Smoking Weed, Drinking Booze Are Both Harmful, Docs Say

Those who smoke a joint now and then often like to argue that alcohol is far more harmful to health than marijuana or hash. Indeed, we've long known about the dangers of alcoholism.

Photo Insert: A young woman rolling a joint

But as more and more places around the world move to legalize the recreational use of cannabis, more serious risks are becoming clear, Christina Sticht reported for Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) recently.

Alcohol is a cytotoxin that quickly enters the entire body via the bloodstream. It alters the transmission of information in the brain, and larger amounts can lead to alcohol poisoning.

The hemp plant Cannabis sativa contains more than 60 cannabinoids, of which tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is classified as the strongest psychoactive substance. Throughout the body there are receptors to which the body's own cannabinoids, but also THC, dock.

In general, the effects of alcohol are better researched. With cannabis, there is the added difficulty that the THC content of the plants can be highly variable. Both substances have a very rapid effect on the brain, typically reducing concentration levels and the ability to remember things. Alcohol is one of the most frequent causes of accidents in road traffic, but cannabis is also known to impair the ability to drive.

Alcohol increases the aggressive nature in some people - almost every third act of violence occurs under the influence of alcohol. Cannabis, meanwhile, has a relaxing and calming effect on many people, but it can also trigger feelings of paranoia and panic.

People who drink alcohol too often damage their health and reduce their life expectancy. Many people only think of alcohol dependence. However, more than 200 diseases are known to be promoted or directly caused by any kind of regular alcohol consumption, says Ulrich John, a social physician at Germany's Greifswald University Medical Center. These include many liver, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases.

Recent studies also refute the myth that alcohol in moderation has a generally positive effect. For example, the risk of breast cancer increases with three to six glasses of alcohol per week. With cannabis, there are indications of a connection with diseases such as depression or testicular cancer. Several studies show that the risk of psychosis increases - especially if people start smoking it at an early age.

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