"Statistically speaking, the U.S. Department of Health reports that alcohol-related deaths total 100,000 annually from all causes, including traffic accidents, liver disease, related violence, falls, etc. They put marijuana and other illegal drug-related fatalities at under 10,000 a year. Tobacco, by the way, is responsible for 450,000 deaths a year, according to the same agency."
from this page:
http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/1130.html
more good reading:
http://www.cannabis.com/untoldstory/hemp_5.shtml