It’s green, it’s fragrant and, according to the latest research from pewresearch.org, viewed amongst Americans as a safer substance than alcohol. Marijuana is silently sweeping Michigan.

About seven out of ten Americans believe alcohol is more dangerous than cannabis, according to a Pew Research article written by Seth Motel. Even more interesting, Pew Research says 69 percent of generation Y’s (people born after the 80’s for the folks who are generationally declined,) think marijuana should be legalized.

We at The Oakland Post agree− if alcohol is legal, marijuana should be legalized as well.

Data from the Center for Disease Control says alcohol is responsible for about 88,000 U.S. deaths each year alone. There isn’t any credible evidence of excessive marijuana killing anyone.

In fact, according to data compiled by Nick Wing at The Huffington Post, “a marijuana smoker would have to consume 20,000 to 40,000 times the amount of THC in a joint in order to be at risk of dying.”

Don’t get us wrong, we’re not encouraging anyone to start hanging out with Mary Jane. We’re simply asking ‘Why are we allowed to purchase the third-leading lifestyle-related cause of death for the nation, but not a substance that isn’t deadly?’

It’s not going to be the end of the world.

Look at Washington and Colorado for example, the only two states to legalize recreational use of marijuana. Society in those states hasn’t ended as we know it. Heck, their football teams even made it (ironically) to the Super Bowl.

Last November, Michigan cities made strides to legalize cannabis as well. Ferndale, Jackson and Lansing all legalized small doses of marijuana for recreational use.

These ordinances are tricky because on one hand, they show that the public supports legalization. On the other hand, state law forbids the use of recreational marijuana, so in Ferndale, Jackson and Lansing, it’s still technically illegal to be in possession.

“These ordinances get people’s attention and we’re hoping it results in the state Legislature passing a bill to decriminalize marijuana like they do in 17 other states,” Tim Beck of Safer Michigan said in an interview with The Daily Tribune.

Safer Michigan is a statewide marijuana advocacy group. They’ve already gotten the issue on the next ballot for 12 more Michigan cities: East Lansing, Saginaw, Mount Pleasant, Oak Park, Hazel Park, Lapeer, Utica, Port Huron, Clare, Onaway, Harrison and Benzie County.

Sure they aren’t Rochester, but the fact is that the attitudes toward cannabis are changing. The facts show that marijuana might not be so dangerous after all− so keep an open mind.

Who knows? Maybe Michigan can follow the trend of the other legalized states and the Lions can finally win a Super Bowl.