It’s not as if you need to do a great deal of research these days to determine whether or not marijuana really does pose a direct threat to public health and society in general. After all, it’s not as if places like Colorado and Washington have suddenly descended into outright anarchy, since cannabis was decriminalised. Nevertheless, the debate always tends to pull a wide variety of critics out of the woodwork, who for reasons best known to them preach about the long-term health risks associated with weed and how it could destroy the future of today’s youth. They talk about it having hideous effects on physical and mental health, while at the same time saving as something of a guaranteed gateway drug which inevitably leads to the use of even more terrifying substances.

The same arguments have floated for decades – none of which have yet prove to hold even an ounce of truth.

Still, while it’s difficult not to get incredibly riled by such small-mindedness and blinkered thinking, the one saving grace is the fact that marijuana advocates have science, statistics and hard evidence on their side. And when it comes to the whole cannabis versus alcohol debate, hiding behind dated policy is one thing but there’s really no excuse for ignoring the hard evidence right there in front of you.