BETWEEN ALCOHOL, MARIJUANA, BOOZE IS NOT LESSER OF 2 EVILS

There has been a long-standing debate over the legalization of
marijuana, and with California's deficit, the issue has been raised
anew. Both sides wait with bated breath, some with pipes in hand, to
see the outcome.

Profits from taxation could be used to help lessen the state
deficit. The tax revenue from cigarettes goes to education. Why
can't tax revenue from legalized marijuana be used in the same manner?

Taxation, regulation, freedom of choice and danger to your life as
well as other's have always been topics for both sides, but the
debate should be non-existent while drugs such as tobacco and
especially alcohol are legal.

Yes, there are other drugs, legal or not, such as OxyContin or
cocaine, that can be far more dangerous. A person's choice of drug
they abuse is not the issue. Nor will legalizing marijuana start the
bandwagon to legalize other harder drugs like heroin or LSD.

People will abuse whatever drug they like - legal or not, safe or
not. Some will drive while under the influence of alcohol, will make
drugs a priority over necessities, and at times resort to drastic
and dangerous measures to get that next high. People do stupid
things, high or not.

Law enforcement checkpoints geared toward catching drunken drivers
seem to help, but the fact that it has come to these measures is
ridiculous. Furthermore, these checkpoints and other measures such
as campaign ads, and severe legal penalties deter some, but not all.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving reports more than half a million
people were injured in crashes where police reported that alcohol
was present - an average of one person injured almost every minute.
Essentially, that is everyone in your English class before the class
is even over! What's worse is that a drunken driver will drive an
average of 87 times before ever getting caught.

MADD also reports that more than 159 million alcohol-impaired
driving trips were taken in 2002, with more than 10 percent (18
million trips) made by 18-20 year-olds.

Canorml.org reveals a 2002 review of seven separate studies involving 7,934.

According to the report, "Crash culpability studies have failed to
demonstrate that drivers with cannabis in the blood are
significantly more likely than drug-free drivers to be culpable in
road crashes."

The report goes on to say, "This result is likely because subjects
under the influence of marijuana are aware of their impairment and
compensate for it accordingly, such as by slowing down and by
focusing their attention when they know a response will be required.
"This reaction is just the opposite of that exhibited by drivers
under the influence of alcohol, who tend to drive in a more risky
manner proportional to their intoxication."

In any given one-month period an estimated 1.85 million Californians
use marijuana, according to Usenodrugs.com. These findings were based
on a study between 2002-2003 and 631,000 were between the ages of
18-25 years old.

This all equates to a big problem. No one is denying the harmful
effects to one's body or to those around them, but marijuana is
clearly not as dangerous. Studies and statistics agree. With so many
marijuana users legalization would be beneficial.

Better statistics could be kept and funding for the long-term effects
of marijuana use could be made available. If we made it legal,
punishment for disobeying set laws could be more severe and police
and other officials would have an easier time regulating usage and safety.

As long as there are drugs in the world, they will be used and
abused, no matter the law, danger or other penalties. It is sad and
unacceptable, but still an uncontrollable reality.

Outlawing alcohol now is highly unlikely. It didn't work before,
alcohol consumption is argued to have actually increased during
prohibition, but to criminalize marijuana while alcohol is legal is
hypocrisy at its finest. It penalizes a group of people who choose to
spend their time and money on other forms of relaxation and fun than alcohol.