TRAVERSE CITY -- UpNorthLive's Facebook fans voted to learn more about a growing debate: Which is more dangerous: Marijuana or alcohol?

Michigan voters agreed in November, 2008 to legalize marijuana for the treatment of some health problems.  The Michigan Medical Marijuana Program (MMMP)  was set up to help people learn more about the law. Since it was passed, many communities have focused on local resolutions and ordinances dealing with medical marijuana collectives. 

Chestonia Township in Antrim County passed new licensing rules Monday to deal with a medical marijuana collective that recently opened up in Alba.

The township passed an ordinance that collectives could not open within 500 feet of parks or churches or 1,000 feet from schools. Several other communities across northern Michigan including Grand Traverse and Wexford Counties have also looked closer at the issue.

With medical marijuana in the headlines, some groups are calling for marijuana to be decriminalized.  Many believe drunk driving is a much more dangerous issue affecting our communities.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse published a study which shows alcohol is far more lethal and toxic than marijuana. According to the study, if the average person drinks 10 times what they would need to drink to get the 'desired effect' of alcohol, it would lead to death. Meanwhile, one would need thousands of times the amount of THC from marijuana as the 'desired effect' plateau.

In the U.S., there are approximately 85,000 alcohol-related deaths per year, which includes alcohol poisoning, drunk driving, alcohol-related violence and other alcohol-related incidents.

There have been marijuana-related deaths, but some experts said those deaths are caused by a combination of factors or substances, and marijuana is only one.

However, not all think marijuana is safer. The Office of National Drug Control Policy said alcohol is actually safer. They said marijuana consists of more than 400 substances, while alcohol has just one (ethanol). They also said THC stays in the body for weeks, while alcohol is eliminated after only a few hours.

Marijuana for medical purposes is currently legal in 16 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. Despite non-medical marijuana not being legal, 51 percent of people said alcohol is actually more dangerous.

Jim Heinrich, a detox manager for a rehabilitation facility in Traverse City says both can be harmful, but in his opinion alcohol has a more immediate effect.

"Alcohol probably has more readily visible effects on people more quickly, so it can cause a deterioration in their body and brain pretty quickly,  Not to mention of course, societal costs such as auto accidents, going to prison, families broken up, etc.. Those are immeasurable but huge," explains Heinrich.

"Marijuana may not effect the body as strongly, as directly, although I do believe it compromises the lung function, can effect memory, can effect certainly a person socially, their family life, there is a cost effect, but if we are just talking about the body, I don't think it has as measurable and immediate effect as alcohol does," adds Heinrich. "Of course you can launch into the discussion about marijuana being a gateway drug to harder drugs that would have quick, harmful effects on people."

What do you think about this issue?  Is pot or alcohol more dangerous?  Vote in our poll below and leave your comments!

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