There are hundreds of alcohol overdose deaths each year, yet there has
never been a marijuana overdose death in history.

-Excessive alcohol
consumption is the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States
and is associated with multiple adverse health consequences, including liver
cirrhosis, various cancers, and violence.

-Almost half of all traffic fatalities are alcohol related.
(20
percent of alcohol-related traffic deaths involve blood alcohol concentration
levels below .10 percent.)

-If an alcoholic suddenly withdraws
from alcohol, he or she may suffer delirium tremens. D.T.s sometimes end in
death.

-Many people who apparently die from overdoses of sleeping pills
(barbiturates), actually die from a combination of alcohol and the medication.

-One quarter of all emergency room admissions, one-third of all
suicides, and more than half of all homicides and incidents of domestic violence
are alcohol related.

-Between 48 and 64 percent of people who die in
fires have blood alcohol levels indicating intoxication.

-Alcohol is
abused by some 14 million Americans and contributes to the deaths of 100,000
each year.

-According to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, 65 percent of fatal drunk-driving deaths involve drivers whose
blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is .15 or higher.

-The risk of
hemorrhagic stroke is three times higher among heavy drinkers.

-Large amounts of alcohol (such as a quart if drunk in five to thirty minutes)
may occasionally cause death by anesthetizing the brain center that controls
breathing.

-About 20 percent of those people who commit suicide are
alcohol abusers, according to the National Mental Health Association.

-About 20 percent of suicide victims are alcoholics.

-Alcohol is
clearly the drug with the most evidence to support a direct
intoxication-violence relationship. Cannabis reduces likelihood of violence
during intoxication… Source: Hoaken, Peter N.S., Sherry H. Stewart. Journal of
Addictive Behaviors. 28, pages 1533-1554. Drugs of abuse and the elicitation of
human aggressive behavior. Dept. of Psychology, University of Western Ontario.
Dept. of of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University.

There are some physical
health risks, particularly the possibility of damage to the airways in cannabis
smokers. Overall, by comparison with other drugs used mainly for ‘recreational’
purposes, cannabis could be rated to be a relatively safe drug. Source: Iversen,
Leslie. Current Opinion in Pharmacology. Volume 5, Issue 1, February 2005, Pages
69-72. Long-term effects of exposure to cannabis. University of Oxford,
Department of Pharmacology.

The latest and most comprehensive research
on marijuana has concluded that it does not contribute to the development of
lung cancer. Source:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…...

There has never been a documented case of lung cancer in a
marijuana-only smoker, and recent studies find that marijuana use is not
associated with any type of cancer. The same cannot be said for alcohol, which
has been found to contribute to a variety of long-term negative health effects,
including cancers and cirrhosis of the liver.

The October 2010 Gallup poll was at 46%, up significantly from the 2006 Gallup poll at 36% (according to that graphic.) 10% in four years from the same polling source is nothing to sneeze at.

Considering the recent attention marijuana legalization has been getting in the media recently, including short five-minute discussions with NORML representatives and other like-minded people, (thanks to HR 2306, Prop 19 and others), I would say that majority support will happen closer to Russ’s best case scenario of 2012. I also believe Internet access is helping as well, since people can do research for themselves. People are finally starting to wake up at faster rates and see how ridiculous marijuana prohibition is. The more something is supported, the more likely other people will support that idea. I also think what marijuana prohibition’s final nail in the coffin would be is a national, televised debate. Though the federal government is too cowardly and ashamed for something like that.

Anyway, no matter how I try to think about it, I just cannot image that it would take until 2028. Maybe the late 2010′s at the latest.

We all support the US House Bill HR 2306 as I am sure you guys are too!

Thanks,

Mona