Marijuana vs Alcohol
One of the most common arguments brought about by people looking to legalize marijuana is to compare the drug to alcohol which is currently legal in 99% of America. Disregarding dry counties alcohol is federally legal for consumption to anyone over the age of 21 such as marijuana in states where recreational use is permitted. When comparing alcohol to drugs in the American FDA’s system of drug classification, alcohol would possibly be ranked as schedule 1 being that there are no medical uses and a potential for abuse. In an article written and published by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism “An estimated 88,000 people (approximately 62,000 men and 26,000 women) die from alcohol-related causes annually, making alcohol the fourth leading preventable cause of death in the United States.(Abuse)” This is considered the short term effects of alcohol which include death from overconsumption, then there are even a larger number of deaths caused by alcohol impairment. When comparing marijuana and alcohol we must look at both the short and longterm effects of each before an outcome of safety is concluded. The short term effects of alcohol range from increased heart rate, impaired vision, nausea, vomiting, and even death. With over 80% of Americans over the age of 18 admitting to consuming alcohol this cannot be a surprise that over 80 thousand people die annually from lethal consumption of alcohol which is on average 1 metric liter of liquor. Over 15 million people in 2015 have been diagnosed with alcohol use disorder, considering them alcoholics(Abuse). The damage caused by alcohol is not just limited to the person who consumes the alcohol but to all the others who are impacted by this person. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism “More than 10 percent of U.S. children live with a parent with alcohol problems, according to a 2012 study.” This statistic stating 10% of children have one or more alcoholic parents is troubling as the developmental years of a child are very crucial to how one will grow up to be. When a child with a very influential brain is subject to witnessing alcohol consumption especially in excess from an alcoholic, they begin to make the association that it is socially acceptable to drink and they too can grow up to develop the same habits as their guardian. The long term effects of alcohol are pretty simple with leading long term effects being addiction and kidney/liver damage. Although kidney and liver damage are not fatal, due to the high growing rate and demand for kidney transplants, there is an extensive waiting list for patients who suffer from kidney failure to receive a new kidney. Many of these people have to undergo dialysis to live with the damage they have done from excess drinking to their kidneys. Short term effects of marijuana to ones body are directly increased heart rate and blood pressure. As these effects can be dangerous to some users when used in conjunction with other drugs in states where it is legal to recreational use marijuana it is unadvised that users combine the drug’s use with alcohol or any other drug that could possibly lead to further impairment or death. In all reported medical history no one person has died from the soul use of marijuana on its own. Now this should not be interpreted as the drug is risk free, marijuana is a psychoactive drug which alters the way one thinks and should only be used in the safest of environments. Since alcohol and marijuana effect the way one sees and behaves there are risks of impaired judgment which can be fatal. The way which these two substances effect one behavior can be dangerous in the means of vehicle operation in an irresponsible manner and the frequency for unprotected sex occurs when under the influence of either substance. Long term effects of marijuana can be as severe as inflammation of the lungs or other organs included in the respiratory system and some studies show effects with reproduction. The effects of marijuana in excess can cause real health issues and should be well examined before use of the drug, even having the ability to bring about physiatrics issues which they are predisposed to(Brownstein). In conclusion, when comparing the risks and rewards of using marijuana or alcohol one can clearly see that both the short and long term effects of alcohol are more detrimental to ones physical and mental health then the use of marijuana.