A great column from registered nurse Lanny Swerdlow appeared in today's edition of the Palm Springs newspaper, The Desert Sun.  In it, Swerdlow highlights the relative safety of marijuana compared to alcohol and suggests California would be a safer and healthier state if Proposition 19 -- the measure to control and tax cannabis -- is adopted by voters in November. 

A couple great excerpts are below, or you can read the entire column by clicking HERE.

Proposition 19 opponents point to the societal and health costs of alcohol as proof there will be increased costs if marijuana is legalized. Truth be told, health care costs will go down when responsible adults are allowed to make the rational, safer choice to use marijuana instead of alcohol...

Revenue raised, police resources wisely used are excellent reasons to support Proposition 19, but it is the ability of marijuana to replace alcohol as a relaxant and mood enhancer without the liver destroying, judgment impairing and violence inducing properties of alcohol that makes the passage of Proposition 19 vital to the health of the individual and the community.