LiveScience.com, a popular and trusted source of science-related news, has a report out that compares  marijuana soda to the recently banned alcohol-infused energy drink, Four Loko.  The announcement of the marijuana soda sparked headlines, as well as a lot of criticism from the anti-marijuana crowd.  But as this science reporter pointed out, the potential harm of consuming a marijuana soda doesn't remotely compare to the significant problems posed by these popular alcoholic beverages. 

Just as America's stash of black-market Four Loko dwindles, a new form of intoxicating soda has risen like a phoenix from its ashes: pot-laced soda. But while Four Loko has been recalled amid reports of alcohol poisoning and accidental deaths, the worst side effect of overdoing it with marijuana soda might just be a really bad tummy ache.

In an op-ed published today by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Matt Robinson, a professor of Government and Justice Studies at Appalachian State University and author of Lies, Damned Lies, and Drug War Statistics, tore apart an absurd anti-marijuana column that appeared in the publication earlier this week.  Among the arguments he brought forward: 

An alternative is legalization, whereby the criminal penalty for drug offenses is eliminated and drugs are legally available for adults. Under this approach, drugs can be regulated, assuring safer use.

There is no better drug to start with than marijuana, a relatively safe drug anyway...

Further, the vast majority of people who use marijuana never have any serious health problems or move on to any other harder substance...

We might expect marijuana to become more available and used more, but strict regulation could greatly diminish this. And educational campaigns could discourage use by young people similar to tobacco.

Even if use went up, people would still be safer using marijuana than alcohol...

Read the entire piece at: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/health/fl-nbcol-drug-policy-brochu-0120-20110120,0,1388800.column

According to a story on the popular Oregon news site, Salem-News.com, a group of local activists have begun the process of placiing a major statewide legalization initiative on the 2012 ballot. 

Paul Stanford, Executive Director of the Hemp and Cannabis Foundation walked 2200 signatures in to the Oregon Secretary of State’s office on January 4th, 2011, officially sponsoring OCTA 2012- the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act. It could prove to be a historic turning point for a state well known for its grass roots movements...

...If the measure is passed by voters, OCTA 2012 will legalize the sale, possession and personal private cultivation of marijuana in the state of Oregon. People who want to cultivate and sell marijuana, or process commercial psychoactive cannabis, would be required to obtain a license from the state.

Also published is an extensive interview with the measure's chief proponent, who makes a very compelling argument that we were very glad to see:

People need to know that marijuana is safer than alcohol and if just 25 percent of people with alcohol problems use cannabis instead, we will save billions in health care, accidents and crime. We should stop driving our kids to drink and have a safer alternative.