Cannabis can affect your ability to pay attention, memory, and decision-making. It can overall slow your reaction time and your general perception of time and distance which can increase your likelihood of getting into an accident. While the death toll may not be the same, the effect on drivers has been sufficiently observed. While, due to alcohol being legal for decades and drunk driving being illegal for a significant amount of time the law has preset blood alcohol levels to dictate how much alcohol is too much in your system while driving. Additionally, cannabis is not always the only drug or substance that someone might be using.
Alcohol is highly addictive and some people can have a genetic predisposition to alcoholism. Chronic use of alcohol can cause a physical dependency that will require outside intervention to treat this and help you become sober. Considering the statistics you just read about marijuana-based crashes, 40 percent of car crash deaths in the US involve alcohol, and 30 percent of deaths involve alcohol above the legal limit for driving. Thankfully, as more states legalize cannabis and recreational sales we can observe more data about the effect on death and accident rates.
However, the type and amount of cannabinoids that different cannabis-based products claim to contain vary widely — and the labels aren’t necessarily accurate, says Dr. Gruber. “The gummies, for example, can take as long as an hour and a half to have an effect, but people expecting a quick hit may take more, impacting the effects and even landing in the emergency room,” Cooper said. Public attitudes toward cannabis have shifted dramatically over the past decade, with some perceiving cannabis to be safer than alcohol.
It makes it harder for the brain areas controlling balance, memory, speech, and judgment to do their jobs, resulting in a higher likelihood of injuries and other negative outcomes. For example, drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or more are 11 times more likely to be killed in a single-vehicle crash than sober drivers. Alcohol is also highly addictive and over time addiction can increase your chances of developing health issues and even a physical dependency. Cannabis has been found to potentially increase your chances of developing anxiety, paranoia, and psychotic symptoms.There is ongoing research on the relationship between marijuana use and mental health disorders. Overall, cannabis use can be healthier and Weed vs booze less addictive than alcohol use.
Alcohol can contribute to social and behavioral issues, including aggression, mood swings, outbursts, relationship issues, and legal troubles. Additionally, compounds in cannabis can help prevent some diseases, stunt oxidative damage, and can also help prevent major conditions. Some compounds in cannabis have been found to be anticancer, antibiotic, and antifungal. Cannabis can be addictive but this is more a psychological dependency than a physical one. It can be more habitual or emotional in nature and can be aided by therapy and not necessarily require outside intervention.
It is important to note that there is a lack of large-scale, long-term studies on the health effects of cannabis, especially in comparison to alcohol. This is partly due to federal restrictions on cannabis research and the relatively recent legalisation of cannabis in certain places. Long-term heavy drinking causes alterations in the neurons, such as reductions in their size. Alcohol, on the other hand, is known to disrupt sleep architecture, or the normal structure and sequence of sleep stages. While it may shorten the time it takes to fall asleep initially, alcohol can reduce REM sleep and cause sleep to be disrupted and less restful overall.
Moderate alcohol consumption may have cardiovascular benefits but excessive drinking can put you at an increased risk of high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmias. Another factor contributing to the reduced health risks of edibles and tinctures is the controlled dosing they offer. This consistency can help minimize the risk of overconsumption, which can lead to uncomfortable experiences, particularly with high-THC products.
The more people drank, the higher their risk of dying and their risk of cancer. Alcohol is not only more addictive it also can cause more lasting damage to your health than cannabis. While excessive marijuana use can take a negative toll on your health many of these side effects can be reversible. Medical cannabis is available in more delivery methods than ever before, such as gummy bears, dried flowers, pills, lotions, drops and a variety of edibles, but what exactly does it do? With so much misinformation and junk-science on the internet, it is important to get solid facts from doctors and scientists you can trust before deciding if medical marijuana could help you. Now leading experts at Harvard Medical School are here to help you separate fact from frightening fiction about medical cannabis so you can make informed decisions.
With proper tolerance breaks, you can lower your tolerance of THC and become less reliant on large amounts of cannabis to feel the same way and regulate your cannabis use. The cannabinoids found in beverages are specially formulated to dissolve in liquid. This means they are more easily and rapidly absorbed into the body’s soft tissues. “People are interested in an experience that allows them to relax and enjoy themselves. Some are leaning into cannabis drinks as part of the ‘Cali sober’ trend,” says Dr. Gruber. People’s responses to each substance can vary greatly, so what seems safer for one person might not work for someone else.
In today’s evolving landscape of substance use, understanding the prolonged consequences of alcohol and marijuana is critical. Numerous studies have explored how chronic consumption of these substances impacts pain, memory, behavior, cognition, and the endocannabinoid system. This article examines the long-term impacts of alcohol and marijuana on both biological and behavioral levels, comparing their specific effects and implications on cognition, physiology, and social behavior. With detailed insights drawn from epidemiological studies and data by researchers including Peter Grinspoon, the article aims to align clinical evidence with practical decision-making approaches. Moreover, by analyzing data on drug liberalization trends and substance abuse rates, the discussion integrates both molecular data (e.g., changes in neuronal function and liver enzyme activity) and broader societal outcomes.
One study examined these data points exploring when cannabis was legalized vs. when retail sales began. However, this is low compared to 40% of all car crashes that directly involve alcohol. That roughly translates to cannabis is not directly related to any increase in the chances of death or has a significant impact on your lifespan. It can be challenging to ascertain how many deaths are caused by cannabis. While there can be the odd allergic reaction or bad interaction or even a child may inadvertently consume cannabis, there isn’t sufficient data to point towards any deaths caused by cannabis. If you down one cannabis drink and don’t wait long enough to feel the effects and have one or two more, you can double or triple your THC dose very quickly.
Chronic alcohol consumption impairs neural plasticity, leading to significant memory deficits and a decline in executive functions. These cognitive shifts have been quantified in controlled studies where subjects displayed a 15–20% reduction in cognitive test performance after years of heavy drinking. Marijuana, in its own right, can alter areas responsible for attention and decision-making, although data remain mixed with some individuals showing resilience or recovery upon cessation. The evaluation typically involves neuropsychological testing and longitudinal cognition imaging studies, which reveal that both substances affect similar brain structures but with different mechanisms and outcomes. 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. AUD can be mild, moderate, or severe, and is considered a brain disorder.
Transitioning now into the critical scientific details, the following sections will explore biology, behavior, and comparative outcomes based on extensive research methodologies and robust clinical evidence. Alcohol is strongly linked to several types of cancer, including breast cancer. The US Department of Health lists alcohol as a known human carcinogen, and research suggests that the more alcohol is consumed regularly, the higher the risk of developing cancer. This article has been reviewed by Dr. Anand Dugar, an anesthesiologist, pain medicine physician and the founder of Green Health Docs. Graduating from medical school in 2004 and residency in 2008, Dr. Dugar has been a licensed physician for almost 20 years and has been leading the push for medical cannabis nationwide. One way to develop a healthy relationship with cannabis is to use it intentionally.
