of ultimate Frisbee. And spouses – yes, even some couples you know -- might imbibe a bit while enjoying a romantic evening together. Concert-goers have even been known to have a puff or two before or during a show – which more likely than not results in them dancing or otherwise enjoying the music, not lying on the ground like a lump.

None of this is “bad” or “wrong” or “immoral.”  It is simply something that these responsible adults choose to do. And frequently it is something they choose to do specifically instead of alcohol. And for good reason!

Alcohol is more addictive, more toxic, more harmful to the body, and more likely to lead to inter-personal violence than marijuana. Here are just a few statistics:

• According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, approximately 35,000 Americans die each year from the health effects of consuming alcohol. (See p. 25 of the NIAAA Strategic Plan -- FY09-14, available here.) On the other hand, deaths from the health effects of marijuana are extremely rare – and may not even exist. In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control does not even have a category for deaths caused by the health effects of marijuana.

• The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that 25-30% of violent crimes in the United States are related to the use of alcohol. By contrast, the government does not even track violent acts specifically related to marijuana use, as the use of marijuana is not generally associated with violence. (Of course, we should note that marijuana prohibition, by creating a widespread criminal market, is associated with acts of violence.)

• Despite the myths spread throughout our lives about marijuana killing brain cells, it turns out that a growing number of studies seem to indicate that marijuana actually has neuroprotective properties. Meaning, it works to protect brain cells from harm. For example, one recent study found that teens who used marijuana as well as alcohol suffered significantly less damage to the white matter in their brains. Of course, what is beyond question is that alcohol damages brain cells.

• Alcohol use is associated with a wide variety of cancers , including cancers of the esophagus, stomach, colon, lungs, pancreas, liver and prostate. Marijuana use has not been conclusively associated with any form of cancer. In fact, one study recently contradicted the long-time government claim that marijuana use is associated with head and neck cancers. It found that marijuana use actually reduced the likelihood of head and neck cancers.

• Finally, if you are concerned about marijuana being associated with lung cancer, you may be interested in the results of the largest case-controlled study ever conducted to investigate the respiratory effects of marijuana smoking and cigarette smoking. Released in 2006, the study, conducted by Dr. Donald Tashkin at the University of California at Los Angeles, found that marijuana smoking was not associated with an increased risk of developing lung cancer. Surprisingly, they found that people who smoked marijuana actually had lower incidences of cancer compared to non-users of the drug.

If you still have concerns about the adult use of marijuana – or simply want to be better educated on the subject – we hope that you will do additional research on your own. Click here for some useful resources.