Renata Rollins, who is a a board member of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws Thurston County and past director of Washington NORML, had a popular article on The Olympian yesterday about the future of marijuana - or rather, marijuana as our future. Rollins' main point echoed throughout the article: "what's the fuss?"

"Any other business accused of a code violation, whether undercooking food or selling alcohol to a minor, could expect a visit from a clipboard-wielding state worker," says Rollins. But in the world of marijuana, code violations or even minor infractions end up with unhappy visits from armed federal agents.

Likewise, Rollins notes, the country is more-than-happy to let the average person buy ibuprofin, sleeping pills and cough syrup over the counter - and these medications all have deaths associated with them from people taking more than a lethal dosage. "Let's reserve prescriptions for truly dangerous drugs like Oxycontin and morphine," suggests Rollins, "slap on a label stating cannabis 'may cause drowsiness,' and stop spending tax dollars eradicating a natural remedy."

In 2012, Rollins agrees, the question isn't whether to legalize, buy why not? "Herbal cannabis is safer than alcohol, healthier than fast food, and less addictive than your daily cup of coffee," Rollins says. And her coup de grâce (and easiest contrast) is against alcohol, which damages the liver and brain, causes violent behavior and dangerous drivers, while marijuana does the opposite. You can check Rollins' facts at SAFER and NORML's sites.