STUDY SHOWS SMOKING MARIJUANA MAY PREVENT ALCOHOL-RELATED IMPAIRMENTS

A study conducted at the University of California-San Diego discovered that marijuana is not only safer than alcohol, but also protects the brain from damages caused by excessive drinking.

Patrick Stack, director of counseling at Webster University, said any individual has the risk of misusing these types of substances.

"The problem of any type of drug usage originates when a person abuses a drug," Stack said. "As a result of this abuse, the drug has more influence on the person than the person has over him-or herself."

Bruce Mirken, director of communications of the Marijuana Policy Project ( MPP ), said he encourages the legalization of marijuana. MPP is an organization founded in 1995 that advocates regulated use of marijuana in the U.S.

Mirken said marijuana is a less addictive, less toxic and less threatening drug than alcohol.

"According to the Institute of Medicine, 15 percent of people who drink ( it ) become dependent on alcohol," Mirken said. "For marijuana, the figure is 9 percent."

Furthermore, Mirken said marijuana doesn't have the typical effects alcohol has on people.

"Unlike alcohol, marijuana doesn't make people reckless, aggressive and violent," Mirken said.

Not only did Mirken say he believes marijuana is safer than alcohol, he said he also believes it presents great medical value to patients with AIDS, cancer and Multiple Sclerosis.

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