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Showing Original Post only (View all)NIDA denies marijuana is less toxic than alcohol [View all]
The National Institute on Drug Abuse released an eyebrow-raising statement to PolitiFact on Monday, denying that marijuana is less toxic than alcohol.
"Claiming that marijuana is less toxic than alcohol cannot be substantiated since each possess their own unique set of risks and consequences for a given individual," wrote the institute. NIDA, part of the National Institutes of Health, funds government-backed scientific research and has a stated mission "to lead the nation in bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction."
The statement was in response to a declaration by the pro-pot policy group Marijuana Policy Project that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol - a claim that was the centerpiece of a controversial pro-marijuana commercial aired during a NASCAR race last month.
PolitiFact took the claim to task, comparing marijuana-related deaths to alcohol-related deaths and toxicity levels of the two substances.
"Claiming that marijuana is less toxic than alcohol cannot be substantiated since each possess their own unique set of risks and consequences for a given individual," wrote the institute. NIDA, part of the National Institutes of Health, funds government-backed scientific research and has a stated mission "to lead the nation in bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction."
The statement was in response to a declaration by the pro-pot policy group Marijuana Policy Project that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol - a claim that was the centerpiece of a controversial pro-marijuana commercial aired during a NASCAR race last month.
PolitiFact took the claim to task, comparing marijuana-related deaths to alcohol-related deaths and toxicity levels of the two substances.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/19/marijuana-less-toxic-alcohol_n_3782100.html?utm_hp_ref=tw
PolitiFact had this to say:
http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2013/aug/19/marijuana-policy-project/pro-pot-group-claims-marijuana-less-toxic-alcohol/
An ad from the Marijuana Policy Project claims marijuana is "less toxic" than alcohol.
Our job as fact-checkers in this case is not to decide whether marijuana is good or harmful. We're focused on whether the drug in its natural form is "less toxic" than alcohol.
In that regard, science and statistics present a strong case:
Deaths or even trips to the hospital are much more likely due to alcohol;
Scientists could not find any documented deaths from smoking marijuana;
A study found the safety ratio for marijuana (the number of doses to cause death) is much greater than compared to alcohol. Put another way, marijuana is 100 times less toxic than alcohol.
Overall, we rate this claim Mostly True.
Our job as fact-checkers in this case is not to decide whether marijuana is good or harmful. We're focused on whether the drug in its natural form is "less toxic" than alcohol.
In that regard, science and statistics present a strong case:
Deaths or even trips to the hospital are much more likely due to alcohol;
Scientists could not find any documented deaths from smoking marijuana;
A study found the safety ratio for marijuana (the number of doses to cause death) is much greater than compared to alcohol. Put another way, marijuana is 100 times less toxic than alcohol.
Overall, we rate this claim Mostly True.
So, once again, the NIDA lies to the American people about cannabis. This isn't the first time.
If your agency had to lie to support policy, maybe your agency shouldn't get funding for that policy.
By continuing current policy and supporting it by lies, it would also be true that the NIDA is more toxic than marijuana.
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This is your brain on propaganda. Nora Volkow is little more than a witch doctor.
Comrade Grumpy
Aug 2013
#1
it is even worse than that: the pot "dependency" numbers are driven by
Warren Stupidity
Aug 2013
#48
There is also absolutely NO evidence that it carries an increased risk of any disease.
kestrel91316
Aug 2013
#28
I'm totally addicted to my teensy little dose at bedtime, lol. Because I LIKE sleeping well
kestrel91316
Aug 2013
#33
On the other hand I've know four people killed by alcohol (drunk driving).
Warren Stupidity
Aug 2013
#49
You don't even need to get behind the wheel. Enough booze will kill a human anyway.
Warren DeMontague
Aug 2013
#52
While that may be true ounce for ounce, lol, that's not how cannabis is used by anyone I know.
kestrel91316
Aug 2013
#27
I make an alcohol tincture for when I run out of brownies, but it only uses
kestrel91316
Aug 2013
#36
Lies like this are a danger to those who are being told alcohol is not very toxic by an agenda
Bluenorthwest
Aug 2013
#47