Fox (The Marijuana Policy Project), Armentano, a specialist in marijuana policy, health, and pharmacology who works at The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, and Tvert (Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation) argue that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol to both individuals and society. They introduce the plant, its effects on the user, and potential harms; compare it to alcohol and its hazardous effects; discuss the origins of pot prohibition and the truth about common marijuana myths; describe traditional arguments against prohibition and how this drives people toward drinking; outline past efforts to change marijuana laws in the US; and propose an alternative education campaign based on the idea that marijuana is safer than alcohol. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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Nationally recognized marijuana-policy experts Steve Fox, Paul Armentano, and Mason Tvert compare and contrast the relative harms and legal status of the two most popular recreational substances in the world--marijuana and alcohol. Through an objective examination of the two drugs and the laws and social practices that steer people toward alcohol, the authors pose a simple yet rarely considered question: Why do we punish adults who make the rational, safer choice to use marijuana instead of alcohol?Marijuana Is Safer reaches for a broad audience. For those unfamiliar with marijuana, it provides an introduction to the cannabis plant and its effects on the user, and debunks some of the government's most frequently cited marijuana myths. For current and aspiring advocates of marijuana-law reform, as well as anyone else who is interested in what is becoming a major political battle, the authors spell out why the message that marijuana is safer than alcohol must be a prominent part of the public debate over legalization.Most importantly, for the millions of Americans who want to advance the cause of marijuana-policy reform--or simply want to defend their own personal, safer choice--this book provides the talking points and detailed information needed to make persuasive arguments to friends, family, coworkers, and elected officials.
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