Well, media has been recently overwhelmed by studies showcasing the benefits of weed so that the disadvantages of using it appear to be lower or none at all, but that's not really the case.
If smoked, you're smoking tar and volatile compounds that can harm the lungs, much like a regular cigarette - although you're probably not going to smoke a pack of 20 joints in a single day like the moderate-to-heavy smoker next door do.
There's also an association between weed and schizophrenia (and depression) in adults. I'm not going to say "weed causes schizophrenia" (or depression), but the correlation exists and some will argue it implies causation here. Weed is also associated with some memory problems in adults too, although they seem to wean off if you stop using it.
There are cardiovascular risks associated with THC too, since it can cause abnormal heart rhythms and elevated heart rate. And, again, it's even worse if smoked since carbon dioxide and smoke compounds are known for affecting the heart.
So, yeah, weed has benefits, plenty of them, but I wouldn't say it's necessarily "safer". Don't get me wrong, alcohol is toxic, it's broken down in the liver into Acetaldehyde, a known carcinogenic. This stuff can't be healthy. But, for weed, we have less data on how it impacts the body - see how much time did it take to scientists finally admit alcohol is toxic? -. Similar studies on cannabis are still ongoing and we don't know yet all the risks it poses, but we already can see they do exist.
Maybe the real healthy thing is not switching from one drug to another, but cutting back on the overall consumption.
I think that the relationship between marijuana smoking and lung damange isn't so cut and dry bad as smoking nicotine is. Here's a blurb:
> Regular smoking of marijuana by itself causes visible and microscopic injury to the large airways that is consistently associated with an increased likelihood of symptoms of chronic bronchitis that subside after cessation of use. On the other hand, habitual use of marijuana alone does not appear to lead to significant abnormalities in lung function when assessed either cross-sectionally or longitudinally, except for possible increases in lung volumes and modest increases in airway resistance of unclear clinical significance. Therefore, no clear link to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has been established. Although marijuana smoke contains a number of carcinogens and cocarcinogens, findings from a limited number of well-designed epidemiological studies do not suggest an increased risk for the development of either lung or upper airway cancer from light or moderate use, although evidence is mixed concerning possible carcinogenic risks of heavy, long-term use.
See, I'm of the opinion that problem drinking and/or weed is escapism or a form of self-harm, and unless the underlying issues are solved you'd just find an alternative.
Anecdotal, but I drink less now that I'm in a comitted relationship / living together. I still drink, but it's social. I've only been sort of hung over once in the past year.
Going to the movies is a form of escapism too. I wouldn’t connect escapism to self harm. It can help you avoid getting help, but that’s only harm by opportunity cost, which opens up all sorts of issues.
Those are all good points. I still think evidence shows that weed is likely the less harmful option of the two. In the spirit of harm reduction, if I had to choose one of them to start with, weed appears to be the rational choice. But there’s no one telling me I have to use either of them.
Coffee is still my favorite drug, and I’ll fight for that one.
But humans aren't rational, we decide based on emotions most of the time. Alcohol and coffee have rituals you've been familiar with since childhood. Society says it's ok so you feel ok about it.
Also maybe you prefer one of the highs over the other? I don't drink alcohol before doing sports or going to work, but I might have a coffee.
Granted weed is a depressant like alcohol. But maybe the high is not as enjoyable for you. Maybe you don't find the relaxation after work that you expect from the scotch.
If smoked, you're smoking tar and volatile compounds that can harm the lungs, much like a regular cigarette - although you're probably not going to smoke a pack of 20 joints in a single day like the moderate-to-heavy smoker next door do.
There's also an association between weed and schizophrenia (and depression) in adults. I'm not going to say "weed causes schizophrenia" (or depression), but the correlation exists and some will argue it implies causation here. Weed is also associated with some memory problems in adults too, although they seem to wean off if you stop using it.
There are cardiovascular risks associated with THC too, since it can cause abnormal heart rhythms and elevated heart rate. And, again, it's even worse if smoked since carbon dioxide and smoke compounds are known for affecting the heart.
So, yeah, weed has benefits, plenty of them, but I wouldn't say it's necessarily "safer". Don't get me wrong, alcohol is toxic, it's broken down in the liver into Acetaldehyde, a known carcinogenic. This stuff can't be healthy. But, for weed, we have less data on how it impacts the body - see how much time did it take to scientists finally admit alcohol is toxic? -. Similar studies on cannabis are still ongoing and we don't know yet all the risks it poses, but we already can see they do exist.
Maybe the real healthy thing is not switching from one drug to another, but cutting back on the overall consumption.