5 Legal Things That Are Way More Deadly Than Cannabis Could Ever Be

5 Legal Things That Are More Deadly Than Cannabis Could Ever Be

Five Legal Things Much Worse for You Than Marijuana from CannabisNet on Vimeo.

Opponents of legalization love to spread rumors, or privately-funded studies just to come out saying that cannabis is bad for you.

Sure, cannabis can kill you. But only if you consume 1,500 pounds of cannabis within 15 minutes.

The truth is that there has never, not once in the ancient history of cannabis use, been a case wherein pot’s killed someone. So why is cannabis still a Schedule 1 drug – a category reserved for substances that are considered to be addicting, the most dangerous in the world, and those that have the potential to cause severe physical or psychological dependence? Cannabis is a Schedule 1 drug while deadlier drugs like cocaine are listed as a Schedule II substance.

There are a ton of everyday things that are more likely to kill you than cannabis. So the next time you come face to face with an opponent of cannabis, give them a taste of these facts:

Alcohol: Alcohol is everyone’s favorite social lubricant, and one that is regulated by law. While you need to prove that you’re an adult to purchase one, it’s not uncommon for people to be able to get away with underage purchasing of booze. And did someone say happy hours after work? Why not?! People don’t give alcohol a second thought just because it’s regulated, but did you know that excessive alcohol use has contributed to the deaths of 88,000 people in America from 2006-2010 alone, and it shortens the lives of drinkers by an average of 30 years.

And while alcohol is the number one cause of liver failure and cirrhosis, cannabis has been shown to treat liver disease. There have been numerous studies backing up the efficacy of cannabinoids in treating liver disease. For one, a 2011 study revealed that CBD was effective in causing malignant cancer cells found in the liver to commit cell death, a biological process known as apoptosis.

Sugar: Having a sweet tooth or being a foodie is nothing cute. All those cupcakes? Pizza? Pasta? They seem harmless, but any food that contains sugar is deadly. Sugar is the number 1 cause of the obesity epidemic. Consuming sugar in any form causes the body to develop a wide range of diseases, from heart problems to diabetes and cancer. Consuming too much sugar can already cause diabetes, and this condition alone kills more Americans than breast cancer and AIDS combined. How else can sugar kill you? It’s more dangerous than cigarettes, it’s addictive, and it causes dementia. Maybe you want to put that Snickers bar down now.

Sugar consumption has been tied to heart disease and diabetes, both of which cannabis has been shown to be effective in treating. Diabetes takes the lives of 5 million people every year, making it one of the most lucrative conditions for big pharma. Studies have shown that consuming cannabis regularly can help prevent diabetes. As Murray Mittleman, a researcher involved in a 2013 study found, “The most important finding is that current users of marijuana appeared to have better carbohydrate metabolism than non-users. Their fasting insulin levels were lower, and they appeared to be less resistant to the insulin produced by their body to maintain a normal blood sugar level.”

Red meat: Consuming too much red meat does a slew of bad things to your body. Red meat is tied to heart disease, as well as diabetes and many kinds of cancer. But despite that, USDA data shows that Americans consumed 57 more pounds each year of red meat than we did back in the 50’s. Red meat has been shown to increase the risk of death from diabetes, stroke, kidney and liver disease, respiratory disease, and Alzheimer’s.

Aside from cancer, cannabis can also naturally and safely keep your heart healthy. Cannabinoids have anti-inflammatory properties, and inflammation is one of the key contributors of heart disease, caused by consuming too much red meat.

Tobacco: Even though tobacco consumption has been declining steadily, due to increased awareness of its dangers, many people still continue to smoke tobacco daily. Tobacco is regulated in the same way that alcohol is, but these cancer sticks can easily be purchased but if you’re caught with pot, you can face jail time.

Tobacco is still the leading cause of preventable death and illness. Smoking cigarettes kills over 480,000 Americans every year, and 41,000 of these cases are due to exposure to second hand smoke. Cigarette smoking is the primary culprit for most cases of lung cancer, but if you switch up your cancer stick for a joint, this doesn’t increase your risk for lung cancer.

Obesity: A shocking majority of Americans are either overweight or obese. Statistics say that this translates to around 160 million Americans, and the children are at risk. Around 30% of girls and boys under the age of 20 years old are either overweight or obese, figures that have seen a 19% increase from 1980. Sure, we are all for loving your body. But being overweight or obese seriously puts you at risk for deadly diseases, including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and stroke.

Cannabis can help those who are overweight or obese; in fact, many people integrate pot into their lifestyle or fitness regimen to help shed unwanted weight. A 2015 study conducted by researchers from the San Diego State University revealed that cannabis has been associated with a reduction in obesity.