Pubdate: Tue, 11 Aug 2015 Source: Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ) Copyright: 2015 The Arizona Republic Contact: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/sendaletter.html Website: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/24 Author: Gina Berman Note: Dr. Gina Berman is an emergency room doctor, medical director of Giving Tree Wellness Center Medical Marijuana Dispensary and part of the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol. LEGALIZE MARIJUANA: IT'S SAFER THAN ALCOHOL FOR CONSUMERS, SOCIETY As the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol begins in earnest collecting the thousands of signatures needed to qualify for the 2016 statewide ballot, the voices of those wishing to hang on to prohibition ring loud. But in trying to raise their voices, opponents are failing to advance the debate. Instead, those who want to block Arizona adults from approving the responsible regulation and taxation of marijuana are resorting to scare tactics and faulty stats to advance their arguments. While people like Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk may sincerely believe in her goal of continuing prohibition policies by claiming marijuana is more dangerous than alcohol, she's conveying an erroneous message. The evidence is clear that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol to both the consumer and society. For instance, a study published in Scientific Reports in January found that the mortality risk associated with marijuana was 114 times less than that of alcohol, while there has never been a single confirmed marijuana overdose death in history. Sadly, as an emergency room doctor, I've seen too many cases of alcohol poisoning deaths. And marijuana is significantly less damaging to the body than alcohol, which takes a heavy toll on the liver and other organs. The Centers for Disease Control attributes more than 30,000 U.S. deaths per year to alcohol use. Conversely, studies consistently find that marijuana is not linked to cancer or other long-term health problems. The CDC attributes zero deaths to marijuana consumption. Not surprisingly, the public health costs associated with alcohol use are more than eight times greater than those associated with marijuana, according to a prominent Canadian medical journal study published in 2009. A study published in the November 2011 American Journal of Preventative Medicine found that it costs society $223 billion, or $1.90 per drink. A White House-commissioned study by the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine found that marijuana consumers are less likely to develop dependence than alcohol consumers. Study after study shows marijuana is less harmful than alcohol. But I don't need years-long, peer-reviewed exhaustive studies to know this. I work as an emergency room physician. Nearly every shift, I see the consequences of alcohol abuse. An estimated 35 percent of hospitalized assaults and 20 percent of all injuries are attributed to alcohol use. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine reported that lifetime use of marijuana is rarely associated with emergency room visits. On any given night, I see firsthand the number of people who consumed a few too many drinks. It's gruesome and heart breaking. Marijuana use? Even though it's illegal other than for those with medical marijuana cards, we all know pot is prevalent in our society. But in the 15 years I've been in an emergency room, I can count on one hand the number of people I have seen come in for something stemming from marijuana use. People like Sheila Polk need to learn that marijuana is a far safer alternative to alcohol. There's a debate to be had about whether to make marijuana use for adults legal in Arizona. Valid arguments can be made on both sides. But what appears to be affirmed study after study is that marijuana is safer than alcohol. The verdict is in and I look forward to voters having their say. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom