Cannabis is 114 Times Less Lethal than Alcohol

According to research published in Scientific Reports, marijuana is 114 times less detrimental to one's health than alcohol or tobacco. What's more, the study suggests that the dangers of alcohol are being underestimated, it being the deadliest substance in the world, after heroin, cocaine and tobacco. 

To reach these conclusions the authors of the work, the scientists Dirk W. Lachenmeir and Jürgen Rehm, compared the amount of each substance that some users consumed with the doses of these substances that tend to be lethal. Judging by their conclusions, marijuana is the healthiest of all.

The results could impact national and international-level discussions about the current status of cannabis, its legalisation and benefits. However, according to the experts the new study does nothing more than reiterate something we already know, and that other studies have been concluding for years.

In response to those who argue that marijuana may pose risks for the body, the experts respond that anything we ingest can be dangerous for us: too much sugar can affect our teeth and cause diabetes, for example; and too much salt can lead to cerebrovascular problems.

Thus, the researchers behind this study suggest an end to talk of "marijuana-related risks", that it no longer be considered an "illicit drug", and that its unjustified prohibition be lifted. They believe that the time has come to establish a new regulatory approach that also addresses those substances, like alcohol, that are often ignored. 

Lachenmeir and Jürgen believe that, given the limited risk entailed by consuming marijuana, it is necessary for government authorities to change the laws governing it. They also think that these results may spur the movement in favour of legalization to make an effort to raise awareness about the effects of alcohol and cigarettes. 

Independent researcher Christopher Ingraham, meanwhile, points out that it is "impudent" for one to talk about the "dangerous consumption of marijuana" and then go home and relax with a "a lethal drink."

This study is not the only one proving that cannabis is not as unhealthy as many authorities portray it to be. A few days ago the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the United States published a report indicating that consuming cannabis before driving does not increase the likelihood of having an accident. 

After analysing 2014 data on 9,000 drivers, the authors of the study determined that those drivers with blood alcohol readings of 0.08 and 0-15 were 4 to 12 times more likely to have an accident. Just 25% of marijuana users, meanwhile, were more likely to have them.

Even that percentage, according to the agency, could be a coincidence rather than a reality, as those who had car accidents after having smoked marijuana were often driving in more hazardous areas.

It is time for politicians to take this scientific information into account: they would not only help to dispel the stigma that surrounds cannabis, but the dangers of other almost universally-accepted substances would be taken more seriously.