Marijuana vs Alcohol

Marijuana vs Alcohol: Who is the Real Killer?

With the legalisation of marijuana for recreational use in states like Colorado, our societies are beginning to reevaluate the effects of the once taboo drug. Decades ago leaders like Ronald Regan pioneered efforts to eliminate all drug use. Since then, the “War on Drugs” has drained a ton of money from the government and seemed to only increase the black market for illegal substances.

A lot of people that are for the legalisation of cannabis on a recreational level argue that if you look at things realistically, it becomes clear that there is a need for the herb. One of the main points in this argument is comparing it to already legal and available substances like alcohol.

Safety Concerns of Marijuana and Alcohol

Direct Damage

First we’ll take a look at the substances in their basic form and the direct damage they do to the body.

Alcohol is one of the leading killers on an annual basis when it comes to substance abuse. Since it is so widely available, people can easily become addicted to it. Used in excess, it can corrode your liver health, lead to diseases, and cause an overdose in only a single night of drinking.

Marijuana is a little bit different. The chemicals in the plant have never actually killed a single person. Studies show that in order to overdose on THC, you would have to ingest a superhuman amount of cannabis in a matter of seconds. The compounds in the drug don’t cause a physical addiction like alcohol. There are also no proven side effects from long-term use of the drug. If the legalisation of cannabis was finalised we wouldn’t have to worry about direct deaths coming from it.

Related Damage

Alcohol can dramatically impair your vision and hand eye coordination. Because of this it has lead to thousands of motor vehicle related deaths each year. It also causes aggressive behavior which can lead to violent encounters.

Marijuana’s most harmful effect on your ability to function is the delayed reaction time. It may be safer to drive under the influence of this drug but BY NO MEANS DOES THAT MEAN IT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU SHOULD DO. As far as behaviour, the effects of THC have shown to make people much more passive and friendly. It would be interesting to see if the legalisation of marijuana for recreational use counteracts the amount of violent crime and motor vehicle accidents.

Consider the Source

A key point in the comparison of marijuana and alcohol is considering where each one comes from. Alcohol is the byproduct of fermenting matter. Processes using machinery infuse the intoxicating substance with liquid before it is shipped off to the public.

Marijuana on the other hand is as simple and natural as growing fruit that is edible. The plant grows naturally in the ground and the extracted flowers are trimmed and immediately ready for consumption.

Medical Benefits

A pivotal point in the argument of marijuana and alcohol is the medical usage. Alcohol has virtually no modern relevance in the medical industry – other than disinfecting surfaces. It causes more harm than it does good. The legalisation of medical marijuana shows us that this drug has potentially amazing medicinal benefits.

It has been used for patients that suffer from cancer, seizures, sleep disorders, anxiety, Alzheimer’s, and recent studies even suggest it has positive effects on children with autism. The list of medical benefits goes on for quite a while.

A Final Thought

So should we support the legalisation of cannabis? With the potential for financial gain and medical benefits many people are shifting their opinions to support the drug. If substances like cigarettes and alcohol that kill thousands are already available, it might even provide a healthy alternative for them.

The legalization of marijuana may be a controversial issue but if you step back and look at the big picture the answer might become a little more clear for you. Even when alcohol was illegal it created a criminal industry that thrived under it. If we legalise this substance it will weaken the crime syndicates that are profiting from it and put money into our own economy.

We do not advocate or support the use of any drug. The purpose of this article is an attempt to share a viewpoint on the legality, benefits and dangers of the aforementioned substances. Speak to a health professional for further advice.

What do you think about marijuana and alcohol? Should it be legalised? What are some of the pros and cons of doing so? Comment below and let us know!

Adam St. Pierre

Image Credits: Flickr

By Adam St. Pierre|January 12th, 2014|Culture, Current Events, Featured, Health|13 Comments

Gary Boyd

How Does Marijuana Affect the Brain?

When marijuana is smoked, THC rapidly passes from the lungs into the
bloodstream, which carries the chemical to the brain and other organs
throughout the body. It is absorbed more slowly when ingested in food or
drink.

However it is ingested, THC acts upon specific molecular targets on
brain cells, called cannabinoid receptors. These receptors are
ordinarily activated by chemicals similar to THC called
endocannabinoids, such as anandamide. These are naturally occurring in
the body and are part of a neural communication network (the
endocannabinoid system) that plays an important role in normal brain
development and function.

The highest density of cannabinoid receptors is found in parts of the
brain that influence pleasure, memory, thinking, concentration, sensory
and time perception, and coordinated movement. Marijuana overactivates
the endocannabinoid system, causing the high and other effects that
users experience. These include distorted perceptions, impaired
coordination, difficulty with thinking and problem solving, and
disrupted learning and memory.

Effects on Life

Research clearly demonstrates that marijuana has the potential to
cause problems in daily life or make a person’s existing problems worse.
In fact, heavy marijuana users generally report lower life
satisfaction, poorer mental and physical health, relationship problems,
and less academic and career success compared to their peers who came
from similar backgrounds. For example, marijuana use is associated with a
higher likelihood of dropping out from school. Several studies also
associate workers’ marijuana smoking with increased absences, tardiness,
accidents, workers’ compensation claims, and job turnover.

Research has shown that, in chronic users, marijuana’s adverse impact
on learning and memory persists after the acute effects of the drug
wear off; when marijuana use begins in adolescence, the effects may
persist for many years. Research from different areas is converging on
the fact that regular marijuana use by young people can have
long-lasting negative impact on the structure and function of their
brains.

A recent study of marijuana users who began using in adolescence
revealed a profound deficit in connections between brain areas
responsible for learning and memory. And a large prospective study
(following individuals across time) showed that people who began smoking
marijuana heavily in their teens lost as much as 8 points in IQ between
age 13 and age 38; importantly, the lost cognitive abilities were not
restored in those who quit smoking marijuana as adults. (Individuals who
started smoking marijuana in adulthood did not show significant IQ
declines.)

What Are the Other Health Effects of Marijuana?

Marijuana use can have a variety of adverse, short- and long-term effects, especially on cardiopulmonary and mental health.

Marijuana raises heart rate by 20-100 percent shortly after smoking;
this effect can last up to 3 hours. In one study, it was estimated that
marijuana users have a 4.8-fold increase in the risk of heart attack in
the first hour after smoking the drug. This may be due to increased
heart rate as well as the effects of marijuana on heart rhythms, causing
palpitations and arrhythmias. This risk may be greater in older
individuals or in those with cardiac vulnerabilities.

Marijuana and Driving

Because it seriously impairs judgment and motor coordination,
marijuana also contributes to accidents while driving. A recent analysis
of data from several studies found that marijuana use more than doubles
a driver’s risk of being in an accident. Further, the combination of
marijuana and alcohol is worse than either substance alone with respect
to driving impairment.

Marijuana smoke is an irritant to the lungs, and frequent marijuana
smokers can have many of the same respiratory problems experienced by
tobacco smokers, such as daily cough and phlegm production, more
frequent acute chest illness, and a heightened risk of lung infections.
One study found that people who smoke marijuana frequently but do not
smoke tobacco have more health problems and miss more days of work than
nonsmokers, mainly because of respiratory illnesses.

A number of studies have shown an association between chronic
marijuana use and mental illness. High doses of marijuana can produce a
temporary psychotic reaction (involving hallucinations and paranoia) in
some users, and using marijuana can worsen the course of illness in
patients with schizophrenia. A series of large prospective studies also
showed a link between marijuana use and later development of psychosis.
This relationship was influenced by genetic variables as well as the
amount of drug used and the age at which it was first taken—those who
start young are at increased risk for later problems.

Associations have also been found between marijuana use and other
mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts
among adolescents, and personality disturbances, including a lack of
motivation to engage in typically rewarding activities. More research is
still needed to confirm and better understand these linkages.

Marijuana use during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of
neurobehavioral problems in babies. Because THC and other compounds in
marijuana mimic the body’s own cannabinoid-like chemicals, marijuana use
by pregnant mothers may alter the developing endocannabinoid system in
the brain of the fetus. Consequences for the child may include problems
with attention, memory, and problem solving.

Finally, marijuana use has been linked in a few recent studies to an
increased risk of an aggressive type of testicular cancer in young men,
although further research is needed to establish whether there is a
direct causal connection.

Is Marijuana Medicine?

Although many have called for the legalization of marijuana to treat
conditions including pain and nausea caused by HIV/AIDS, cancer, and
other conditions, the scientific evidence to date is not sufficient for
the marijuana plant to gain FDA approval, for two main reasons.

First, there have not been enough clinical trials showing that
marijuana’s benefits outweigh its health risks in patients with the
symptoms it is meant to treat. The FDA requires carefully conducted
studies in large numbers of patients (hundreds to thousands) to
accurately assess the benefits and risks of a potential medication.

Also, to be considered a legitimate medicine, a substance must have
well-defined and measureable ingredients that are consistent from one
unit (such as a pill or injection) to the next. This consistency allows
doctors to determine the dose and frequency. As the marijuana plant
contains hundreds of chemical compounds that may have different effects
and that vary from plant to plant, its use as a medicine is difficult to
evaluate.

However, THC-based drugs to treat pain and nausea are already FDA
approved and prescribed, and scientists continue to investigate the
medicinal properties of cannabinoids. For more information, see DrugFacts – Is Marijuana Medicine?

Is Marijuana Addictive?

Contrary to common belief, marijuana is addictive. Estimates from
research suggest that about 9 percent of users become addicted to
marijuana; this number increases among those who start young (to about
17 percent, or 1 in 6) and among daily users (to 25-50 percent). Thus,
many of the nearly 7 percent of high-school seniors who (according to
annual survey data) report smoking marijuana daily or almost daily are
well on their way to addiction, if not already addicted (besides
functioning at a sub-optimal level all of the time).

Long-term marijuana users trying to quit report withdrawal symptoms
including irritability, sleeplessness, decreased appetite, anxiety, and
drug craving, all of which can make it difficult to remain abstinent.
Behavioral interventions, including cognitive-behavioral therapy and
motivational incentives (i.e., providing vouchers for goods or services
to patients who remain abstinent) have proven to be effective in
treating marijuana addiction. Although no medications are currently
available, recent discoveries about the workings of the endocannabinoid
system offer promise for the development of medications to ease
withdrawal, block the intoxicating effects of marijuana, and prevent
relapse.

Rising Potency

The amount of THC in marijuana samples confiscated by police has
been increasing steadily over the past few decades. In 2012, THC
concentrations in marijuana averaged nearly 15 percent, compared to
around 4 percent in the 1980s. For a new user, this may mean exposure to
higher concentrations of THC, with a greater chance of an adverse or
unpredictable reaction. Increases in potency may account for the rise in
emergency department visits involving marijuana use. For experienced
users, it may mean a greater risk for addiction if they are exposing
them-selves to high doses on a regular basis. However, the full range of
consequences associated with marijuana’s higher potency is not well
understood, nor is it known whether experienced marijuana users adjust
for the increase in potency by using less.
- strongwhispers
  
  Hi Gary, That’s one way to get our attention!.
  
  We had reviewed the drugabuse drugfacts when developing this article but were not really convinced. Simply because of the lack of references when it came to studies that they described in that article that you pasted. http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana
  
  That being said, we hoped that this article would spark a discussion. The more we talk about it, the more people learn about the good or bad. As we mentioned, we don’t advocate it and are neither pro nor against it. We just wanted to highlight the possible obvious differences.
- Gary Boyd
  
  Look bros pot has always been a stepping stone drug whether you want to believe that or not. I had to many stoner friends back in college in the late sixties that started with pot then wanted a different buzz and stepped up to LSD or peyote, or speeders, or heroin; whatever was available. To think that kids just stick to smoking pot for kicks is just not true. Something in their DNA tells them to step up to a bigger buzz or trip or rush, that eventually will lead to some type of mental dependance or eventually a psychotic reaction. I had two friends die in Mexico because they were obsessed with getting high on heroin, fell in with the wrong people, were beat to death and their money stolen. It took two months to get the bodies back because officials had to be paid off! They both started with pot! That is what smoking pot could lead to! It is a drug culture that only cares about getting your money. You are just a number to them. This medical pot is just a ruse to get the public hooked on getting high. A way for the poorly managed governments to collect a tax on you to help forward their agenda. Ask any junkie on the street, like I did back in 1971 when I lived in Chicago writing an article on the subject, where did they start abusing drugs 85% said pot! Now I can’t get much clearer then that. If you do not want to believe an exhaustive report from the NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE about the effects, when today the THC levels in skunk pot is around 15%, that means they are making it stronger to hook you physiologically on the stuff, then I think you are in denial. What woke me up back in the day was when I seen good friends dieing from drug involvement who started with pot! Enough said, if you do not get it by now you will when people start dieing off around you that started with the innocent sounding name of POT!
- Adam St. Pierre
  
  Thanks for the input Gary. The main point of this article wasn’t to praise the drug or encourage use. I simply wanted to compare it to a substance that is already legal.
  
  That being said I respect your opinion but I still don’t support the gateway theory. I’m good friends with professors that have traveled and given lectures on the topic and believe that dependency and gateway problems are linked closer to physiological issues. If you look at a broad demographic of marijuana users you will notice that many of them praise the natural quality of the drug and shun other things, even alcohol.
  
  It is tragic that people have turned to other drugs but the fact that marijuana is illegal could be responsible. Since it is part of the illegal market, people that use it are exposed to those other types of substances. If it was legalized, the crime aspect would be diminished.
  
  Mainly, my inspiration for this article came from my sickly grandmother. After years of pain she was prescribed cannabis and told me that she regained her will to live. I thought that was a powerful statement worth looking into. Though it may not be for some people, I believe that people that suffer, like my grandmother before she passed, should have the opportunity to live happily with the help of a natural substance.
Gary Boyd

Gee I am sorry I was just speaking from experience with the drug back in the day and how I seen my friends step up to a bigger buzz. To many classmates I knew died back then from starting with pot. It is easy to say it is not a stairway drug but the facts prove the opposite. Sorry I already did the research back when I was younger and it mattered. There is too much money to be made today in this recession of course the lefties are going to be for it. I don’t believe what most professors say because they have there own agenda. If they happen to be socialist of course they would be for pot because that is what there agenda is about, the dumbing down of society. If you do not think it makes you stupid just keep talking to friends that do abuse. Their thoughts become scatological, disconnected, unfocused, delusional, and tend to live in an alternate universe if ya know what I mean. Just speaking from experience….
- strongwhispers
  
  Have a read through this article. It’s interesting and discusses the gateway effect but what’s even more interesting is the summary in the last paragraph that hints at the legality of marijuana being part of the cause of this gateway effect.
  
  http://healthland.time.com/2010/10/29/marijuna-as-a-gateway-drug-the-myth-that-will-not-die/
  
  So perhaps larger studies in parts of the world where the drug has been legal for quite a few years now, needs to be analysed.
- Adam St. Pierre
  
  Well everyone is entitled to their own opinions I guess. I trust my professor friends since they are educated professionals with decades of experience dedicated to their research. As far as I know they don’t follow an evil agenda, their research has been geared towards a scientific, realistic, and beneficial exposition of the drug. They only pursue the topic because they have seen it help alleviate problems with cancer patients, violent seizures, sleeping disorders, anxiety, and chronic pain.
  
  Some of the smartest people I know have used and continue to use cannabis. In the end I just like to look at alcohol and cigarettes, which are already legal and distributed to the masses. If poison like that is socially accepted than it makes marijuana seem much less taboo. In the end it seems our opinions will continue to remain opinions and the plant will continue on its path regardless of what we think.
  - strongwhispers
    
    I agree with Adam in that the scientific community generally don’t have insincere motives. Research is monitored by funding bodies and universities and other research institutes are under a lot of scrutiny by the public and in particular by other scientists. So making false claims are very rare. I couldn’t even imagine what the ulterior motives are.
    
    Gary, perhaps you could enlighten us on what you think these motives are. I’m interested – sincerely interested.
    I think the argument of the gateway effect is challengeable. I don’t advocate either either pro or against but what this article seems to bring out is that there lethal substances like alcohol and nicotine rich tobacco that are causing more harm than good.
    
    It’s like gambling. There are people that can gamble and have a good time, know their limit and walk away. Then there are people that can’t and go on to gamble bigger and eventually lose everything. That’s human nature. The majority of people drive their vehicles according to the stipulations in law and then there are some that don’t and a few of them end up six feet under. There are many analogies like these to explain this human nature.
    
    What I would advocate is that if there is medical benefit in a substance that reduces pain, and suffering without medical side effects, then why not allow it.
    
    This kind of debate is good. It needs to happen and people need to be made aware.
Gary Boyd

This is what it all boils down to; do you want your kids smoking dope? Monkey see monkey do ya know. When you legalize it through the medical dope shops there will be many who will sell joints to your kids that can verily think for themselves yet. Do yoou honestly want that? I don’t. Just like I do not want my kids trying booze; once they get started the peer pressure is always there to do more; try this do that! Once your in that crowd of loadies it is very hard to get out of. All the argument in the world will not get them to stop. Do you honestly want that? AND what if all this scientific study is skewed towards a certain ‘legalize dope’ anthem? The university studies have dumbed down studies in the past, why would now be any different? Legalizing smoking dope is not the intelligent thing to do. There is enough trouble on the highways and byways now with drunks; we do not need other mental inhibitors added to the list. Sorry smoking dope is not the answer to the world’s problems, it only makes then worse!
- strongwhispers
  
  I don’t think you get it. We are not advocating legalising this drug to distribute it to our children.
  
  More needs to be understood about it and its responsible uses.
  
  We agree there are a lot of problems in this world that needs attention and some would argue that this shouldn’t be at the top of our agenda.
  
  Perspective needs to be gained here. It’s like the people who protest against animal testing. Ask the same person when they break a leg and are in immense pain as to whether they want pain relief that was validated on animals. I would think that their answer would be ‘Give me drugs!’ every time!
  
  Maybe there is an alternative, perhaps research needs to figure out (if they already haven’t) how to extract the medicinal components of the drug and administer in a controlled environment. That way, we don’t need to legalise it.
Darlene Strand

I am a mother of two sons, ages;46 &44. Both sons began smoking Cannibas, in their early teen years. Against my consent and authority as their mother. They went over to their friends or met at the park. Have smoking get togethers at the house, while I was at work. I felt a real ashame. I took them both to the teen rehab center, back then in the city of Fontana, California. They dropped out of school on me. Drinking beer was the next agony added to their youghtful list of bad habits they created for themselves! I feel as a parent watching my sons harness the darkside of their lives at such an early age of 12 & 14, putting their health at risk, their education at risk, and their new identities created under the influence of drugs and drinking beer, jeopardized me too. Speaking for myself, I don’t agree with the legalizing of marijuana. Things we do as grown ups do rub off onto our children. I haven’t done drugs, but my boy have been around friends that had parents that would contribute to helping the situation get out of hand. Now older and maturing adult males. My sons are still users of marijuana. This I learned first hand, the spoken phrase by most users; “..it’s just a little weed..I can stop whenever I want!”. I haven’t seen happening yet….!
Darlene Strand

On my earlier comment of related issues concerning Marijuana and Alcohol, I shared personal encounters of the influence on my sons , in our lives and society in general. I would like to add to the discussion further, neither one are good, for anyone. Starting out on it, either out of boredom, wanting to be sociable, or wanting to keep up with trends to be popular, its still not good. In my personal opinion, I feel both Marijuana and Alcohol are just as harmful to a person in their decision making, reflex ability, and not capable to trust their environment of activities that may be taking place at the time of becoming under the influence!
- Adam St. Pierre
  
  I appreciate your input Darlene, personal anecdotes are always thought provoking. While there are some cases where people’s life of ruin began with cannabis, there are also many psychological tests debunking the gateway theory and showing absolutely no effect on the decision making lobes of the brain. What I like to keep in mind is the amount of people with medical disorders that benefit from using it.
  
  There are plenty of people out there that shouldn’t smoke marijuana. There are also people that are capable of doing so and remaining functional members of a safe society. This article isn’t aimed at promoting use, it’s more of a comparison to a substance that is already legal for a deeper insight on our national health priorities.