President Obama recently decided to put in his two cents when it comes to the debate of marijuana legalization. President Obama suggested that the use of cannabis is nothing more than a bad habit, something that is not unlike smoking cigarettes. He also suggested that the substance is no more dangerous than drinking alcohol.

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5 Reasons Marijuana is NOT Safer than Alcohol
Monday, May. 26th 2014
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President Obama recently decided to put in his two cents
when it comes to the debate of marijuana legalization.
President Obama suggested that the use of cannabis is
nothing more than a bad habit, something that is not unlike
smoking cigarettes. He also suggested that the substance
is no more dangerous than drinking alcohol. However,
alcohol is legal for those over the age of 21 while
marijuana remains a Schedule 1 substance according to its
classification by the Drug Enforcement Agency. This puts it
on the same level as XTC, LSD and heroin. While President Obama is certainly allowed to
speak his mind and give his view on the matter, there are five reasons why we take exception
to the suggestion that the drug is somehow just as safe as alcohol.
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Problems with Dependence
There is no denying that we know that alcohol has addictive properties. According to the
NIAAA, almost one in every 12 adults (17.6 million Americans) struggles with alcohol
dependence or abuse. People who withdraw from drinking can have issues with fever,
nausea, insomnia, headaches, depression, anxiety and may even experience seizures.
According to the latest estimates, almost ten percent of all cannabis users are going to
develop some sort of dependency on it. This is about half of the number of people who
become dependent on cocaine. We have clear scientific evidence that people struggle with
withdrawal symptoms if they are heavy cannabis users and try to quit cold turkey. These
withdrawal symptoms include nausea, anxiety and insomnia. However, it is certainly not as
addictive as some other substances.
Driving Under the Influence
According to statistics from the National Transportation Safety Board, 20 people are injured
and one person is killed every hour in an accident that involves a drunk driver. Recent
studies have shown that even those drivers that are technically under the limit are far more
likely to be responsible for an accident than those drivers that are sober.
Unfortunately, there is no conclusive evidence to suggest how marijuana use and driving are
connected. While earlier studies did show that smoking beforehand reduced the psychomotor
skills necessary to drive, most people suggested that these studies were rather limited. A
recent study review published in the British Medical Journal found that people who use
marijuana within three hours of driving are almost twice as likely to be responsible for an
accident as those drivers who drive sober. While some may argue that one study review is
not enough evidence, it should certainly cause hesitation when we are talking about
legalization.
Obesity and Other Health Problems
According to the latest estimates on added medical costs because of obesity-related
problems, the number currently stands at $190 billion. If we look at the total U.S. health care
costs, that is almost 21 percent. Alcohol can cause weight gain. Beer has about 150 calories,
while a shot of liquor has about 100 calories. Because alcohol lowers our inhibitions, most
people end up eating greasy food with plenty of calories such as nachos or pizza late at
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night. If we consider that smoking cannabis can lead to the ‘munchies’ and makes people
lethargic, it may mean more unhealthy food options and less exercise. These are not direct
killers, but can certainly add up over time.
Long-Term Health Risks
Again, most people understand that consuming alcohol, especially to excess, may lead to an
increased risk of certain types of cancer, certain psychiatric issues, neurological problems
and liver disease. However, the majority of people who are advocating for legalization
suggest that marijuana is some harmless substance that does not have any consequences.
The truth is that experts are in agreement that the preferred method of ingesting the drug
(smoking) is worse for our body and more dangerous than smoking regular cigarettes. The
amount of tar that enters the lungs is also four times as much, which means that for every
one joint, users’ lungs feel as though they smoked four cigarettes.
Several studies have shown that high doses of marijuana may lead to temporary psychotic
reactions. These include paranoia and hallucinations. Young adults with a family history of
schizophrenia are far more likely to develop the disorder themselves if they use marijuana.
The Fatal Consequences
Statistics place the number of deaths due to excessive alcohol use throughout America at
about 88,000. About half of those deaths are because of chronic alcohol use (liver failure)
while the rest are attributed to acute situations (a drunk driving accident or alcohol
poisoning). We know that alcohol can be dangerous but it is still legal.
However, marijuana hinders our motor skills, affects our reflexes and slows down our overall
perception. This may lead to marijuana-related car fatalities, which will only rise if the number
of people that use the drug legally increases. Another study suggested that the risk of a
heart attack after smoking marijuana increased by almost 500 percent. The substance does
have a serious effect on the user’s heart rate.
The truth is that an overdose is not likely to happen. In fact, there are no recorded instances
available that suggest anyone has ever had a fatal overdose. However, that does not make it
safe, especially if we consider how long the effects of the drug will linger in the body.
The Conclusion
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We are not going suggest that people who advocate for decriminalization/reclassification do
not have a point. For example, there is no denying that this drug should not be on the same
list as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. The reason that it should not is that the
overall risk of addiction and the impact on society is far less with cannabis. However, just
because something is ‘less dangerous’ does not necessarily mean it is a good idea to legalize
it. It is important to review the information and make appropriate changes.
It seems that just a few decades ago people were demonizing the green plant, suggesting
that it could make someone insane. Yet it appears that in the last decade, the discussion has
shifted to the other side of the spectrum, with people (including the President) dismissing the
harmful effects of the drug. It is important that people look at the facts objectively, something
that is not currently being done.
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