This past weekend, I was focused on writing the section of my book that compares cannabis and alcohol. The book is a guide to cannabis for the terminally and chronically ill. You might be wondering – why in the world would she write about alcohol in a cannabis book? The answer is two-fold. First, people who are sick are empowered to make better choices when they understand how and what they put in their body impacts their health. The research that I have done leads me to believe that cannabis is both a safe medicine and a safe recreational intoxicant whose benefits far outweigh its risks. Whereas alcohol only has 
benefit for a healthy person who consumes it in very small quantities. Secondly, those who oppose legalization of cannabis – be it medical or recreational – tout all the “dangers” of cannabis yet vigorously defend the legal sale of alcohol. Hopefully this blog post presents evidence against their weak and grossly uninformed argument. For the record, I do support the legal sale of alcohol and enjoy it myself from time to time. Prohibition didn’t work in the 20’s and 30’s. It does not work now.
Cannabis vs. Alcohol – What the Science Says
In November 2011 the Journal of Psychopharmacology, (the journal of the British Association of Psychopharmacology publication) published the findings of a significant study in the paper titled Popular Intoxicants: what lessons can be learned from the last 40 years of alcohol and cannabis regulation. The study assessed the two most prevalent intoxicants used in the UK: alcohol and cannabis. The paper states what many supporters of marijuana legalization have long hypothesized: alcohol is twice as harmful as cannabis to the user and five times as harmful as cannabis to others or society in general. The paper goes as far to say that alcohol is a toxic substance contributing to five percent of the “total global disease burden” (Ruth Wissenborn, February 2012). Interestingly cannabis has a 9% addiction rate compared to that of alcohol which is 15%.
The Cost
It is ironic that marijuana is illegal in a country where alcohol is legal, and celebrated by the U.S. Congress during National Craft Beer Week. Yet according to the Center for Disease Control Fact Sheet an estimated 80,000 people a year lose their lives as a result of excessive drinking. They also estimate that the total economic cost of excessive drinking is over $223.5 billion annually. While death from alcohol poisoning is rare, it is estimated that approximately 300 people die annually from alcohol poisoning (Gable, 2006). Compare that to the number of people who die annually as a result of cannabis use, which is ZERO.
How Many People Drink vs. Use Cannabis?
Alcohol consumption is a widely accepted social practice. The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) estimates in their 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health that approximately 51.8 percent or 131 million Americans over the age of 12 are current drinkers. According to the 2010 Gallup Poll 67 percent of adults drink. The SAMHSA survey says that 17.4 million (6.9%) Americans over 12 have utilized cannabis in the last month.
How Does Alcohol Effect the Body?
Since my research to date has largely been about how cannabis effects the body, I couldn’t help but wonder, how does alcohol affect the body? We all know that excessive drinking impairs judgement and can have a negative long term impact on the brain and liver. What I didn’t know was:
- that even what I thought was considered to be moderate drinking can have an impact on one’s immune system.
- alcoholics have a higher risk of lung cancer and lung infections such as tuberculosis and pneumonia.
- alcoholics also are at higher risk for infection from the virus that causes AIDS.
Therapeutic Window – Big or Small?
The therapeutic window for alcohol consumption is very small and the benefits are mainly for helping reduce tension in the heart. The Center for Disease Control conveys the following about alcohol consumption:
- standard drink = 12 oz. beer, 8 oz. malt liquor, 5 oz. wine, 1.5 oz distilled spirit
- safe drinking = 1 per day for women, 2 per day for men. And, no more per week than 7 drinks for women and 14 for men.
- excessive drinking = 4 drinks for women and 5 for men in a day or to exceed 7 drinks a week for women or 14 for men.
- binge drinking = is when one consumes enough alcohol in 2 hours for the blood alcohol level to reach .08. That usually occurs after 4 drinks for women and 5 for men.
Alcohol consumption is considered “toxic” for women who consume 3 or more drinks per day and men 5-6 or more per day. This level of daily consumption can lead to or exacerbate a wide variety of conditions. Excessive and binge drinking negatively impact the immune system and increases one’s risk for a wide variety of health issues including cancer. Alcohol becomes deadly at 10-20 times its therapeutic effect. The same is true for cocaine and ecstasy. No one really knows what the lethal dose of cannabis would be. One of the cannabis scientists I follow closely says that a smoked lethal dose is estimated to be 1500 pounds of smoked cannabis in 15 minutes. That is not humanly possible.
Benefits of Cannabis vs. Alcohol
On the flip side, cannabis reduces inflammation throughout the body and can help bring the body into homeostasis when in crisis. Components of cannabis have anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. Landmark studies have shown that chronic use of cannabis does not increase one’s risk for COPD nor lung cancer. Chronic consumption of cannabis does not cause disease in the liver nor the brain like chronic alcohol consumption does.
If you are suffering from a chronic illness or disease, alcohol consumption is likely weakening your immune system. Cannabis is widely documented as both a safe recreational drug or intoxicant, and a legitimate medicine. Yet, alcohol is legal – even celebrated. Cannabis is not.
Writer’s disclaimer: This blog is opinion and should not take the place of advice from your medical practitioner as I am not a medical doctor. Do your own homework!
Follow Us!