While both substances require responsible use, cannabis emerges as the safer and more versatile option. THC, the main psychoactive component, binds to CB1 receptors and can temporarily affect short-term memory or trigger anxiety in some users. Both substances impair motor skills and judgment—but alcohol does so more severely. The American Journal of Public Health found that between 2000 to 2018, fatal crashes involving cannabis rose from 9% to 21.5%, and crashes involving both substances more than doubled. In general, yes—alcohol poses a greater threat to health than cannabis.
- According to the CDC, about 22-30% of marijuana users have cannabis use disorder (CUD)—and the risk is greater for people who use more of the drug.
- You rarely hear of someone smoking cannabis and starting a fight.
- “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.
- While the exact effects will vary from person to person, it’s clear that drinking alcohol opens the door to myriad lasting effects on our health.
- The toxins cause immediate effects and can also have long-term impacts from prolonged exposure.
Cannabis
Seeking help for alcoholism is a brave and crucial step towards a healthier, more fulfilling life. If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol or marijuana use, don’t wait. Mixing alcohol and marijuana may be common, but that doesn’t make it safe. Studies suggest that when mixing these substances, the order you consume them in can affect the outcome. Over time—or with excessive drinking—alcohol also damages organs like the liver, heart, and brain.
Acute Effects
GLPs are so promising for treating alcohol use disorder (AUD) that pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly is investing in a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist drug. GLP-1 receptor agonists seem particularly promising since a recent randomized controlled trial showed that semaglutide reduced alcohol craving, number of drinks consumed per day, and laboratory self-administration. Those who received 7.2% THC consumed 27% less alcohol. Subjects could consume their preferred alcoholic beverage or receive small cash payments for abstaining. Participants completed three sessions in which they smoked cannabis with either 7.2% THC, 3.1% THC, or a placebo (0.03% THC). Until recently, hemp-derived THC products, including drinks, exploited a gray area created by the 2018 Farm Bill.
Which is better for anxiety: cannabis or alcohol?
As someone who’s spent 45+ years in cannabis culture, including a decade in Canada’s legal market, I’ve seen this evolution from both sides. Not long ago, the idea of replacing alcohol with weed would’ve sparked raised eyebrows, not wellness hashtags. You can overdo it with cannabis — panic attacks, anxiety, or extreme sedation — but you’ll sleep it off.
How Alcohol and Marijuana Affect Your Brain & Body
Although we may be looking for a clear-cut answer, the truth is, it’s a bit complicated. Alcohol and marijuana are two of the most commonly used drugs. The data suggests that 30% of those who use cannabis may have some degree of cannabis use disorder. Cannabis addiction is surprisingly common, however, according to a 2015 study.
The Institute of Medicine has stated that cannabis use does not appear to increase mortality in the general population. According to the CDC, marijuana overdose fatalities are so uncommon they aren’t officially tracked. If you’ve ever wondered which substance poses greater harm or which is safer for responsible use, this in-depth breakdown will provide clarity.
Overdose Risk
The toxins cause immediate effects and can also have long-term impacts from prolonged exposure. As a central nervous system (CNS) depressant, alcohol impacts messaging in our brain and the rest of our body. To help us come to a conclusion for ourselves, we’ll take a side-by-side look at the different facets of alcohol and marijuana. At face value, they’re both harmful substances — suggesting that a title for “worst” may not be the important answer we’re looking for. People’s responses to each substance can vary greatly, so what seems safer for one person might not work for someone else.
You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with our licensed Reframe coaches for more personalized guidance. Receive encouragement from people worldwide who know exactly what you’re going through! Our daily research-backed readings teach you the neuroscience of alcohol, and our in-app Toolkit provides the resources and activities you need to navigate each challenge. Our proven program has helped millions of people around the world drink less and live more. Although it isn’t a treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), the Reframe app can help you cut back on drinking gradually with the science-backed knowledge to empower you 100% of the way.
IV. Social & Behavioral Impact
When alcohol enters your bloodstream, it begins to affect areas of the brain that control your emotions, behavior, and judgment. Getting a medical marijuana card can ensure access to tested, regulated products and provide legal protection in states where it’s permitted. Cannabis edibles bypass the risks of smoking and offer a smoke-free alternative. However, many cannabinoids, including CBD, are neuroprotective and may reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Alcohol, even in small amounts, erodes decision-making and memory during and after consumption. But it doesn’t destroy neurons or cause the kind of global cognitive damage alcohol does. Cannabis affects short-term memory and reaction time, especially when actively high. Alcohol impairs judgment, short-term memory, motor skills, and decision-making. Alcohol may knock you out, but it also disrupts REM sleep, shortens deep sleep cycles, and often causes people to wake up in the middle of the night. Some strains Marijuana vs alcohol (especially CBD-dominant or balanced hybrids) help reduce anxiety and lift mood.
It may reduce REM sleep, which is still debated — but even so, users report feeling more refreshed. Let’s get real — both alcohol and cannabis are commonly used to fall asleep. Others (particularly high-THC sativas) can provoke anxiety in sensitive users. Studies have shown that long-term alcohol use worsens mood disorders and can even cause depression in some cases. And as someone who hasn’t touched alcohol in 15 years but smokes weed every single day, I can tell you — the difference is massive.
If you use THC-containing cannabis recreationally and don’t drive, it can be a far less harmful alternative to alcohol. Weighing the evidence across these seven categories, cannabis demonstrates a significantly safer profile than alcohol in six of seven areas, with driving impairment representing the one area of comparable concern. Cannabis users, on the other hand, typically show lower rates of violence and aggression, and reduced likelihood of risk-taking behavior. Some 9% of cannabis users develop cannabis use disorder (rising to 17% for those who start in adolescence). Approximately 10-15% of alcohol users develop alcohol use disorder. Both cannabis and alcohol can be addictive, but the rates differ significantly.
- Cannabis, on the other hand, tends to mellow people out.
- You might nap a little longer or feel groggy, but you’re not vomiting at 3AM, texting your ex, or wondering where your pants are.
- Many drinkers I know are considering switching to recreational cannabis containing THC.
- Cannabis’s physical health impacts are less severe, but certainly not absent.
Sobering Statistics on Related Harms: Alcohol vs. Weed
It might feel like it „relaxes“ you after a drink or two, but it rebounds hard. 45+ years of cannabis expertise reveals which is safer in 2025 Alcohol remains socially normalized, but young people — especially Gen Z — are questioning that normalization more than ever.
THC from smoking or tinctures typically produces intoxicating effects for about four hours. Additionally, tolerance varies widely, meaning the same blood THC level produces different impairment in different people. But, also consider that 10% had both THC and alcohol. Those numbers do exceed the percentage of people who use THC, so there is something there.
Cannabis use has documented effects on adolescent brain development, particularly with heavy use. Also, note that most cannabis users don’t smoke nearly as much plant material as tobacco users but many cannabis users do add tobacco to their cannabis. There are some documented cardiovascular effects of using cannabis, notably increased heart rate, but that stops when the cannabis wears off. Chronic bronchitis is common among cannabis users. In closed course and driving simulator studies, THC’s acute effects on psychomotor performance include minor impairments in tracking, reaction time, and increased weaving. Many studies have shown that the effects of THC on driving and driving-related skills are relatively small.
Alcohol vs. Marijuana: Do Weed and Liquor Mix?
What happens when you use alcohol or cannabis regularly over years — or even decades? If we’re going to compare cannabis vs alcohol in an honest way, we have to start with the body. Switching from alcohol doesn’t mean going “all in” on cannabis. Understanding these differences helps us have more honest, evidence-based conversations about substance use policy and personal choices. However, avoid the trap of adding cannabis while maintaining previous drinking levels — that compounds rather than reduces risk.
We’ve established a long list of health effects of alcohol and marijuana, but what’s the verdict? Long-term health effects are the leading cause of alcohol-related mortalities. The long-term effects of alcohol also will vary from person to person. It’s also important to remember that there aren’t many high quality, long-term studies on cannabis and its effects. While some people experiment with marijuana during alcohol withdrawal, the safest path is always a medically guided one.