420: Thoughts on Pot vs. Alcohol from a Former Police Chief

As 5:00 p.m. rolls around my interior clock starts chiming. I'll have an ice-cold, bone-dry martini, thank you. Jalapeno olives and a twist. If the occasion calls for it (temperatures in the twenties, a hot political debate on the tube) I may substitute two fingers of Kentucky sour mash. Four-twenty? Doesn't resonate. But with April 20 approaching and Waldos of the world gearing up to celebrate their favorite day of the year, it's not a bad time to consider, yet again, the pluses and minuses of alcohol vs. cannabis.

First, a disclaimer: I am a member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, but I don't officially represent the organization in this forum. That said, I can't very well check my affiliation, or beliefs, at the keyboard when I sit down to blog for HuffPost. We at LEAP are current and former cops and other criminal justice practitioners who have witnessed firsthand the futility and manifold injustices of the drug war. Our professional experiences have led us to conclude that the more dangerous an illicit substance--from crack to krank--the greater the justification for its legalization, regulation, and control. It is the prohibition of drugs that leads inexorably to high rates of death, disease, crime, and addiction.

Back to booze vs. pot. How do the effects of these two drugs stack up against specific health and public safety factors?

Alcohol-related traffic accidents claim approximately 14,000 lives each year, down significantly from 20 or 30 years ago (attributed to improved education and enforcement). Figures for THC-related traffic fatalities are elusive, especially since alcohol is almost always present in the blood as well, and since the numbers of "marijuana-only" traffic fatalities are so small. But evidence from studies, including laboratory simulations, feeds the stereotype that those under the influence of canniboids tend to (1) be more aware of their impaired psychomotor skills, and (2) drive well below the speed limit. Those under the influence of alcohol are much more likely to be clueless or defiant about their condition, and to speed up and drive recklessly.

Hundreds of alcohol overdose deaths occur annually. There has never been a single recorded marijuana OD fatality.

According to the American Public Health Association, excessive alcohol consumption is the third leading cause of death in this country. APHA pegs the negative economic impact of extreme drinking at $150 billion a year.

There have been no documented cases of lung cancer in a marijuana-only smoker, nor has pot been scientifically linked to any type of cancer. (Don't trust an advocate's take on this? Try the fair and balanced coverage over at Fox.) Alcohol abuse contributes to a multitude of long-term negative health consequences, notably cirrhosis of the liver and a variety of cancers.

While a small quantity, taken daily, is being touted for its salutary health effects, alcohol is one of the worst drugs one can take for pain management, marijuana one of the best.

Alcohol contributes to acts of violence; marijuana reduces aggression. In approximately three million cases of reported violent crimes last year, the offender had been drinking. This is particularly true in cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, and date rape. Marijuana use, in and of itself, is absent from both crime reports and the scientific literature. There is simply no link to be made.

Over the past four years I've asked police officers throughout the U.S. (and in Canada) two questions. When's the last time you had to fight someone under the influence of marijuana? (I'm talking marijuana only, not pot plus a six-pack or a fifth of tequila.) My colleagues pause, they reflect. Their eyes widen as they realize that in their five or fifteen or thirty years on the job they have never had to fight a marijuana user. I then ask: When's the last time you had to fight a drunk? They look at their watches.

All of which begs the question. If one of these two drugs is implicated in dire health effects, high mortality rates, and physical violence--and the other is not--what are we to make of our nation's marijuana laws? Or alcohol laws, for that matter.

Anybody out there want to launch a campaign for the re-prohibition of alcohol? Didn't think so. The answer, of course, is responsible drinking. Marijuana smokers, for their part, have already shown (apart from that little matter known as the law) greater responsibility in their choice of drugs than those of us who choose alcohol.

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Comments

[Cybersquirt]

It's obvious you haven't smoked, Norm. If you did, the difference would be QUITE obvious. While I'm glad you can cite statistics, you should consider smoking "investigative research" before you write another article on this subject.

[mgrager]

Mr. Stamper, thank you for putting a reputable voice to the legalization movement.
You truly are a man of the moment, read about it here: http://mgrager.wordpress.com/

[odyssey58]

Great post Mr. Stampers. I heard you on the Thom Hartmann show and I was nodding in agreement most of the time. It's great to see your article HuffPo.

[FoundingMothers]

How about aother scenario: If I had a teenage daughter and I had the choice of her sitting in a room with young men who had too much to drink or a room with young men who had been smoking marijuana, which would I choose.

I would fear for her safety in the room with drinkers.
I would not worry about her with the pot smokers.

[worldlyhick]

Thank you Mr. Stamper for these valuable articles. They promote discussion and provide opportunities to counter the propaganda of the prohibitionists.

There have been so many victims of this War on Cannabis, good people who have been persecuted for using a therapeutic plant. That propaganda takes precedence over scientific assessment of this and other issues speaks to a larger failing in our system that desperately needs to be addressed.

[cke]

I believe the fundamental objection that society has had towards legalizing pot is that marijuana is a substance taken purely to produce recreational intoxication. And we have legislated that intoxication is morally bad and thus prohibited (getting drunk at home & orgasms still ok). All the other arguments like bad health or safety impacts were brought up only to objectively justify this emotional moral legal position.

We currently have no structures in place for permitted, controlled intoxication and therefore do not have things like pharmacies distributing controlled heroin as in UK, or states taxing legal marijuana sales (even though California could really use the revenue).
The consequences to our legal postures are continuing border crimes and violence, burdened expensive penal systems, and compromised ethical authority by continuing discredited legal justifications.

[WhatDaBleep]

In my opinion there are 2 main reasons that Marijuana is illegal -

1. It does have beneficial medical benefits and the drug companies cannot patten them so they lobby to keep them illegal.

2. Marijuana protects people from being influenced by external mind control effort of the media and the military. Marijuana was not actually made illegal until after law enforcement started arresting people for its use and when it was made illegal was definitely after the Government Mind control experiments with LSD, THC and other chemicals. That is when the government made real efforts toward stopping Marijuana.

Number 2 is the main reason I believe that Marijuana remains illegal - there is no other reason for such a staunch attitude from the Government on this. Law enforcement agencies really don't care they only do what they are told - so it has to be an outside influence that continues to keep Marijuana illegal.

That's my 2 cents.

[Nicon]

The government knows Marijuana is medicine. They just don't want to know how well it works.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RHATD1a_yw

[portwes]

This is America, people. Europeans are socially enlightened, we are not. Europeans are progressive, we are not. It's frustrating, sure, but it's not going to change in my lifetime (of which there is not a he11 of a lot left!). Hypocrisy forever!

[Trap805]

Here's a report on studies that show red wine and marijuana may serve to fight Alzheimer's Disease:

http://www.miller-mccune.com/politics/attacking-alzheimer's-with-a-tipple-and-a-toke-841

[fredamae]

It is Biologically Impossible to become addicted to Cannabis. It simply does Not have the chemical agents contained within it to "trigger" that part of the brain (pleasure center) as does Cocaine, Nicotine, Caffeine, Alcohol, Heroin, Prescribed drugs etc do.
I am not a professional, but the Science that proves it, is there.
http://www.ukcia.org/research/gettman.htm

[MELYKIN]

Lots of people are addicted to Cannabis. My daughter is addicted to it. She has smoked it every day for 5 years. If she tries to go without it she can't sleep or eat and gets extremely tense and irritable, and has major cravings. She has told me herself she is addicted to it.

For many years in the second half of the 20th century it was thought by psychologists, etc. that it was not addictive. Now, slowly, scientists are realizing that this was a mistake and it certainly is addictive. About 10 - 20% of people who try it will become addicted. People who are addicted to it have known for years that it is addictive. Ask the people at Marijuana Anonymous.
http://www.ma-online.org/stories.html

[zenlikejen]

You know...for every 'substance' - there's someone who's 'hopelessly' addicted to it.

Watch a few episodes of Interventi­on.....the­re are SO many things out there that require more attention than the Cannabis addict.

[fredamae]

I refer you to this chart, NIDA
http://www.mamas.org/Images/HazardPotential.pdf

I am truly sorry your daughter is having difficulties. There are always going to be an exception, the exception, however does Not represent the majority and the Majority of Cannabis Consumers Never develop dependence issues.

I would seek to get to the reasons why my child initially began to use Cannabis before I blamed the method of relief sought for the condition.

I wish your daughter and you the very best, but I kindly suggest Cannabis is not the root of the problem.

[Identity]

*Sigh*

No, let's clear this up. I get real fed up hearing this argument. As someone studying psychology I can tell you for a fact that there are two classifications of addiction. Physical and mental. Physical comes from the 'pleasure centers' in our brains being activated by a chemical found in a drug. Cocaine, Nicotine, Alcohol...­they all activate those pleasure centers thus creating a biochemical need for the drug. That's what most of us think of when we here the term 'addicted'.

What you're daughter is talking about is completely different. That is a mental or psychological addiction. That means that there is no biochemical need, it is simply a strong desire. That 10 - 20% you speak of that will get addicted, won't get addicted due to the pot; they will get addicted because of a lack of willpower. If they were not smoking, they would find some other substance to form a psychological crutch to.

[Nicon]

true, but the symptoms of withdrawal are pretty soft. you hit all of them. Had your daughter become a legal drunk rather than an illegal pot head, drank daily for 5 years and quit cold turkey Death is a possibility.

With Marijuana your kind of an prick for a few days, and then your fine, studies have shown Marijuana withdrawal to be comparable to caffeine.

its a non harmful substance.

[walk0nwalls]

Dude, it cannot be chemically termed addictive because the brain doesn't develop a chemical dependency on it.

Your daughter has a very severe habit, it is NOT an addiction because she doesn't have a chemical dependency on it.

[Alex TX]

The war against drugs is a money making business. Prisons are a money making business. How are you going to replace all those jobs for the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agents), prisons, prison officers, and other suppliers? It is similiar to the US automakers. It is too big too fall.

[Akat1973]

I agree with this post. What truly gets under my skin is when someone is sitting in jail for pot--While someone who molests,rapes or murders A CHILD--gets LESS time and are put back into the streets!!!AND Pedophiles are NOT able to be cured,they always reoffend,and have countless victims. My little daughter cannot even ride her bike around her own house.We live by her grade school in a really nice neighborhood,it seems.Howe­ver, If I go to watch dog .org I see so many sex offenders living just as close to the school as legally possible. The school even put a huge poster up of one of these child molesters,because they had to warn us,and the children that he moved in too close to the school!
Essentially disrupting and scaring the children.I­s this what it comes too?My daughter and I have to watch out for everything. I feel that these people are somewhat terrorists­,constantl­y looking for their next human target.WHA­T DO WE HAVE TO DO TO GET THESE CREEPS PUT AWAY??!!!
Meanwhile, my sweet little Grandma wishes she could have a little relief from her pain and nausea,and prays for the day she can legally smoke pot to help her get through her illness.

[BusGreg]

The time to abandon the miserably failed war on drugs that has been based on fear mongering, lies and pandering to the Prison Industrial Complex. We as a Nation can no longer afford to supply the drug cartels with money to buy assault weapons while wasting billions of dollars annually on incarcerating non-violent drug users. We can also no longer afford to refuse to allow those of us who wish to enjoy cannabis to pay a fair tax. Get real Congress, your lies about cannabis don't convince anyone, and we the people are tired of the waste of our money and Congress' pandering to special interests.
LEGALIZE HEMP! LEGALIZE MEDICAL CANNABIS AND LEGALIZE RECREATIONAL USE FOR ADULTS NOW!!!
We as a Nation have been forced to waste over a TRILLION dollars on this quixotic endeavor and enough is enough!

[Identity]

Then do something about it. That's why no policies have changed over the years. We Americans love to talk the talk, but never seem to have the time or energy to walk the walk.

Grant it, I totally agree with you. But you see my point i'm sure...

[ECBA88]

A nonbinding ballot question in Massachusetts in 2004 called for the legalization and taxation of marijuana. It passed with 60%. The legislature did nothing. In 2008, a binding ballot question called for decriminalization of possession under 1 ounce, reducing the penalty to a $100 fine for those over 18, and a fine plus a drug education program for minors. It passed with the same roughly 60% of the vote.

This month, two Massachusetts state legislators (one, I'm proud to say, from my district) introduced a pair of bills to the state House and Senate to do exactly what the 2004 vote instructed the legislature to do. It doesn't have a great chance of passing.

People need to be in contact with their state and federal legislators to tell them that this IS a mainstream issue! The center has come around on this, and it's mostly the politicians dragging their feet, afraid to look too "out there" or "soft on drugs." We need a massive upwelling of public support for legalization from across the socioeconomic spectrum to make this happen.

[livelongandprosper]

I find these arguments rather shallow, but I give credit where credit is due. Mr Stamper, you have the experience and the service upon which to form your opinions. Mine are less informed, but mine none the less, so here it goes...

LEAP believes you can improve the general "drug war" situation by regulating drugs. How exactly will that work? I go to my Dr., say I am really interested in getting stoned this weekend, he/she give me a script and off I go? Really? We will start putting Drs in the position of prescibing recreational drugs? If something is regulated but not freely available as say cigs or alcohol, there will still be a black market for it. There will still be crime.

On the topic of driving stoned...I am astonished at the framework you present. Alcohol is certainly responsible for more accidents. It is widely and legally served where people need to drive to get home. Many do not drink responsibly and they break the law when they get behind the wheel. Your supposition that stoned drivers are more careful is dangerous.

My bottom line is that alcohol can be used responsibly. I can have a beer with friends after work and drive home unimpaired. I take one b0ng hit at the local h@sh bar and I am impaired - drugs cannot be used responsibly. In my view the debate is that simple.

[StevenevetS]

One bong hit and you are impaired. You know nothing about which you speak.

Go to a doctor for recreational drugs? Do you get a script for booze?

Please, if you have no knowledge and only uninformed opinions, then you really have nothing to contribute.

[Principaldad]

The ironic thing about his claim is that the single beer DOES impair driving.

[livelongandprosper]

Hmmm, maybe not Steve, it has been many (clean) years. But if memory served, those who did not smoke much would get high on a single hit. If you are huffing regularly, it may take more - as I suspect is true in your case.

[AmbivalentGuy]

"My bottom line is that alcohol can be used responsibl­y."

"drugs cannot be used responsibly"

So alcohol is Not a drug in your book?
Only one other place to put it - a poison.

[fredamae]

"On the topic of driving stoned...I am astonished at the framework you present. Alcohol is certainly responsible for more accidents. It is widely and legally served where people need to drive to get home. Many do not drink responsibly and they break the law when they get behind the wheel. Your supposition that stoned drivers are more careful is dangerous.­"

Response:
"The study concludes that though cannabis does have an effect on driving ability, that alcohol is much worse, and that marijuana users notice their impairment and compensate by driving slower and more carefully.­"
http://www.fcda.org/driving.htm

No one should drive while impaired from Any cause, be it Sleep Deprivation, Hangovers, Prescribed/OTC drugs, stress and illness and etc.
However, if I were to have a Choice of Which Impaired Driver I would travel alongside/with, It WOULD be the person using Cannabis!

[AntiSocialite]

I'll second that.

Additionally, I would love to see a study done on the effect of cannabis on road rage. I only bring this up since it seems to be creeping into the news at every opportunity, but I'm fairly sure that no one in a road rage incident has ever been high.

Peace

[ECBA88]

Driving stoned is probably a bit less dangerous than driving drunk, but not necessarily by a lot. People shouldn't drive high just like they shouldn't drive drunk. It's that simple, and not an effective argument against legalization.

Oh, and even if you are impaired after an intense bong rip or two, you'll be fine in 45 minutes. And unlike with alcohol, which is processed by your body at a steady rate, no amount of smoked marijuana will leave you intoxicated much over 3 hours.

And I do think the argument that a stoned person will notice their impairment more than a drunk person is legitimate.