It's always wonderful to hear current and former health officials speak frankly about the relative harms of alcohol and marijuana.  That's why it was so great to see this story in The Spokesman-Review out in Spokane, Wa., where activists are working to place a marijuana reform measure on the local ballot.

It quotes Dr. Kim Thorburn, Spokane County’s former health officer, who got straight to the point:

“What I would love to see is a change in policy and good research and to get this settled,” she said. Thorburn said if she lived in the city she would probably vote for the proposal to make pot possession the lowest law enforcement priority. It could help take the focus of government drug policy off of enforcement and toward the treatment of drug addiction, she said. Marijuana, she said, is safer than alcohol.