Marijuana vs. Tobacco: Which Is Worse & should Tobacco be Illegalized?

Tobacco:
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Tobacco use continues to be the primary preventable cause of death in Canada.
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45,000 Canadians die from smoking each year: this number is growing and outstrips deaths from suicide, car accidents, AIDS and murder combined.
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Smoking is the main risk factor associated with lung cancer; 80-90% of lung cancer deaths are attributable to smoking.
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Cigarette smokers are 10x more likely to get lung cancer compared to those who have never smoked.
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Smoking is also linked to cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and other cancers such as cancer of the mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus, pancreas, kidney and bladder.
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Smoking affects women differently than men.

In women, smoking is linked to lower fertility, cancer of the cervix, osteoporosis, and difficulties with both menstruation and menopause. Smoking during pregnancy is associated with lower birth weight babies.
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Secon****and smoke has also recently been linked to breast cancer
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Smoking by young women continues to outpace young men.
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Young women believe that smoking will help to control their weight.


Marijuana:
Most of the time, you hear only negative facts about marijuana, but truth be told, marijuana does have some positive aspects. One can only judge after knowing some important information about how marijuana can help people that suffer with medical-related issues.

Doesn't Cause Mental Illness
1. No one has ever found any supporting evidence that smoking marijuana can lead to mental illness. Some smokers may experience temporary paranoia, anxiety or panic, but that is only during the high. Marijuana does not cause a complete change in one's personality or behavior.
Not Damaging to the Lungs
2. Cigarette smokers will smoke more cigarettes than someone who smokes marijuana. The risk for lung damage in a marijuana smoker is much lower than the risks of someone that smokes cigarettes on a regular basis. There have not been any reports of lung cancer in people that solely smoke marijuana, according to a 2006 study done by the American Thoracic Society.
Medical Purpose
3. Smoking marijuana for medicinal purposes has been found to reduce the nausea associated with chemotherapy. It has also helped to increase the appetite in patients with AIDS and to reduce intraocular pressure in people with glaucoma. The synthetic capsule that is given by prescription is not as effective as smoking marijuana, but does work for some.
Not Addicting
4. There is no proof that smoking marijuana is addictive. The drug does not cause any dependency physically. Some people do seek professional help to stop smoking marijuana, but those people usually have smoked heavily for long periods of time.
Positive Warning
5. Even if you use marijuana for medical purposes and it works well, in most states, the drug is illegal to possess and criminal charges and arrest are likely. However, more states and doctors are trying to get states to make changes about the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.



Marijuana facts:
http://www.ehow.com/about_5418148_po...marijuana.html

Tobacco facts:
http://www.genderandhealth.ca/en/mod...ssation-02.jsp