Mason Tvert, the main man behind SAFER, lives to promote the theory that marijuana is less dangerous than alcohol -- and if he can hype his book Marijuana is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People to Drink? at the same time, that's even better. These goals come together in Tvert's latest campaign -- challenging the idea that alcohol's less risky than weed by offering his tome for free to DARE instructors nationwide.

Tvert's latest campaign was inspired by a "Backers of Legal Pot Just Want to Get High," a San Jose Mercury News op-ed by Skip Miller, chairman of DARE America. The piece takes a stand against a pot legalization initiative headed to the California ballot in November.

In it, Miller writes about e-mails he's received from marijuana advocates -- but notes that "I have yet to see one that overcomes the body of scientific research demonstrating that smoking marijuana is harmful and does just one thing well: It gets people high. And that high comes with short- and long-term health risks that proponents of legal weed don't like to acknowledge."

Tvert took this assertion as a challenge. In addition to writing a sample e-mail complete with links to information that, in his view, puts the lie to Miller's claims above, he's pledged to give a copy of his book to every DARE instructor across the country, including those planning to attend the 23rd Annual DARE International Training Conference, which begins tomorrow in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Will minds be changed? Doubt it -- but the portion of DARE's website identifying alcohol as a "gateway drug" that can lead to more harmful substances does seem to soft-peddle booze risks in comparison to the organization's "Medical Marijuana Reality Check," which starts with this simple statement: "Simply put, the smoked form of marijuana is not considered modern medicine."

Page down to read that fact sheet, immediately following Tvert's release announcing his DARE offer and the sample e-mail to Miller:

It's time for the nation's largest drug education program to get its facts straight when it comes to the world's two most popular recreational substances.

In a guest column in opposition to the marijuana reform initiative on the ballot in California, DARE America Chairman Skip Miller goes off about how marijuana "mushes up your brain," "lowers inhibitions," and "makes users engage in risky behavior." Meanwhile, the DARE America website discusses how "[s]ocial drinking is an acceptable and pleasurable activity for millions of Americans," which "relaxes you, curbs stress, and chases away inhibitions."

DARE instructors from across the nation are gathering this week for the DARE International Training Conference. We can't help but assume they will be instructed to continue spreading this misguided and potentially dangerous message that alcohol is an acceptable form of intoxication for adults, yet marijuana is just too harmful, cannot be consumed responsibly, and thus should never be allowed as an alternative.

As a result, SAFER and Chelsea Green Publishing are offering every DARE instructor in the nation a FREE copy of Marijuana is Safer: So why are we driving people to drink? In order to reach Mr. Miller and the DARE organization as a whole, however, we need your help...

Take action today and send DARE a message!

CLICK HERE or visit http://tinyurl.com/3yfsw5e to send DARE America Chairman Skip Miller an e-mail, calling on him and DARE to admit that marijuana is safer than alcohol and incorporate this important fact into the DARE's curriculum.

In fact, Mr. Miller essentially challenged you to do so in his column:

As the chairman of DARE America... I have yet to see one [e-mail from a marijuana reform supporter] that overcomes the body of scientific research demonstrating that smoking marijuana is harmful and does just one thing well: It gets people high...

We have provided you with an editable e-mail to Mr. Miller that includes links to all the information he should need to arrive at the conclusion that marijuana is far safer than alcohol. We hope you will take a minute to fill out the quick form, send him an e-mail, and then encourage others to do so, as well. Needless to say, SAFER will also be sending Mr. Miller a complimentary copy of Marijuana is Safer.

Sample letter:

Subject: Please admit marijuana is safer than alcohol

In your recent column in the San Jose Mercury News, you went to great lengths to express your concern about the potential harms of marijuana. Yet you failed to address one key fact: every objective study on marijuana has concluded that it is FAR less harmful than alcohol. For a quick review of the facts, please visit http://www.saferchoice.org/content/view/24/53/

I am writing to call on you and DARE America to incorporate this fact into the DARE curriculum. Marijuana and alcohol are by far the two most popular recreational substances in the world, and it's time we start telling the truth about their relative harms. After all, it's irresponsible -- and potentially dangerous -- to continue spreading the message that alcohol use is acceptable for adults and the use of a far safer substance is not.

On the DARE America website, you discuss how "[s]ocial drinking is an acceptable and pleasurable activity for millions of Americans," which "relaxes you, curbs stress, and chases away inhibitions." Yet alcohol is far more toxic, more addictive, and more harmful to the user and to society than marijuana. Why shouldn't we allow adults to make the rational, safer choice to use marijuana for those very same purposes?

I understand you will be receiving a complimentary copy of the book, "Marijuana is Safer: So why are we driving people to drink?" -- an offer that has also been extended to every DARE instructor in the nation. It's my sincere hope that you will review the scientific information it provides and incorporate it into the DARE program moving forward. You can also find a brief summary of this information at http://www.saferchoice.org/content/view/24/53/

Sincerely,