The editorial board of The New York Times (NYT) is asking the federal government to repeal the ban imposed on marijuana, which it describes as a “substance far less dangerous than alcohol.”

The call is part of an editorial series on the legalization of marijuana the renowned publication has pursued. The series would examine various concerns surrounding marijuana use, such as the health effects, regulations on manufacture and sale, social impact and criminal implications.

“We reached that conclusion after a great deal of discussion among the members of The Times’s Editorial Board, inspired by a rapidly growing movement among the states to reform marijuana laws,” the editorial board writes.

Based on figures from the FBI, the editorial board says there were more arrests done for marijuana possession than those for heroin, cocaine and their offshoots. Marijuana-related arrests reached 658,000, while the other drug substances recorded 256,000 arrests.

“Even worse, the result is racist, falling disproportionately on young black men, ruining their lives and creating new generations of career criminals,” the board adds.

While there is an honest debate on the health effects of using marijuana, the board believes on the evidence that dependence and addiction are pretty minor problems, again as compared to the effects of tobacco and alcohol use.

The editorial board states that moderate marijuana use among healthy adults appears to pose no risk at all. It even dispels the impression that marijuana is a gateway drug to far more dangerous substances.

In terms of legitimate issues on marijuana use and impact on adolescent brain development, the board advocates sales prohibition to individuals below 21 years old.

The board says other problems involving marijuana use are solvable, if only the nation didn’t adhere to the decision imposing the use and production as a federal crime.

It admits to not having perfect answers to the legitimate concerns of people on the use of marijuana, and so are with alcohol and tobacco issues. Regardless, it insists that the balance to this falls directly on the issue of national legalization, which will finalize resolutions when it comes to allowing medicinal or recreational manufacture and use.

The NYT’s editorial board says it will publish more articles and supplementary material in the coming days that will scrutinize all questions surrounding the manufacture and use of marijuana. It also invites the readers to suggest ideas and assures to report back on readers’ responses.