Downsides of alcohol vs. cannabis, how my fasting is going (53/72 hours), and more! Join me now… https://t.co/HTg8paoCzd
— Carla Gericke, Live Free And Thrive! (@CarlaGericke) August 30, 2025
Per GROK:
Table: Downsides of Alcohol vs. Cannabis
Aspect
Alcohol Downsides
Cannabis Downsides
Annual Deaths
~2.6M global deaths/year (4.7% of all deaths), including 1.6M from cancers/heart disease. In the US, ~178,000 deaths from excessive use; top preventable cause for ages 15-49 (9% of deaths).
Negligible direct deaths; no fatal overdoses recorded. Indirect risks: doubled heart disease mortality, 20% higher stroke risk, but far fewer deaths. Use disorders affect 23.8M globally, minimal mortality.
Health Effects
Highly toxic/addictive: causes liver cirrhosis, cancers, heart disease, brain damage. No safe level; moderate use impairs cognition, immunity, increases depression/anxiety. Severe withdrawal.
Impairs driving, cognition short-term; potential psychosis risk in vulnerable users; respiratory issues if smoked. 25% higher heart attack risk, 42% stroke risk with daily use. Lower addiction/toxicity.
May affect brain structure in chronic users (cannabinoid receptor areas); some cognitive changes in heavy use. No significant neurocognitive effects in therapeutic trials; lower neurotoxic potential.
Safe Consumption Levels
No safe level; light drinking damages DNA, raises cancer risk, harms brain. 2025 research debunks protective effects, confirms premature aging, organ damage.
No fatal overdose threshold; heavy/high-THC use may impair cognition/driving. Therapeutic doses benefit pain/spasticity; minimal irreversible adult damage, though adolescent risks unclear.
Cancer Risks
Group 1 carcinogen: increases risk of 7+ cancers (breast, liver, colorectal) via DNA damage, acetaldehyde. No safe threshold; occasional use elevates lifetime cancer odds.
Smoked cannabis may pose lung cancer risk (weak evidence, tobacco-confounded); non-smoked forms show minimal cancer links. Some cannabinoids studied for anti-cancer properties; lower carcinogenicity.
Other Organ Damage
Toxic to most organs: liver (cirrhosis, failure), heart (cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias), pancreas (pancreatitis), immune suppression. Linked to 200+ conditions; accelerates aging, multi-organ failure.
Affects lungs if smoked (bronchitis); temporary heart rate increase in heavy users. Minimal direct toxicity; low links to severe damage. Potential neuroprotective/anti-inflammatory benefits in medical use.
Societal Damage
Drives reckless behavior, violence, accidents; drunk driving causes thousands of deaths yearly. Most dangerous drug, surpassing heroin, due to violence, economic costs, health burdens.
Linked to motor vehicle accidents, occupational injuries, but fewer deaths. Less violence/recklessness; lower societal costs. Rare risks from contaminated products (e.g., strokes). Less severe harms.
Alcohol’s “Low Vibes” and Drunk Behavior vs. Cannabis
What Are “Low Vibes” or “Negative Vibes”? “Low vibes” describes the heavy, chaotic, or unpleasant atmosphere alcohol creates due to its emotional and social effects. As a depressant, it amplifies negative emotions (sadness, anger) and disrupts group harmony, unlike cannabis, which often fosters “higher vibes”—relaxation, creativity, or connection. Cannabis can cause mild anxiety or lethargy at high doses but is less socially disruptive.
Typical Drunk Behaviors and Their “Low Vibe” Impact: Alcohol suppresses judgment (prefrontal cortex) and boosts emotional volatility (amygdala), leading to behaviors that create negative vibes:
Recklessness: Poor decisions like drunk driving (~10,000 US deaths/year) or risky sex create danger, making others uneasy. Cannabis impairs driving (1.5-2x risk increase) but rarely leads to extreme recklessness, often making users passive.
Aggression: Linked to 35-60% of violent incidents, alcohol turns minor issues into fights, creating threatening vibes. Cannabis rarely causes violence, often promoting calm or giggles, though high doses may cause anxiety (10-20% of users).
Emotional Volatility: Mood swings between euphoria, sadness, or anger (common after 4-5+ drinks) feel draining or unpredictable. Cannabis causes milder mood shifts, often relaxing users or enhancing introspection.
Motor Impairment: Slurred speech, stumbling (at 0.08%+ blood alcohol) make interactions awkward or pitiful. Cannabis slows coordination but keeps users more socially coherent unless heavily intoxicated.
Inappropriateness: Oversharing or ignoring social cues (20-30% of drinkers regret actions) creates discomfort or cringe-worthy vibes. Cannabis users are less likely to violate boundaries aggressively, often staying self-contained.
Why Alcohol’s Vibes Are Worse: Alcohol’s neurotoxicity, lack of safe consumption levels, and role in 2.6M global deaths (violence, accidents, disease) make it a massive burden. Cannabis, with no fatal overdoses, lower social disruption, and therapeutic benefits (e.g., pain relief), aligns with your pro-pot view as a safer, less “low vibe” option.
