Of course, it’s not as if the results of a single study like this can represent sufficient grounds for a radical change in public policy or law. Nevertheless, it’s really not as if this is the first or the only study of its kind to breed the exact same conclusion. Researchers have for decades argued that alcohol is and always will be a danger to public health in general and should therefore be controlled more aggressively. Nevertheless, the year 2009 brought about the decision by the United Kingdom government to increase the classification of marijuana to a Class B drug. Or in other words, in a wholly higher bracket than alcohol.

What makes it even more depressing is the fact that right at the time when Britain was for no apparent reason doing its best to demonise cannabis, the rest of the world was beginning to intensify efforts to find out the truth behind cannabis and its potentially beneficial properties. Not only this, but just a few years later an increasing number of regional UK police forces stated outright that they would no longer be arresting or even ticketing casual recreational marijuana users. Once again, deeply embarrassing and nothing less than admission of a significant step in the wrong direction.