It’s still easier to get a drink anywhere in the world than it is to legally enjoy cannabis even if you are in one of the legal states. But as the stigma begins to fade and facts replace fiction, more people are willing to keep an open mind regarding cannabis after the overwhelming information regarding its medical benefits has come to light, which leaves many to wonder:
What are the different effects between drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis on the body?
Alcohol is a very social drug and one that is readily available, many people who drink do so to wind down, de-stress, reduce social anxiety, or detach from reality. Unlike alcohol, cannabis has intrinsic properties that allow it to produce both beneficial effects as well as undesired side effects. Cannabis characteristics vary and so do their effects on the mind and body so people who enjoy cannabis do so for either the relaxed, stress, and pain-relieving effects associated with Indicas or the uplifting, anti-anxiety, increased energy, and anti-depressant effects associated with Sativas.
There are also High CBD strains of cannabis that are used medically to help those who suffer from Alzheimer’s, HIV, Lyme disease, PTSD, Cancer, Autoimmune disease, Autism, and Epilepsy just to name a few. So although research shows that the actual act of smoking cannabis does have some negative effects on the body, a 2008 study, for example, suggests that smoking marijuana may reduce the risk of lung cancer so it is possible that the benefits of ingesting cannabis counteract the negative side effects associated with smoking.
To avoid any negative side effects research the characteristics of each strain first.
Remember, everything is in moderation. There are negative side effects associated with both alcohol and cannabis, so controlling your intake and being strain-wise can control those effects.
We have created this handy infographic to simplify the information but please keep in mind this information is based on up-to-date cannabis studies which remain limited until a wider de-classification is permitted. The information is based on smoking versus ingesting cannabis and does not focus on one particular strain.