Additionally, a 2002 review by a Canadian Senate committee found that “scientific evidence overwhelmingly indicates that cannabis is substantially less harmful than alcohol”. In summary, both alcohol and cannabis can lead to addiction and dependence, but the specific effects and treatment options differ. Alcohol use disorder is more prevalent and may have more severe withdrawal symptoms.
Health Risks
In places where weed is legal, there are often strict regulations on its production, distribution, and consumption. Weed can slow motor skills and cause emphysema Weed vs booze from exposure to smoke and other chemicals. Smoking weed can be rough on the lungs, and heavy use can lead to worse brain health consequences.
Cannabis use disorder can also significantly impact an individual’s life, but the dependence is generally less severe and may go unnoticed due to the social acceptance and legality of alcohol. Alcohol use disorder, or alcoholism, is a common condition where individuals are unable to stop drinking despite negative consequences on their health, safety, and personal relationships. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), 28.9 million people aged 12 and older in the United States live with alcohol use disorder. It’s a commonly held belief that smoking weed has fewer negative health effects than drinking alcohol, especially now that marijuana is legal in New York and many other states across the country.
While the growing increase in medical and recreational cannabis legalization is providing a larger data set there isn’t enough tracking to link specific medical deaths to cannabis. This post will elaborate on the impacts of alcohol vs. weed on your health, body, driving skills, fatality numbers, and the toll they can take on your life. Older adults may be more vulnerable to these unpleasant effects, in part because drug metabolism slows with age. After recreational cannabis became legal to sell in California, cannabis-related emergency department visits increased in older adults. The same trend occurred in Canada, as documented in a recent study in JAMA Internal Medicine. Many cannabis-infused drinks list THC as an ingredient, and while there is no standard dose, 5 milligrams (mg) is typically used in research studies of the drug.
Marijuana linked to doubled risk of cardiovascular death
While weed may not be safe either, there is limited research on its effects during pregnancy. Research shows that nearly 90% of Americans have used alcohol at some point or another. Less than 50% of Americans have even tried marijuana, and a much smaller percentage are using it on a regular basis. So the sheer numbers of people showing up in the ER after smoking pot are going to be a lot less than for alcohol.
Evaluating Immune System Effects
Peer-reviewed studies, such as those conducted by researchers published in JAMA Open Access, suggest that sustained exposure can lower cognitive performance by approximately 10–15% in heavy users. Additionally, epidemiological studies have highlighted a potential increased risk for respiratory complications and mood disorders with regular use. These findings underscore the imperative for further longitudinal studies to systematically delineate the full spectrum of marijuana’s effects, particularly as legal access expands across the globe. Long-term marijuana use primarily alters neurological function, with changes recorded in areas controlling memory, learning, and attention.
On a cellular level, alcohol interferes with essential metabolic processes, alters enzyme activities, and disrupts intracellular signaling. These changes are prominently observed in the liver, heart, and nervous system. However, the way people consume them and their reactions to each substance vary from person to person. While some people may have a very low tolerance for weed, they may be able to tolerate alcohol well. Others may not have any issues with misusing alcohol but may struggle to function without weed.
- Thankfully, as more states legalize cannabis and recreational sales we can observe more data about the effect on death and accident rates.
- Legalization has provided data points about the potential increase in accidents related to cannabis.
- Some studies have shown that gender, age, and concurrent use of other substances (like tobacco) may mediate these effects.
- There’s also this perception that it’s extremely rare to get addicted to marijuana, but that’s a myth.
- Heavy drinking can also take a toll on the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of heart disease and negatively impacting blood pressure.
- On the other hand, alcohol consumption is well-known for its detrimental impact on liver health.
Neuroimaging studies have documented structural modifications in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, regions critical to maintaining cognitive integrity. Although some cannabinoids display neuroprotective properties, chronic exposure often leads to subtle yet measurable cognitive declines. Research from the University of Colorado Boulder indicates that daily users may experience deficits in memory recall and processing speed. In addition to neurologic outcomes, respiratory consequences are evaluated through the lens of prolonged inhalation of combusted material.
Lifestyle Quizzes
It can also cause or worsen breathing disorders such as sleep apnea, further disrupting sleep quality. Additionally, alcohol can alter the production of hormones such as melatonin and cortisol, which are important for regulating sleep-wake cycles. As a result, alcohol can disrupt the body’s natural sleep patterns and contribute to insomnia or other sleep disorders. The sedative effects of alcohol may promote sleepiness, but the sleep obtained is often fragmented and of poorer quality. While the effects of both substances are highly variable and depend on numerous factors, there are some clear differences between the impacts of weed and alcohol on sleep. This can progress to fibrosis of the liver and potentially lead to liver cancer.
- It can lead to feelings of relaxation, euphoria, and lowered inhibitions.
- Cannabinoids, especially cannabidiol (CBD), have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, yet long-term use may alter immune cell function and cytokine production.
- Surveys indicate that individuals who engage in habitual substance use often face discrimination in professional and social settings, which can compound feelings of isolation and depression.
- Excessive drinking can lead to liver disease, heart disease, stroke, cancer, high blood pressure, and memory impairment.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), 28.9 million people ages 12 and up in the United States live with it. Both can also leave you feeling a bit worse for wear the next day, though this is more likely to happen with alcohol. While one person might feel relaxed while drunk, another might feel restless.
Marijuana, while often touted as a natural remedy, can also trigger chronic bronchitis and, in some cases, may affect immune responses due to its immunomodulatory effects. Both substances have been linked to disruptions in normal cellular processes, resulting in elevated systemic inflammation levels and hormonal imbalances. Specific studies have noted that alcohol’s carcinogenic potential is mediated by acetaldehyde, whereas marijuana’s long-term respiratory consequences might be attributed to chronic inflammatory responses. The long-term effects of cannabis are less well understood due to a lack of research. Smoking cannabis can be rough on the lungs, and cannabis use can lead to addiction and substance use disorders.
Despite there being issues, most issues caused by cannabis can be reversible if you stop using cannabis. They both have a history of impairing judgment and can directly increase your chances of having an accident. There currently isn’t a Blood Marijuana Level federally recognized but as more states adjust to legal cannabis use we can have clearer and more stringent measures to monitor driving while intoxicated on cannabis. Suffice to say that alcohol causes more deaths due to violence, accidents, car crashes, and disease than cannabis to the point where there are ever-growing statistics tracking these numbers. While there is the possibility for occasional deaths and accidents caused by cannabis use there isn’t sufficient data to compare it to alcohol. They ultimately found a 5.8% increase in injury crash rates and a 4.1% increase in fatal crash rates when comparing the data of cannabis being legalized and when states opened recreational sales.
Some “low-dose” beverages contain 2 to 4 mg of THC in an 8-ounce container. The way you consume cannabis can have a big impact on its short- and long-term effects. For example, smoking is rough on your lungs, but this risk doesn’t apply to edibles. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), causing physical, behavioural, and intellectual disabilities in the child.
Cannabis addiction is surprisingly common, however, according to a 2015 study. Getting drunk or high can feel similar to some people, while others describe the sensations as very different. Of course, the way you feel when you’re intoxicated also depends on how much of the substance you consume. Cannabis may appear to be safer than alcohol simply because researchers aren’t yet aware of certain risks. Comparisons may contain inaccurate information about people, places, or facts. Alcohol-related overdose deaths occur each year, with nearly 88,000 reported in the US annually.
