We are not here to tell you that it is entirely without harms — what product is? We simply hope you will come to understand that it is far, far less harmful than what your government has told you. But it’s up to you to decide if marijuana products will benefit you in the long run. Thinking about your relationship with substances is always a great place to start.

It is also possible to have a negative experience with marijuana, which can leave you feeling worse for wear the next day. It is used to alleviate arthritis, relieve migraines, aid sleep, and for therapeutic purposes. Marijuana use during pregnancy has been linked to low birth weight in babies. A report by Vox in 2019 highlighted that babies exposed to cannabis in utero tended to have lower birth weights.

What are the Main Differences Between the Effects, Risks & Safety of Alcohol vs Weed?

• Although marijuana can increase the odds of a car accident by 83%, this risk is significantly lower than alcohol, which increases the odds by over 2,200%.
• Additionally, the psychological effects of alcohol, such as mood swings, anxiety, and depression, often worsen dependency and impact mental well-being.
• Research in my laboratory has demonstrated that a daily low dose of cannabis can significantly reduce brain inflammation and restore neurogenesis in the elderly.
• A 2015 study, for example, found that CBD may be beneficial in treating opioid, cocaine, tobacco, and even cannabis addiction.

On the surface, cannabis appears to be safer, but there’s simply not enough evidence to declare a winner. Cannabis addiction is surprisingly common, however, according to a 2015 study. While being intoxicated with cannabis feels different than being intoxicated with alcohol, the two have roughly the same effect on your cognitive abilities, reflexes, and judgment. Cannabis may appear to be safer than alcohol simply because researchers aren’t yet aware of certain risks. Sure, research on the topic is ramping up a bit, but there’s still a lack of large, long-term studies. Before getting into the specifics of alcohol and cannabis, it’s important to understand some of the factors that make the comparison tricky.

Cannabis drinks: How do they compare to alcohol?

While some research suggests a positive association between cannabis use and motor vehicle accidents, other studies indicate that stoned driving is significantly safer than drunk driving. Marijuana is also less toxic, less addictive, and less harmful to the body than alcohol. Importantly, there has never been a fatal marijuana overdose, whereas alcohol overdoses do occur.

• Dopamine is a neurotransmitter produced by the brain that influences the experience of pleasure and rewards.
• While high alcohol consumption may benefit individual companies, it has detrimental impacts on our economy.
• While driving under the influence of marijuana is dangerous and can increase the odds of a car accident by 83%, it is still considerably safer than driving drunk.
• While alcohol’s widespread use often leads to severe consequences, marijuana’s growing acceptance highlights new concerns.
• It’s also important to note that many cannabis users do not experience any addiction; the strongest predictor of cannabis use disorder is daily or near-daily use.

Sobering Statistics on Related Harms: Alcohol vs. Weed

Both can also alcohol vs marijuana: is one safer than the other leave you feeling a bit worse for wear the next day, though this is more likely to happen with alcohol.

Short-Term Effects

However, alcohol consumption is much higher than cannabis use, which is one factor that can influence mortality rates. While we may not have settled the debate as to whether alcohol or marijuana is worse, we’ve established that both are harmful — refocusing our attention on limiting the consumption of each. “Some people say they feel the effects of cannabis-infused drinks within 15 to 20 minutes, which is much faster than when people eat a cannabis gummie or brownie,” says Dr. Gruber. Those products take at least 30 to 90 minutes to take effect because they must be digested and then processed through your liver, she explains. Beyond this, other factors such as lifestyle, home and work environment, and socio-economic status may all additionally impact whether a person finds weed addictive or not. Research tells us that THC appears to be responsible for cannabis’ addictive potential due to its effects on the brain’s dopamine system.

We believe everyone deserves access to accurate, unbiased information about mental health and recovery. That’s why we have a comprehensive set of treatment providers and don’t charge for inclusion. We do not and have never accepted fees for referring someone to a particular center. Providers who advertise with us must be verified by our Research Team and we clearly mark their status as advertisers. Recognizing when to seek help for marijuana or alcohol abuse can be challenging. If you find either substance interfering with your life, or if you find yourself questioning your substance use, talking to a professional can be helpful.

There has never been a recorded case of an individual dying from a marijuana overdose, whereas alcohol poisoning claims thousands of lives annually. The CDC does not have a category for deaths caused by the health effects of marijuana, highlighting its relatively low mortality risk compared to alcohol. This article provides an in-depth comparison of alcohol and cannabis, focusing on short-term and long-term health effects for adults aged 25–55. We explore physiological and psychological impacts, addiction potential, cognitive and physical consequences, risks of chronic use, and how society and the law view each substance. One of the well-known consequences of excessive drinking is liver disease.

Cannabis vs. Alcohol: Both Come With Health Risks

Excessive alcohol use can cause brain damage and degenerative conditions like Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which can cause severe memory impairment and other cognitive deficits. It affects gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) which can cause relaxation but long term use of alcohol can affect your levels of GABA or glutamate in the nervous system. Alcohol can lower inhibitions but it can also impair judgment, coordination, and memory. 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.

Alcohol vs. Marijuana: Recognizing Risks and Taking Action

People’s responses to each substance can vary greatly, so what seems safer for one person might not work for someone else. The data suggests that 30% of those who use cannabis may have some degree of cannabis use disorder. 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.

Marijuana and alcohol are two of the most commonly used substances worldwide, and the comparison between the two is a highly debated topic. Marijuana is widely used in a manner similar to alcohol, with people consuming it while socialising or relaxing. While marijuana remains a Schedule I drug, alcohol is legal for those above the age of 21.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a medical condition characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol consumption despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences. People with AUD may experience lasting changes in the brain that perpetuate the disorder and make them vulnerable to relapse. Binge drinking and heavy alcohol use are forms of alcohol misuse that can increase the risk of AUD.