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View Full Version : Cannabis Safer than Alcohol?



Sistersteel
04-13-2009, 01:18 AM
Yes and no - it's not a straightforward question.

It depends on what aspect of our personal safety we're looking at.
If we're considering the risks to our physical health, then we must conclude that - in some respects - cannabis is probably 'safer' than alcohol.



Cannabis doesn't contribute to the type of illnesses associated with alcohol use, such as liver disease, stomach ulcers, heart and circulation disorders.
Also, cannabis is not usually associated with violent behavior - as alcohol commonly is. So it would be fair to say that if an individual socialized with cannabis users, he or she would be less likely to suffer physical violence than would be the case in socializing with alcohol users.


But - with regard to other risks to our personal health - such as injury from accidents at work or at home (leaving a chip pan on, or a burning cigarette etc.), injury or death in a car crash, lung damage etc. from smoking cannabis (with or without tobacco) - we can see that cannabis use carries just as many risks for our health as does alcohol.


If we consider the risks to our emotional well-being, then we're likely to conclude that cannabis is not safer than alcohol. Both drugs can be psychologically addictive - leading to a wide range of harmful consequences commonly associated with chemical dependence.


If we consider the potential for harm that cannabis use can inflict upon other family members, we're likely to accept that cannabis is not safer than alcohol. Family members can be traumatised by drug use within the family unit - and that includes cannabis use. A habitual cannabis user - always stoned - is no more pleasant to live with than an habitual alcohol user - always drunk!