Why does our society consider cannabis to be more dangerous than alcohol?

Question

it seems to me that if you're going to have one legal, you must have the other. afterall, drink is responsible for a great deal more damage than weed

Kristy M: cannabis is not physically addictive like alcohol. I don't mind other opinions on the subject of legalisation, but to suggest that it is another 'horribly addictive substance ' simply wrong. Fact.

As for the people saying that 'two wrongs don't make a right', this is a valid point, but surely you must accept that there is hypocrisy when only one is considered an illegal narcotic.

Kirsty : what facts are these? how many people become psycologically dependant on canabis?

Answer 1

because they think it takes you to worst drugs.
alcohol takes you to be an alcoholic

Answer 2

I don't think it's hypocritical... I think the government would be happier if alcohol wasn't legal either... it's just that they didn't think about it until it was too late... people already were addicted to it and needed it. So they allowed it to be legal again, but regulated it an awful lot in an attempt to make it safe. I think the government thinks that the only way to be completely safe is not to allow marijuana to be legal at all... I've never smoked marijuana (or ever seen it at all), but from what I understand it takes a very small amount to make you high... It takes a large amount of alcohol to make someone drunk. Then from what I understand the marijuana has worse effects than alcohol (like hallucinations and stuff? is that true or is that just the media and cartoons and things that give me that idea)... anyway, we have enough troubles because of alcohol... enough car accidents and injuries (both to the drunk person and other people)... surely we can make it illegal to smoke and drive, but it's already illegal to drink and drive and look how good that works! I don't think we consider it to be more dangerous than alcohol, but having the 2 be legal together would be more dangerous... and since it's already illegal, it's better that we just keep it illegal to prevent any bad from coming from it.

Answer 3

Cannabis is viewed by the public as a ' drug ' whereas alcohol is socially acceptable. The fact is that alcohol in moderation is harmless, some of it even arguably beneficial. Cannabis on the other hand does have a damaging effect on the brain at any level. Also users can be drawn into using other more worrying substances owing to the social groups and sales networks involved.

Answer 4

Good question - "While tending to agree that alcohol is "as dangerous" (not "more dangerous") than cannibis or than other drugs, I think any political party that advocated banning alcohol in Britain like it is in Saudi Arabia would stand no chance of getting elected! Whereas all parties are already opposed to making cannabis legal like in Holland. Also our MPs are mostly heavy drinkers anyway and consumption of alcohol is also part of Holy Communion in Christian Services.

But we do already have tough laws in the U.K. against abuse of alcohol, such as the drink-driving laws, and so long as we remain a democratic country increasing existing penalties seems likely to be as far as any future government will go - regretable as this may be to many. That is what we are stuck with.

Answer 5

You're quite right. Alcohol is pretty dangerous but I have seen, in person, the effects cannibis has on some people. It seems to me that where there is a predisposed tendency to psychotic episodes cannibis only further enhances this reaction. I guess in reality there is no difference but for the moment, alcohol is legal while other mind altering or mind destroying substances are not.

Answer 6

Just to set the record straight, not all users of cannabis commit suicide. The deaths of Kristy's friends are tragic, but can in no way be proven to be caused by cannabis. I have many friends who regularly use the drug (some who have done so for decades) with no ill effects, or the slightest compulsion towards schizophrenia or depression. I also know many people who used heavily whilst in university, but since graduating from it have had no trouble in giving it up.

Answer 7

Actually it is a "conspiracy theory"....The tobacco industry basically bought out the government on this as it posed a threat to thier industry. Hemp can be used for many things such as clothing, etc... If it were legalized it would put many industries out of business that the government makes big bucks on. As a matter of fact, in Sweden, the "Pot" bars are located on one end of town and the "alcohol" bars at another. This makes it easier for the law enforcement to do thier job. The reason why is they know to stay at the alcohol end of town because of the violence that takes place. The pot bar end of town there is no "violence"...about the only thing people smoking pot would kill is a bag of chips. If you would like to learn more go to www.norml.com and you will find some interesting articles.My doctor prescribed me Marinol 2.5 mg. I had no idea what this was. Al I was told was that it would help me eat better since my appetite decreased for unknown reasons. I took it to the pharmacy and they told me it would be the next day but also it was $345.00 for a 30 day supply!...I informed my doctor that I could buy it cheaper under the table!..lol... I partake only at night and that is how I maintain my weight at 125lbs. and no, I am not "anorexic". It does wonders for people on chemotherapy when it comes to the nausea and vomiting It is also good for certain types of pain. It IS NOT ADDICTIVE and just recently, I believe it was the FDA, (it was on an online news site) that it DOES NOT CAUSE CANCER either. It really is not about what is legal or not, it is how it affects you and others for that matter. The government just has to find a way to collect it's share on the big bucks,,,,What I definitely would be against is these kids smoking it all hours of the day to escape reality. But then again I would rather it be pot than alcohol. Alcohol is addictive, causes high blood pressure, cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, memory lapses, black outs with or without violence. I used to abuse alcohol. I caught it in time by taking myself to rehab. It was very sad to see how horribly alcohl and drugs affected these people and thier families yet the wierdest thing was that not one person there was in for Marijuana abuse or addiction. It was either alcohol, meth, crack, valium, oxycontin, etc.... No one was there because of a problem with marijuana. That was an interesting experience....anyway...go to norml.com and get informed...

Answer 8

I think drink is responsible for a great deal more than weed because it's so much more prevalent because it's legal. They don't want to legalize marijuana because it will cause more problems. It's hard enough to catch the people who use it now and they don't want to have to monitor everyone. And I don't know because I'm not a druggie, but I think marijuana gets you high like immediately... you don't have to smoke a lot of it... I know the cigarettes are tiny. Whereas alcohol takes much larger quantities particularly for a large person who drinks often. And if they legalized it, then lots of people would do it and we'd have lots of really high people running around being high all the time and we have enough problems with the drunks. And if they legalize it, they can't really take it back away... they tried that with alcohol and people rebelled.

Answer 9

It is partly that the history of cannabis in modern times has negative associations.

I'm sure you have seen some of the early public service films from the US which refer to "Reefer Madness" and so on. However, in the UK, cannabis use was not regulated until (I think ) the 1950s, when heroin use became a problem and swingeing laws were put in place. Cannabis then became a classified drug as part of a move to stem drug-taking in this country.

My personal opinion is that, generally, cannabis, used in it's orginal (and medicinal) form, is not dangerous when used in moderation. However, when it is used on a frequent basis, and, particularly with the advent of hydroponics, which have raised THC levels to extraordinary heights within strains, there is an increased risk to the user.

The use of any drug, whether legal or illegal, carries with it potential negative side effects.

We all know people who drink in moderation with no ill effects, also we have all witnessed alcoholics, and as well as people for whom one drink is enough to cause a schizoid type reaction, where the personality changes. We have seen similar things amongst cannabis users as well.

Generally, cannabis is a drug where people's motor reactions compensate nearly 98%, whereas alcohol considerably lowers motor ability. Also, cannabis users, unless paranoid (which they are probably predisposed to in a 'straight' state) are not prone to violence.

We have all seen the results of drunks becoming aggressive once inhibitions are lowered, or believing that they are capable of driving cars with impunity.

Excess cannabis use does not generally lead to violent reactions, nor to beliefs that the user is invincible, unlike alcohol. The cannabis user, unlike the alcohol user, is more likely to be acutely aware of their behaviour, and perhaps slightly inhibited to do things, whereas, alcohol use causes the opposite to happen.

Ultimately, the argument that the use of cannabis leads to the use of hard drugs is a moot point. The fact that it is illegal does drive the cannabis user to associate from time to time with people who are using 'hard drugs'. It is more likely, however, that a user of any drug, including alcohol, is either predisposed to using drugs of various kinds, or they are not, regardless of the legal status of the drug.

It is obvious that the use of alcohol to excess in our society causes many problems. The use of any drug to excess does the same.

It is not so much the drug that is being used, but the individual's use and the effect on that person.

"The Emporer Wears No Clothes" by Jack Herer is a good book for further reading on the history of hemp/cannabis for anyone who wishes to educate themselves further. It is in favour, though, so don't read it unless you are willing to see what that side of things has to say.

Answer 10

It really annoys me when people use this as a reason to justify legalising cannabis. We have one horribly addictive substance that is readily available wherever you turn, that destroys families, kills people who use it, kills innocent people because of the actions of people who use it, and that has been so socially acceptable, even socially encouraged, for so long, that it couldn't ever be successfully banned-and you want to exacerbate that problem by adding another harmful substance to the mix!?!

If cannabis were to be legalised today, in five years time it will be what alcohol is to society now. You'll go into a bar for a drink and a joint. People will celebrate with a joint (because it's impossible to celebrate something on it's own merits; people seem to only be able to appreciate wonderful things happening by altering their brain chemistry). People will not be able to remember a time when cannabis was illegal (in fact, they probably won't be able to remember much of anything), and any plan to try to ban it again would never work, because it would become such a regular part of one's life that they couldn't accept the idea of living without it.

There are many people using it now, even though it's illegal. But if there are even 5% of people who are deterred simply because it is illegal, then that's enough of a reason to keep it illegal.

If you want something to help you relax, drink an herbal tea.
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Benjamin: It might not be addictive in the chemical way that alcohol or nicotine is, but the fact is that a lot of people who have used pot for awhile, then tried to go off it, haven't been successful, because they can't handle life without the assistance of cannabis, they need the high that it provides. Maybe this is a more psychosymatic addiction, but it still exists. So I stand by my original statement.
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Scientifically, I can't give you any evidence. I onl know what my ex told me. He is from an area of NSW called Nimbin. Basically the pot capital of Australia. He described to me the effects that pot had on him when he was using it, and what he had seen in people around him. One of these effects was depression having given up pot, and not liking the feeling of lfe without it. That's why he relapsed so many times before finally being able to give it up. Now he is an alcoholic. He said to me one of the reasons that he gave up pot was that it was illegal, but it was so much harder with alcohol, because it is so in-your-face, and there is nothing legally to deter him from drinking it.

So many people he knew committed suicide because they too couldn't take life without pot. My exes dad was one of a group five friends growing up; all smoked pot, now his dad is the only one left who hasn't committed suicide. What are the chances that all of these boys just coincidentally decided to kill themselves? Possible, but if we look at the common denominator, it's pot.

Answer 11

ummm.... cannabis is marijuana marijuana IS addictive maybe you havent done the research that you need to do to have this conversation it i the first place maybe you should look into some of the stuff that girl was saying before you call her a liar that is of course if you have a brain to look it up with because the chemical found in this plant you like so much EATS HOLES IN THE BRAIN which is one of the reasons it is ILLEGAL!!!!!!

oh and BTW it is physiologically dependent it is addictive just like cigarettes(addiction is what makes you dependent on them if you cant connect the dots very well) that is what makes it soooo hard to quit the substance not because of the physical withdrawls (although that is part of it) its your brain telling you that you need it.