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Is Cannabis Dangerous?
Just like any other substance, there are real risks and side effects of marijuana use. But the side effects of cannabis are less dangerous than many common things.
Consider caffeine.
Research shows that 85% of the population consumes caffeine every single day, even though, caffeine is probably deadly. There are actually many deadly substances laying around our homes and these substances are more dangerous than cannabis.
Cannabis is NOT deadly.
NO one has ever died from a cannabis overdose.
Compare that to the oodles of ordinary things that can kill humans. Here are nine potentially deadly things you probably have in your house.
9 Ordinary Things More Dangerous Than Marijuana
1. Alcohol
A comparative risk analysis conducted in 2015, concluded that alcohol is 114 times MORE DEADLY than cannabis.
According to the CDC, in the US, 88,000 people die every year from alcohol. The CDC adds, “Excessive drinking was responsible for 1 in 10 deaths among working-age adults aged 20-64 years.”
1-in-10 deaths.
The CDC says, 1 in 10 working-age adults DIE from excessive drinking. Yet, this is a completely legal, exceptionally common, and socially accepted substance.
Alcohol is deadly. No one has ever died from a cannabis overdose.
2. Caffeine
Not only is caffeine addictive, it’s also deadly. The devastating death of a 16-year-old was prevalent in the news.
The most tragic part of this story is the teenager’s caffeine intake on that fatal day was not outrageous. The 16 yo died after drinking only three caffeinated beverages.
The Mayo Clinic says a limited amount of caffeine is safe for adults, but we have no idea what’s ok for kids:
Up to 400 milligrams (mg) of caffeine a day appears to be safe for most healthy adults. That’s roughly the amount of caffeine in four cups of brewed coffee, 10 cans of cola or two “energy shot” drinks. Keep in mind that the actual caffeine content in beverages varies widely, especially among energy drinks.
Caffeine can be safe and even beneficial for some adults, but too much is deadly for everyone. Yet, we continue to dump this deadly drug down our kids’ throats daily in the forms of soda and energy drinks.
Marijuana is NOT deadly, plus it has health benefits, yet this plant is still outlawed.
READ: Cannabis addiction is rare, but is possible. What does marijuana withdrawal feel like?
3. Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen is significantly more dangerous than marijuana.
Acetaminophen is the active ingredient in Tylenol and is also in many other common medications, like cold medicines and painkillers.
This common over-the-counter drug is treated too casually, this results in frequent overdoses.
Hundreds of people die every year from acetaminophen overdoses. Many others are disabled by permanent liver damage.
4. Nutmeg
Yes, Grandma’s Pumpkin Pie Might Be More Dangerous Than Cannabis.
Consuming extremely high amounts of this common spice can actually kill you. Historically, people have died from consuming too much nutmeg.
Nutmeg also has a history of abuse because of the hallucinogenic effects it can produce.
5. Houseplants
Peace lilies are extremely common. I have two in my house. One in the kitchen, one by the front door. They’re excellent natural air filters and are recommended by NASA. They’re also great for low light areas.
BUT peace lilies are also poisonous. Sure they’re perfectly legal and easily obtained, but the leaves and sap are deadly for both for humans and pets. Chewing the leaves or ingesting sap can kill a child.
And peace lilies aren’t the only toxic houseplants – here are nine others. (Surprise! All nine of these deadly plants are perfectly legal.)
Many houseplants are deadly. Do you know what’s not deadly? Cannabis. Cannabis is safer than houseplants.
6. Water
Not only can you drown in water, but drinking too much water can kill you.
Drinking too much water dilutes your blood causing your sodium levels to drop – that can be deadly. Water intoxication has killed numerous people.
Think about this: You can die from drinking too much water, but you CANNOT die from a cannabis overdose.
7. Cows (Yes, ordinary cows.)
Here are some other surprising (but less common) things that are more deadly than marijuana: Cows, holes in the sand at the beach, and brain-eating amoebas.
Cows can be deadly. Death by cow is more common than death from cannabis.
8. Opiates
According to the CDC, sixty-four thousand people died from drug overdoses in 2016. Two-thirds of those deaths were caused by opiates.
Additionally, more than 40% of those deaths involved PRESCRIBED opiates.
9. Benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax, etc.)
I once heard a doctor refer to Xanax as, “Vitamin X,” as he noted all of his patients were on it. Benzodiazepines are disturbingly common.
Benzos are often used to ease anxiety (Cannabis may be helpful for anxiety.)
The CDC says approximately 64,000 Americans died from a drug overdose in 2016, they estimate that Benzos contributed to 30% of those deaths.
Benzodiazepines can cause overdoses. Cannabis cannot.
Conclusion
The next time you hear someone spreading propaganda about cannabis, please let them know, that more deaths have been caused by coffee, nutmeg, and cows than by marijuana.
Cannabis, like all substances, has risks. It should be used responsibly by adults. The illegal status of cannabis is ridiculous considering it’s less dangerous than many ordinary substances we have in our homes.
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