Does the current capitol hill class really deserve to be compared to the famed do Nothing Congress . Heres nbc bay areas sam brock. Thanks for joining us. Well be exposing the realities and facts behind some of the most hot button controversial issues of the last few months. Reality check is about understanding whats really going on in the world by using data, research and expert analysis to vet claims. They argue smoking pot is dangerous. But is it more dangerous than alcohol which is widely consumed and has long been legal . The reality may surprise you. The topic is kind of out of the bag. Cannabis supporters say its improving lives and at the national forefront. Even the president is weighing in telling the new yorker magazine recently, i dont think its more dangerous than alcohol. Is this true . My initial impression is hes coming closer to telling the truth than what the government has ever been willing to do about marijuana. Dr. Timothy surmack is author of marijuana. He explains that consuming alcohol just like using marijuana uses chemicals from the outside to stimulate the reward center in the brain as demonstrated in this graphic from the teen Health AdvocacyGroup Human Relations media. Making someone want to repeat the actions that led to that reward. Now most people cermak says handle both substances just fine. Only 15 of drinkers become addicted compared to just 9 of marijuana smokers. Those figures according to the National Institute on drug abuse. But he says the process of kicking an alcohol addiction is far more involved and the risk of abusing cermak says, more severe. What kills people, alcohol or marijuana . Im not sure theres ever been an overdose from death, from marijuana. But marijuana can be harmful to kids and thats one point cermak does not want to see left out of the discussion. The latest research, including a report from Northwestern University school of medicine shows using marijuana as an adolescent between the ages of, say, 12 and 18 can actually stunt the brains development and lower adult iq. Affecting a persons entire life. We were very disappointed in the president. One reason, among many that the California Police association worries about legalizing marijuana. How far are we willing to lower the bar as a society and then what are going to be the unanticipated consequences a generation or two that future generations have to deal with. Chief rainey cites Health Concerns and Impaired Driving as tops on his list of fears and specifically, how you regulate people driving while high. We dont have the science or legislation in place where based upon the thc in somebodys blood, what is presumed to be under the influence . That poses a problem for pinpointing exact comparisons but heres what we know. In 2012, more than 88,000 deaths were attributed to excessive alcohol abuse. 10,000 of which came from alcohol Impaired Driving accidents. According to federal figures. But deaths in accidents due to marijuana, theres no definitive source on this subject, although studies are getting more robust. Chp tells us a new law in california just enacted january 1st will provide a better basis for future trends. It requires drug related dui arrests to be reported separately from those caused by alcohol. While driving dangerous from marijuana gets an incomplete grade topicals are for unrelated pain relief. The medicinal benefits are quite established. A pain reliever, antiinflammatory and source of healing for those with serious injuries. As a cancer doctor, a day doesnt go by that i dont recommend cannabis to a patient who has nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, pain, insomnia, depression. Cannabis is the only antinausea medicine that works and allowed them to complete their chemotherapy and perhaps cure themselves of cancer. We could debate this topic for another year and still not cover all the angles and arguments about the dangers posed by smoking pot. When you compare marijuana to alcohol, the available numbers and facts dont lie. The reality is this. There are far more deaths associated with alcohol and the risks of alcohol abuse higher than marijuana. Switching gears now, youve probably heard of the recent trouble surrounding highprofile 49ers. Aldon smith, chris culver and kaepernick have all had recent runins with the law. People start taking notice creating negative perceptions and stereotapes. Namely, does crime among athletes is high and higher than everybody else. Is that claim true . Lets check the numbers. New york knicks point guard Raymond Feltons recent arrest on drug charges made National Headlines but thats not even the most famous gun charge in new york. That honor belongs to former nfl wide out plaxico burress. Sometimes athletes dont even need to commit a crime to be called a thug. Just deliver a passionate interview. Thats the result youre going to get. Just ask richard sherman. Begging the question, do highprofile incidents in sports really equal more criminal activity. We looked at arrests and citations and all four of the countrys biggest sports. Basketball, football, baseball and professional hockey. Based on information by ref nations website, the documented legal activity by sport and by year. What do the numbers show . In the last three years the nfl averaged the most arrests and citations, about 54 a year. But it has the most rostered players. For the nfl population its a rate of 3. 2 . In the nba, the threeyear average is 13 incidents per year. That equates to 2. 9 . Major League Baseball averages about 14 a year, or a rate of 1. 9 . The nhl was the lowest. Two arrests or citations a year. A rate of 0. 3 . The Common Thread here, according to the fbis annual report, crime in the united states, nationwide the arrests were 388,000 per 100,000 people. Or rate of 3. 8 . The average population commits crimes at a higher rate than the athletes of these sports. While the spike in legal problems for a few 49ers players has spawned an awful lot of Media Attention it does not speak to an overall trend. To argue the professional athletes are running rampant over our legal system, well, that simply is not true. Were just getting started. Coming up next on reality check special, the Current Congress is tanking in the polls. How does its productivity compare to the socalled Worst Congress of all time. Harry trumans doing Nothing Congress. And the google buses are inspiring hot debate in san francisco. It turns out the opposition isnt about people over profits after all. So what were looking for is a way to plus our Accounting Firms mobile plan. And minus our expenses. Were offering our bestever pricing on mobile plans for business. Run the numbers on that. Well, unlimited talk and text, and ten gigs of data for the five of you would be. Thirtyfive bucks each with a year of highspeed internet, free. Ah, free is not deductible i smell audit i smell savings. At t mobile share value plans for business. Now with a year of free highspeed internet. Voter frustration is boiling but is this the Worst Congress of all time . Thats what a recent cnn poll found. Twothirds of respondents for the 113th congress is officially rock bottom. This republican 80th do Nothing Congress. The only fair comparison may be Harry Trumans do Nothing Congress of the 1940s. Which will go down in infamy as the least productive ever. But what do the facts and numbers suggest . Heres the thing. According to the library of congress, the current group, the 113th has passed right now about 100 bills and its on pace for 146 bills. Lets look at the previous congress. [ barks ] whoo mmm oh, yeah [ whistling ] [ male announcer ] discover your new orleans. Start exploring at followyournola. Com. [ woman ] and i love new orleans start exploring at followyournola. Com. [doorbell rings] hey. Hey. Whats this . Its uverse live tv. With at t uverse. You can watch live tv from your device. Hey. Hey. Anywhere in your home. [doorbell rings] hey. Hey. So you wont miss a minute of the game. Call now to get a uverse bundle for the same great price for 2 years. Guaranteed. I wish id done this sooner. Dont let that be you. You know your teeth are important. So dont put it off any longer. Call 1800dentist today. Welcome to on the money. Im becky quick. The Berkshire Hathaway meeting in omaha, nebraska. Well talk to two of the best known value investors. Is it right for you . A clear vision, how one online retailer is doing a reverse commute. And are you saving enough for retirement . Tips that can help you jumpstart your plan and just how much should you have socked away . On the money starts right now. This is americas number one Financial News program, on the money. Now, becky quick. Heres a look at whats making news. A blowout jobs report for april