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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Report to UN: Dudes, Legalize Weed

Drug less harmful than alcohol or smoking, report says

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(Newser) – Slick-suited diplomats are not the likeliest advocates for lifting worldwide marijuana bans, but a British scientific report targets the UN, saying a regulated marijuana market would remove most of the drug's harm, since it comes from prohibition itself, the Guardian reports. Legalizing it would also allow governments to tax the 160 million users, and set a minimum age and potency limits.

"It is considerably less harmful than alcohol or tobacco. Historically, there have only been two deaths worldwide attributed to cannabis," the report says.

Richard van Velthoven uses a vaporizer in Amsterdam, Netherlands, where smoking pot is legal.
Richard van Velthoven uses a vaporizer in Amsterdam, Netherlands, where smoking pot is legal.   (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Most of marijuana's harm is related to its prohibition, a new report says.
Most of marijuana's harm is related to its prohibition, a new report says.   (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo, file)
Legalizing the drug will get governments tax it, set potency limits, and determine a minimum age.
Legalizing the drug will get governments tax it, set potency limits, and determine a minimum age.   (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
A man lights up in Spain. The drug is safer than alcohol and smoking, a British report says.
A man lights up in Spain. The drug is safer than alcohol and smoking, a British report says.   (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
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2 comments
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Ioptout
Aug 3, 09 5:20 PM CDT
I was at a party where a kid who had never smoked took his first try on a, 5 foot gravity bong. He took a mega-hit and blacked out for a couple minutes. LMAO Reply
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TuStepp
Aug 4, 09 2:30 PM CDT
Legalization is a great idea.... and I have never heard of ANY deaths from cannabis. Reply
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