Marijuana vs. Alcohol: Are the Negative Effects of Alcohol Worse than Marijuana?

Andrew Frawley

Professor Dempsey

ENGL 1200-20

Project Two: Blog 5

7 April 2014

Blog 5: Marijuana vs. Alcohol: Are the Negative Effects of Alcohol Worse than Marijuana?

            The debate of whether or not to officially legalize marijuana largely intensified when the first marijuana stores opened in Denver, Colorado on January 1, 2014, which began the recreational sale to people of 21 years or older. In the analysis of whether or not marijuana should be made legal, it is important to consider already “legal” substances used by people to have a good time or relax, one being alcohol. The negative characteristics associated with alcohol gives criticism to why marijuana is not legal and alcohol is. Consuming alcohol can create short-term health risks, like injuries or violence when intoxicated; and long-term health risks, such as neurological problems or cardiovascular problems (Alcohol Use and Health 1). Along with these problems, the irresponsible consumption of alcohol has led to many fatalities, ranging from drunk-driving accidents to binge drinking. While marijuana does have side effects and should not be abused, it does not have nearly as many detrimental results as that of when alcohol is irresponsibly used. 

            The United States has experienced its share of negative view points of the consumption of alcohol, with the varying drinking age over time and the awareness of alcohol-related fatalities occurring among teenagers. A large reason for the change of the drinking age from 21 to 18 was in 1982 when President Reagan told each state they would lose a percentage of federal highway dollars if they failed to comply with raising the minimum drinking age. The efforts of Reagan to raise the minimum drinking age was a result of many drunk-driving fatalities among young people. These alcohol-related fatalities are creating world-wide problems, with 2.5 million alcohol-related deaths annually around the world. Along with the various problems alcohol has contributed to American society over time, the misuse of alcohol is a global problem and is playing a large factor in decreasing both individual and social development. Some of the social development issues associated with alcohol include violence, child neglect and abuse, and absenteeism in the workplace (2.5 Million Alcohol-Related Deaths Worldwide-Annually). These negative possibilities that can occur when drinking alcohol provides the question of why it is legal if marijuana is not. The argument of whether or not marijuana should be legalized needs to include a comparison of facts and side effects with marijuana use and alcohol consumption, which puts marijuana in a more positive light.

            Although alcohol consumption does provide a large amount of danger if not used responsibly, marijuana has problems and different side-effects associated with it as well. A few main negative effects marijuana can possibly have is its effect it can have on the brain, heart, and lungs. The active ingredient in marijuana, THC, acts on cannabinoid receptors located in some brain areas and can influence the activity of those cells, although other areas of the brain have few to none at all. These receptors are usually found in parts of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thought, concentration, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement (T, Buddy 1). The effects it can have on the brain does give negative feedback on the use of marijuana, but still does not compare to problems associated with alcohol. Along with the minimal effect marijuana can have on the users’ brain, it can also impact their heart. After smoking marijuana, the heart begins to beat more rapidly and blood pressure begins to drop within minutes. Marijuana can cause the heart to beat 20 to 50 more beats per minute and can make a person 4 times likely of having a heart attack than if they were to not smoke (T, Buddy 1). The faster heart beat and lower blood pressure may be negative qualities of the substance, but it still does not guarantee a heart attack will occur and is not a valid point to use when comparing it with alcohol, due to the health risks and number of alcohol-related fatalities around the world.   Marijuana can affect the lungs if smoked enough. Smoking marijuana, even infrequently, can cause burning and stinging of the mouth and throat. Marijuana smokers can also experience similar respiratory problems as tobacco smokers such as, daily cough and phlegm production, more frequent acute chest illness, increased risk of lung infections, and obstructed airways (T, Buddy 1). Although there is clearly the possibility negative effects occurring when using marijuana, but none of these include fatalities or strong effects to a person’s health, as seen in alcohol. There are overall less negative effects associated with marijuana than alcohol, even though alcohol is legal in every state and consumed by a large amount of Americans.

In analyzing why alcohol is legal and marijuana is not, there is credible evidence that raise questions for why it is like this. Based on the knowledge of both substances, it seems that the script would be switched and alcohol would be illegal with the more side effects and danger presented with drinking. There is no doubt that abusing marijuana can have negative effects, but only a slim possibility of these effects does not measure up to definite effects of alcohol if not used responsibly. The problems associated with alcohol and how much more severe they are than marijuana needs to be made known to people who oppose the idea of it being legalized, but sit down on the couch every night and crack cold ones. The problems with abuse and lives lost from alcohol gives a strong argument for why marijuana is not legal and alcohol is, which is putting society in more harm than marijuana ever could.

 

Works Cited

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Fact Sheets-Alcohol Use and Health.”14 March 2014. <http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm>.

Choose Responsibly. “History.” <http://www.chooseresponsibility.org/history/>.

National Council on Alcoholism And Drug Dependence, INC. “2.5 Million Alcohol-Related Deaths Worldwide-Annually. <http://www.ncadd.org/index.php/in-the-news/155-25-million-alcohol-related-deaths-worldwide-annually>.

T, Buddy. Alcoholism. “The Health Effects of Marijuana.” 18 March 2014. <http://alcoholism.about.com/od/pot/a/effects.-Lya.htm>.