Cannabis vs alcohol - health and cannabis vs effects of alcohol



	Comparing the risks of Cannabis use to those of Alcohol FACT: Alcohol kills more people per year than all other drugs combined... Times one thousand. Nobody has ever died directly from cannabis use. Alcohol can cause death by alcohol poisoning, asphyxiation, cardiomyopathy, and cardiac infarct (heart attack). Impairment produced by alcohol increases the risks of accidents, and engagement in dangerous behaviour (particularly drink driving). It remains to be seen whether cannabis produces similar increases. There is strong evidence that high doses of alcohol taken during pregnancy can cause foetal alcohol syndrome. There is weak evidence that cannabis can cause similar adverse effects. The abrupt cessation of alcohol use in very heavy drinkers causes a well-known withdrawal effect that can kill if untreated. It is unclear whether any degree of withdrawal syndrome occurs after cessation of heavy cannabis use. There is strong evidence that heavy alcohol consumption can cause psychotic behaviour. There is suggestive evidence that cannabis may produce psychosis in people with a predisposition to mental illness. There is good evidence that alcohol can (indirectly) cause brain injury. With long-term heavy drinking, severe irreversible cognitive impairment can occur. Long-term cannabis use does not produce damage of comparable severity. The late comedian Bill Hicks explains why marijuana is better than beer. Listen