Which is worse? Alcohol or marijuana?

PLUS, the latest news on medical advances and breakthroughs from Harvard Medical School experts. «If you are interested in trying it and it is legal for you to do so, be mindful about controlling the experience until you know how a particular product affects you,» she says. The cannabinoids found in beverages are specially formulated to dissolve in liquid. This means they are more easily and rapidly absorbed into the body’s soft tissues. With proper tolerance breaks, you can lower your tolerance of THC and become less reliant on large amounts of cannabis to feel the same way and regulate your cannabis use.

Health Challenges

But on the flip side, 49 percent of Americans believe that cannabis use affects society positively, per a recent Gallup poll. There is a need for more rigorous and longitudinal research studies on the co-use of cannabis and alcohol to glean a more complete understanding of the relationship between the xanax for sleep vs ambien two substances. Findings can be used to develop and refine intervention strategies to successfully reduce cannabis and alcohol co-use. There is no disagreement among experts, and most likely the population at large, about the need for more studies on the effects of marijuana use on our bodies and brains as more states vote to legalize it. There’s plenty of research about alcohol’s long-term effect on your brain and overall health.

Potential for misuse

1. An interaction between cannabis and alcohol was observed in time spent at high speed; thus, cannabis may have diminished the propensity to increase driving speed following alcohol consumption.
2. As for marijuana, whose legalization for medical uses has been a matter of strong public policy debate for years, there is ample evidence that beneficial compounds can be found in the plant.
3. In contrast, cannabinoid receptor agonists and endocannabinoids serve to escalate alcohol-seeking behavior and consumption 63, 64.

The cannabis industry is making marijuana as readily available thanks to recreational legalization; it could be as common as alcohol. While there are some issues to the abuse of cannabis they are nowhere near as hazardous as alcoholism and the toll of alcohol on the body. One of the main negative issues of weed vs. alcohol is all of the issues with smoking marijuana.

Co-use of Alcohol and Cannabis: A Review

Over time, chronic exposure to alcohol contributes to elevated endocannabinoid levels, which in turn leads to downregulation of the cannabinoid receptor signaling 58, 64. Overall, these findings from preclinical research support the existence of potential cross-tolerance between cannabis and alcohol and have important translational implications for clinical research. Another area of the brain, the hippocampus — which is responsible for memory formation — is altered from cannabis ingestion, possibly leading to memory impairment among users, based on studies that have mostly been limited to mice and animals. Similar to drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana results in intoxication and users report feelings of happiness, confusion, relaxation, impulsiveness and hunger. Generally, higher levels of consumption or an increase in consumption of one substance is related to higher levels of or an increase in use of the other substance.

This is because alcohol can damage parts of the brain responsible for coordination, including the cerebellum. Akin to this, cannabis use can also affect coordination what do substance abuse counselors do and motor skills because THC can interfere with the functioning of specific sections of the brain like the cerebellum and the basal ganglia. Similarly, the THC in cannabis causes an increase in levels of dopamine in the brain and this motivates people to keep using it.

Weed Vs Alcohol On Brain

That being said, alcohol still faces all of the same aforementioned tolls on your health and risks of addiction. It’s important to understand the distinct difference between alcohol and cannabis addiction. Weed can impact your memory and in some severe cases cause or exacerbate schizophrenia or psychosis. Despite there being issues, most issues caused by cannabis can be reversible if you stop using cannabis. It can lead to impaired judgment, decreased reaction times, and difficulty concentrating.

While cannabis is widely viewed as a non-habit-forming drug, it seems that some people can build a tolerance to THC. Some users also find themselves unable to stop using cannabis despite the negative impact on their life or health, resulting in cannabis use disorder (CUD). Many cannabis users report the “munchies,” a phenomenon where pot users have increased appetites and cravings while high. Because cannabis affects cannabinoid receptors in the olfactory bulb in the brain, food can smell and taste more intense. THC also increases the release of dopamine (which makes eating more enjoyable) and the hormone ghrelin, which stimulates hunger.

Both CUD and alcoholism are predicated on the idea that users have developed an attachment or addiction to the way their substance of choice makes them feel and have transitioned from recreational to disordered use. With marijuana, the studies on its effects on brain health are limited and, also, the findings are across the board. Hutchison said that this variety of outcomes with previous studies led him and his team to investigate marijuana’s impacts on brain health and function. Alcohol is everywhere yet we famous fetal alcohol syndrome adults are well aware of the risks and dangers of alcohol use and abuse.

While one person might feel relaxed while drunk, another might feel restless. When it comes to the possible benefits of marijuana use, however, Thayer and her team note that the jury is still out, and further research is needed to reach some conclusions. Get helpful tips and guidance for everything from fighting inflammation to finding the best diets for weight loss…from exercises to build a stronger core to advice on treating cataracts.

Overall, cannabis use can be healthier and less addictive than alcohol use. Many of the issues have to do with legality and preconceived judgment of cannabis. Alcohol has been legal significantly longer compared to cannabis and some of these stigmas can impact people’s judgment about cannabis use. Excessive alcohol use can cause brain damage and degenerative conditions like Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which can cause severe memory impairment and other cognitive deficits. Generally speaking, weed tends to come with fewer risks than alcohol, but there are a lot of factors to consider. Plus, they’re unique substances that produce different effects, which makes side-by-side comparisons difficult.