Petitions to regulate Marijuana like alcohol or remove its schedule I status have been met with the argument that the reason why marijuana is illegal is "based in science". Not only is new research being conducted that contradicts many of the previous "facts" about the detrimental effects of marijuana, but it is ridiculous to say that its illegal for purely health reasons when substances proven to be more dangerous that marijuana are currently legal. Tobacco is responsible for "about one in five deaths annually" (CDC). Alcohol abuse kills around 75,000 a year and shortens the lives of those who abuse it by about 30 years (CDC). Comparing nicotine, heroin, cocaine, alcohol, caffeine, and marijuana, the NIDA reports marijuana as least severe in withdrawal, dependence and intoxication.
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