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Is America's weed habit dangerous?

I was in New York recently, and I have to say the city has changed a lot. One of the things that irritated me quite a bit was the smell of weed. Marijuana is widely available in Switzerland. It's actually not illegal to possess it or even grow a few plants on your balcony. The difference is that people smoke it privately and are more respectful of those around them. In New York, it feels like a bunch of teenagers have just discovered alcohol. The stench of weed was everywhere.

Marijuana use has surged across America in recent years, with one in six adults now smoking monthly. This dramatic shift in consumption patterns has raised eyebrows, particularly as daily cannabis users now outnumber daily alcohol users. Both substances are bad for you, but at least you don't smell alcohol.

Overall, alcohol remains more widely consumed and significantly more lethal than marijuana, with an estimated 180,000 annual deaths attributed to its use. It's a slow killer, and most alcoholics don't really show severe symptoms until the end of their battle. It's a silent killer.

Cannabis, by contrast, actually poses far less mortality risk. However, regular cannabis consumption has been linked to an earlier onset of psychotic disorders, cardiovascular risks, and potential cognitive impairments affecting memory, concentration, and motivation.

At the end of the day, alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana are bad for you. The worry with the trend lies in the fact that alcohol consumption in the US hasn't really risen over the last 25 years. Thankfully, there has been a gradual decline in cigarette consumption. However, cannabis consumption has shown a significant increase over the decades.

To an extent, there is some sort of substitution effect going on between cigarettes and marijuana. Likewise, there is probably, to a lesser extent, a substitution effect between alcohol and marijuana. Nonetheless, the rising trend in marijuana consumption does raise concerns because, even if it is less toxic and lethal than alcohol and cigarettes, it is still not necessarily good for you.

Source: Economist

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