Cannabis vs. Alcohol

Everyone knows about the on going debate of marijuana use and whether it should be legal or not. We also know about the debate about alcohol use. The people who think marijuana should be legal tend to point fingers at the fact that alcohol is legal and it kills more people than marijuana annually. According to http://www.drugwarfacts.org/cms/Causes_of_Death alcohol kills about 24,518 people per year and marijuana kills 0. So, why is alcohol even legal if it kills people and marijuana really does not? This is a question that will probably always go unanswered. Marijuana is classified as a drug; it is in the same category as cocaine. Cocaine kills people and cocaine is a very addictive substance. Again, the difference between cocaine and marijuana is that marijuana is basically harmless. Regardless, marijuana still is used to get high and still impairs your ability to think clearly and operate machinery. But, it is not as dangerous as alcohol or cocaine and that is the point this picture is trying to make.

The argument here is that marijuana use is safer than alcohol use. It shows a marijuana leaf with an arrow pointing to a series of events that look happy and fun. Underneath there is a picture of a bottle of alcohol with an arrow also pointing to a series of events. But, the difference here is that this series of events looks as if it is filled with destruction. There is a question underneath the two series of pictures. The question is, “Can you tell which is legal?” If you were to bring an alien to our country and show them this picture and then ask them to answer the question, “Can you tell which is legal?” they would most likely think alcohol is the illegal substance. Thus, bringing me back to the argument in this picture. The picture is showing that marijuana is safer to use than alcohol. But, this picture is bias. Each substance in this picture is considered a drug. Alcohol is just as much of a drug as marijuana. The difference between the two is that alcohol is legal for people 21 and over and marijuana is illegal for anyone who uses it. In the picture, the top series is showing what can happen if you use marijuana responsibly. The bottom series shows the irresponsible use of alcohol and the effect it has on peoples’ lives. Hence why the picture is bias. Whoever made this picture does not approve of alcohol use but approves of marijuana use therefore, showing the responsible use of marijuana and the irresponsible use of alcohol. Him/her decided to show what can happen if you use it in your house with your friends and do not go out to use it. But, if you were to go out and use marijuana there is the possibility of getting arrested because it is an illegal substance. If this picture were to be fair and accurate then it would show someone getting arrested for using marijuana and them sitting in the back of a cop car. Also, if you use alcohol responsibly it could probably be represented by the top series of pictures as well as the bottom series.

In the end the picture is trying to prove that marijuana is in fact safer to use than alcohol. Even though the picture is not an accurate portrayal of what could really happen if you use either substance, the argument still stands. The argument in the picture is that marijuana is safer and more fun to use than marijuana. It does not cause pain or destruction in the end according to this photo. In this photo marijuana just causes you to be happy and silly and to have a good time. It is playing on the good aspects of marijuana use and the very bad aspects of alcohol use to try and get the point across to whoever the audience is.