Alcohol vs Marijuana - Comparative Essay
Hizer Cole Hizer English Composition Professor Martin 11/7/12
Common Nonsense In America, competition always comes in two 's, in the political landscape we have the Republicans versus the Democrats, the forever dueling Coca-Cola and Pepsi, fast food giants Burger King and McDonalds, but when it comes to inebriation only two substances remain, Marijuana and Alcohol. Both of these substances continue to be an ever growing source of debate throughout the United States. But while Alcohol is legal, marijuana remains illegal. Making a substance illegal would mean that it is detrimental to a persons ' mental and physical state, therefore, a legal substance is by definition healthier. But what if that isn 't the case? According to the World Health Organization, in the year 2011 four percent of deaths worldwide are attributed to Alcohol usage while a total of zero deaths in all of medical history are linked to marijuana usage. So why is Alcohol legal while Marijuana is not? Marijuana or Cannabis, has been described by an administrative law judge at the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as, “one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man.”(3) The federal government even reports that over 100 million U.S. Citizens admit to smoking Marijuana yet they still deem it as one of society 's most dangerous drugs. One might wonder how a substance demonized by many of America 's elected officials remains so popular among the American public. “Perhaps the answer is that politicians and the main stream media are just reinforcing each others talking points, while much of the rest of America now accepts
Hizer marijuana for what it is, a relatively safe substance that is frequently used responsibly by million of people.” (Chelsea Green, 2009) Well, that may be the case for a certain segment of the population, but this enlightened attitude is far from universal. So just how many Americans regularly consume pot and alcohol? According to 2007 data published by the
Common Nonsense In America, competition always comes in two 's, in the political landscape we have the Republicans versus the Democrats, the forever dueling Coca-Cola and Pepsi, fast food giants Burger King and McDonalds, but when it comes to inebriation only two substances remain, Marijuana and Alcohol. Both of these substances continue to be an ever growing source of debate throughout the United States. But while Alcohol is legal, marijuana remains illegal. Making a substance illegal would mean that it is detrimental to a persons ' mental and physical state, therefore, a legal substance is by definition healthier. But what if that isn 't the case? According to the World Health Organization, in the year 2011 four percent of deaths worldwide are attributed to Alcohol usage while a total of zero deaths in all of medical history are linked to marijuana usage. So why is Alcohol legal while Marijuana is not? Marijuana or Cannabis, has been described by an administrative law judge at the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as, “one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man.”(3) The federal government even reports that over 100 million U.S. Citizens admit to smoking Marijuana yet they still deem it as one of society 's most dangerous drugs. One might wonder how a substance demonized by many of America 's elected officials remains so popular among the American public. “Perhaps the answer is that politicians and the main stream media are just reinforcing each others talking points, while much of the rest of America now accepts
Hizer marijuana for what it is, a relatively safe substance that is frequently used responsibly by million of people.” (Chelsea Green, 2009) Well, that may be the case for a certain segment of the population, but this enlightened attitude is far from universal. So just how many Americans regularly consume pot and alcohol? According to 2007 data published by the
Cited: 1.) Fox, Steve, Paul Armentano, and Mason Tvert. Marijuana Is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People to Drink? White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green Pub., 2009. Print 2.) "Drug Free World: Substance & Alcohol Abuse, Education & Prevention." Drug Free World: Substance & Alcohol Abuse, Education & Prevention. Drug Free World Organization, 2006. Web. 07 Nov. 2012. . 3.) "Marijuana vs. Alcohol." SAFER - Marijuana vs. Alcohol. SAFER Organization, 31 Jan. 2007. Web. 07 Nov. 2012. 4.) Armentano, Paul. "Alternet | Alternative News and Information." Alternet. N.p., 27 Oct. 2007. Web. 07 Nov. 2012. 5.) "National Institute on Drug Abuse." National Institute on Drug Abuse. United States Goverment, Nov. 2010. Web. 07 Nov. 2012. 6.) "Marijuana Vs. Alcohol for Teen-Agers." New York Times. (1992). Print 7.) Alcohol Research & Health: The Journal of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Rockville, Md.: Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, 1999. Print 8.) Hochman, Joel S. Marijuana and Social Evolution. Englewood Cliffs, N.J: Prentice-Hall, 1972. Print. 9.) "Advisory Council on Misuse of Drugs." Home Office. Goverment of the United Kingdom, n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2012. .