More Americans now use cannabis daily than drink alcohol every day. Public attitudes toward cannabis have shifted dramatically over the past decade, with some perceiving cannabis to be safer than alcohol.
However, experts say both cannabis and alcohol carry health risks that people are often unaware of.
“Because marijuana is legal in so many states, and alcohol is so widely available, people have a false sense of either being safe,” said Gail D’Onofrio, MD, a professor of emergency medicine and epidemiology at the Yale School of Medicine.
Heavy Cannabis Use Could Be Dangerous for Heart Health
Consuming cannabis is not risk-free. Multiple studies have found a link between daily cannabis use and heart problems. “I’ve always wanted it decriminalized, but not legalized, because legalizing it gives the false impression that it’s safe,” D’Onofrio said.
A recent meta-analysis in Heart found that cannabis users face a 20% higher risk of stroke and twice the risk of dying from cardiovascular causes.
The analysis didn’t measure precisely how much cannabis people took. Several studies relied on self-reported cannabis use rather than actual measurements, and some people could have been light or occasional users. The researchers also acknowledged that the findings do not prove that cannabis use causes heart problems.
In an accompanying editorial, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, urged health professionals to assess cannabis use in all patients, just like tobacco and alcohol use, and educate them about cannabis risks.
“It’s so important that we mitigate the harms these substances can cause, and talking to your doctor about your use can give you the opportunity to discuss safety and health issues,” said Jacci Bainbridge, PharmD, vice chair of the Department of Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Colorado School of Pharmacy.
Cannabis vs. Alcohol: Both Come With Health Risks
Some people have replaced alcohol with cannabis for a buzz. However, both substances carry their own risks, and there’s no research to prove one categorically safer than the other.
Recent evidence shows that even light drinking is not without risk. In January, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory on the link between alcohol and at least seven types of cancer, including breast and colorectal.
Bainbridge said people can react to either alcohol or cannabis differently, even in limited amounts. She warned that both alcohol and cannabis are psychoactive substances that can impair reaction time and cognitive processing, raising the risk of accidents and injuries.
D’Onofrio added that the risks for injury also increase with age with either substance. “You can miss a step as you age, and then fall, without taking any substances,” she said.
Using cannabis before age 25 may also harm the developing brain, potentially affecting memory, attention, and decision-making.
Moreover, today’s cannabis is far more potent than what older users remember, said Ziva Cooper, PhD, research director of the UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids. New products—such as edibles, beverages, and particularly gummies—can contain high doses of THC, the primary psychoactive compound that makes users “high.”
“The gummies, for example, can take as long as an hour and a half to have an effect, but people expecting a quick hit may take more, impacting the effects and even landing in the emergency room,” Cooper said.
What This Means For You
Even casual cannabis or alcohol use can affect your health. Health experts advise talking openly with your doctor about any substance use and reviewing your personal risk factors.
