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Andrew Monnin

Professor Barnes

19.SP.ENG.1201

13 April 2019

The Effects of Legal Marijuana Vs. Alcohol and Tobacco

Alcohol and Tobacco, two words that cause a lot of talk when brought up in a

conversation. What happens when you add a third substance to that list? This is what many

people have on their minds: What impact does the legalization of marijuana have on

communities versus alcohol and tobacco? I chose this topic from my recent interest in this past

election day. I am only 18, so this was the first time I could vote. In past years I did not pay

much attention to politics, but now that I am getting older, I can see how these topics can be

affecting my life drastically. I noticed while watching the news and researching the topics that

were up for debate in the election, that some states were considering legalizing marijuana.

Colorado was the first U.S. State to legalize it for recreational use. This was a very big deal for

the United States, and after seeing how much tax revenue comes from legalizing this product,

other states are now considering doing this. Many states in the U.S. have legalized it for medical

use and they are finding surprising results. On the national news, this topic is highly debated and

could affect communities, in the states that it has already been legalized in, and communities

considering legalizing in the future. Is this drug the substance to replace alcohol and tobacco use

or is this another substance on the market that people should be worried about? Which of these is

truly deemed the most harmful for communities? Legal marijuana has the properties and
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potential to have many medicinal uses, produces thousands of jobs, and brings in millions of

dollars in tax revenue for the states, while alcohol and tobacco are killing thousands of people

each year. This information is compelling, but is it enough to get the support of thousands of new

communities?

Marijuana is now legalized in 33 states in some form whether it is for medical use

as a vapor or smoking it recreationally. This rapid progression of these legal changes is starting

to stir up a lot of controversy in U.S. citizens. This chaos is not only in the U.S. citizens but the

large business that could be affected, like the alcohol and tobacco industries. According to an

article in the Euromonitor International Blog:

Although the cannabis market is still relatively small, it appears that it will have a direct

impact on the alcoholic drinks industry if it becomes widely legalized. While there is

significant overlap between cannabis and tobacco users it is not clear whether and what

impact further legalization would have on the tobacco sales. Tobacco manufacturers

concerned with reputation and regulatory compliance are unlikely to involve themselves

in the nascent industry in the near term. Although research is still somewhat inconclusive,

there are indications that the disruption cannabis will have on the sales of alcohol is very

real (“The Impact of Cannabis Legalization on Tobacco and Alcohol”).

The sales aspect of this controversy is not the only thing on the people's minds in this debate. A

major concern for this is the physical and mental effects these drugs will have on a person’s body

in a co-use situation.

Many researchers are working very hard to solve the mystery of these new

legalized substances effects. One research company found that these drugs should not only be
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looked at individually, but they should also be looked at in the form of co-use. Author, Amy

Cohn, along with her colleagues, wrote in the American Journal on Addictions that:

Understanding which products are most commonly used together could inform

intervention and educational efforts targeted toward reducing tobacco and substance use

by focusing on several key substance use patterns, rather than addressing a single product

or focusing too broadly on all drugs of abuse. This study used a national sample of young

adults aged 18–24 to identify the prevalence of different patterns of alcohol, marijuana,

and emerging tobacco product co‐use over several years (Cohn 635).

Understanding these patterns can show how dangerous these drugs can be in a society co-

existing legally together.

Being a new country to legalize the drug, we not only learn from our research but also

learn from other legalized governments. Cannabis in Brazil is illegal and criminalized, but

possession and cultivation of personal amounts and for private use were de-penalized in 2006.

This allows us to learn from studies conducted from another country like Brazil. Thiago Fidalgo

and several other scholarly researchers did a study in 2016 called, The Association of Psychiatric

Symptomatology with Patterns of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Marijuana Use among Brazilian High

School Students, that shows the results of a test of brain growth in Brazilian young adults. The

studies have highlighted psychosocial factors associated with drug use among adolescents. The

purpose of this test was to set out to investigate whether there would be an association of specific

psychopathological and past‐month and frequent alcohol, tobacco and marijuana use in a São

Paulo state representative sample of 15–18‐year‐old adolescents (Fidalgo). The audience would

cover adolescents, researchers, or anyone wanting to know the effects of the brain after frequent
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drug use. According to the study done in the American Journal on Addictions, Fidalgo and his

fellow researchers wrote:

Two substantive findings emerge from our analyses: 1) respondents with a clinically

significant SDQ scores were more likely to be past month alcohol, tobacco, and

marijuana users as compared to those without symptomatology; 2) different SDQ

subscales scores were associated with different patterns of alcohol, tobacco, and

marijuana use. These results emphasize the importance of psychopathological symptoms

associated with substance use (Fidalgo 419).

These results show us that they are based on the development of a person’s brain, age, mental

stability, and their physical abilities. With that being said, it is important to maintain a stable

mental state and wait until the brain is fully developed at around early to mid-twenties.

With every debate, there are two sides, for this topic some people may feel that one

substance is, in fact, safer than another but “safer” is not the same as “safe”. Drug use of any

kind is not particularly healthy for the human mind or body. This is especially the case for the

adolescent brain. The brain does not develop evenly, in fact, it develops from the back to front

with the prefrontal cortex being the last to develop. This is where the brain develops the ability to

make quality decisions and reasoning. The growing mind does not fully develop these abilities to

reach their full potential until about the age of 25. This means that drug use before this age can

be life-changing for a young child or young adult. In a web article from the site, Where Families

Find Answers on Substance Use | Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, it was written that:

The effects of drugs on the brain don’t just end when the drug wears off. When a person

stops taking a drug, dopamine levels remain low for some time. He or she may feel down,

or flat, and unable to feel regular pleasures in life. The brain will eventually restore the
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dopamine balance by itself, but it takes time — anywhere from hours, to days, or even

months, depending on the drug, the length and amount of use, and the person (“Brain

Development, Teen Behavior and Preventing Drug Use”).

Another side effect of marijuana use is the increase in anxiety levels in frequent users. This

increase in anxiety levels can lead to depression of the adolescent or any frequent user. This

means if you truly wanted to “be safe,” then the smart thing to do is wait until the brain is fully

developed to experiment with this sort of drug use.

Marijuana Is Harmless; this is a common misconception of the newly legalized drug for

many users. Studies show that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol and tobacco. This may be

true, however, “less harmful” is not the same as “harmless.” The drug marijuana, as we all know

grows as plant, which can be considered a so-called all-natural source. This is in fact a wrong

assumption, just because it is grown as a plant, cannabis can lead to physical altercations,

psychological changes, and behavioral health problems. The chemical THC, produced in

marijuana, can have euphoric effects with several medicinal properties, but THC can also have

harmful reactions. Some people would say marijuana can kill you just as easily as tobacco and

alcohol.

Figure 1- What is more harmful to society: marijuana, alcohol, or tobacco? (Purple)

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This is a debatable fallacy that could be viewed in many ways. Studies show that marijuana has

never killed anyone directly. This does not mean marijuana does not indirectly kill people. In

comparison of all drugs, marijuana is most commonly found in the blood of drivers involved in

major car accidents. “In fact, European researchers have found that drivers with THC in their

blood were about twice as likely as drivers with no drugs or alcohol in their system to be

responsible for a fatal crash” (Gonzales). Another argument for society is that some people

believe that marijuana does not have any benefits to society. According to a new study in The

Washington Post, if marijuana was legalized nationwide, this would create billions of dollars in

tax revenue and more than a million new occupations across the United States in the next decade

(Zezima). This could boost the economy for the better. These new jobs can help reduce the

poverty rate in a lot of states also bringing millions in tax revenue to the state. With this tax

revenue, the state can improve the state’s economic status. This is nothing new to states with

alcohol and tobacco already legalized, these two alone are bringing in millions already, so what

sets these substances apart? Where they differ is their “danger aspects.” So, many experts say

there has never been a documented overdose death from marijuana use in someone without an

underlying condition. With the right regulations for the adolescent, harmful issues can be

avoided. While marijuana has few fatal accidents, tobacco and alcohol are killing thousands of

people. According to a storyline from NBCNews.com:

Tobacco use is considered the leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. and chronic

alcohol use has been linked to everything from heart disease to cancer. According to the

CDC, one in 10 deaths among working-age adults can be attributed to excessive alcohol
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use and alcohol poisonings account for more than 2,000 American deaths every year

(“No High Risk: Marijuana May Be Less Harmful Than Alcohol, Tobacco”).

That is not to say that marijuana use isn’t potentially harmful. Chronic marijuana use has been

linked, by some researchers, to lung problems, dependence, and early-onset psychosis. There is

also a considerable concern over the impact of marijuana use on the developing adolescent brain.

One study, featured by CNBC, stated that according to “Proceedings of the National Academy of

Sciences, found that regular marijuana users lost an average of six IQ points” (“No High Risk:

Marijuana May Be Less Harmful Than Alcohol, Tobacco”).

With all these studies showing that marijuana has quite a few benefits that arguably

outweigh the disadvantages to communities, what is the hold up of full legalization? This is due

to a lot of reasons that may go unnoticed. These reasons can come from the fear of the young

generations becoming too involved in this new drug scene. This could also come from the

potential threat of an increase in crime with easy access to the drug if fully recreational. A major

reason for voters to turn this down is the workforce being involved in this debate. While some

states being fully recreational that does not mean that employers will not get involved. Madison

Margolin wrote an article in 2018 called “Where there's smoke there's fired.” This news source

outlines a story of how the legalization of marijuana does not mean companies cannot still drug

test. The article talks about how, even in legal states where marijuana is fully recreational, does

not mean that you can do it whenever you want. Major employers are still allowed to drug test

you whether the substance is legal or not. “This is a trap that’s caught a lot of people: Having

your state make marijuana legal still has no impact on your boss,” says Lew Maltby, president of

the National Workrights Institute, a New Jersey-based advocacy group. “Your boss can fire you

for lots of things that are legal. In American law, your boss can fire you for any reason at all as
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long as it’s not discriminatory of race or gender” (Margolin). The man in the story uses

marijuana medicinally and every time he consumes the substance, he puts himself at risk for this

substance. The man began using cannabis for ulcers and anxiety, then it became part of his

treatment for Crohn’s disease and mental health issues. This is an issue that can cause a lot of

problems in the work industry.

Marijuana is not just a harmful drug to society. The cannabis plant can contribute to

many different health products, fibrous components, and some cooking supplements. The health

products can come in the form of CBD oils that are not harmful to the body. Short for cannabinol

CBD is a substance that can be extracted from the plant that has a “feel good” effect on the body.

CBD is formed through this plant in nature and is a safe with no addictive properties. CBD is

used in many products from lotions for arthritis, cooking oils, and vaporizing the oil to have a

relaxing effect on the body. The marijuana plant itself at its fibrous form is a strong fiber that can

be used in the making of rope, strong fabrics, and paper. When grown for the fiber the plant is

typically called hemp. Lastly the major component of the marijuana plant is the THC. THC is a

chemical property that is what gets the consumer high when ingesting the substance. THC at its

purest form can be used as a vapor for medical patients. When used as a vapor, many of the

harmful properties are eliminated. THC oils can also be used in foods, this is when the oil is

infused with a butter or other cooking ingredient and baked into the food. This can also be a safer

way for medical patients to consume the substance for their health needs.

In my research I have found many surprising new facts from all three of these substances.

These facts have led me to believe that if there is so many benefits that seem to outweigh the

bad, why not legalize marijuana in all states. If not recreational, I believe that it should be used

medically in all states, so new research can be conducted to find more uses and medicinal
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properties. From the data I have gathered it seems that marijuana could help many medical

patients that need care, such as epilepsy patients, cancer patients, or even people struggling with

ongoing depression or anxiety. With alcohol and tobacco killing thousands of people each year,

and no new laws changing, why is there not something less harmful be introduced and maybe

enforce more laws against substances that have little benefits to society with large amounts of

fatalities. I believe that the future of medical marijuana can act as an economic booster and could

have the potential to save lives.

With all these factors to consider whether marijuana is better with communities than

alcohol or tobacco, it can be hard to see if these factors outweigh the bad. When looking at the

total effects of marijuana and the side effects that come with it, such as the damaging of the brain

development, damaging of the brain, the increase in anxiety levels in frequent users, is this worth

legalizing? This can still be and will be a valid argument for the future to come with the political

races. It is important to note that you cannot just factor out one substance to learn about them.

We must study these drugs in a co-use situation and monitor these with careful eyes to see how

they affect the patterns in the brain. Dr. Seth Ammerman states that, “We really don’t know the

impact of legalization on youth access and youth use” (No High Risk: Marijuana May Be Less

Harmful Than Alcohol, Tobacco). This just shows that it is still too early to tell, However, the

news is very compelling. With some of the statistics proven against alcohol and tobacco, it is

hard to ignore it. This information is suggesting that this newly legalized drug on the market

could be the replacer of alcohol and tobacco. If it does not replace it, the numbers do not lie,

within the next several years the cannabis industry will be putting a significant impact on these

different competitors.
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Works Cited

“Brain Development, Teen Behavior and Preventing Drug Use.” Where Families Find Answers on

Substance Use | Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, drugfree.org/article/brain-development-teen-

behavior/. Accessed 10 March 2019.

Cohn, Amy M., et al. “Patterns of the Co-Use of Alcohol, Marijuana, and Emerging Tobacco Products

in a National Sample of Young Adults.” American Journal on Addictions, vol. 25, no. 8, Dec.

2016, pp. 634–640. EBSCOhost,

sinclair.ohionet.org:80/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=s3h&

AN=119499280&site=eds-live. 10 March 2019.

Fidalgo, Thiago M., et al. “The Association of Psychiatric Symptomatology with Patterns of Alcohol,

Tobacco, and Marijuana Use among Brazilian High School Students.” American Journal on

Addictions, vol. 25, no. 5, Aug. 2016, pp. 416–425.

EBSCOhost,sinclair.ohionet.org:80/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=tru

e&db=s3h&AN=116935434&site=eds-live.10 March 2019.

Gonzales, Matt. “5 Marijuana Facts and Myths.” Drug Rehab, 8 May 2018,

www.drugrehab.com/blog/2018/04/16/5-marijuana-facts-and-myths/. Accessed 10 March 2019.

Margolin, Madison. “Where There's Smoke, There's Fired.” Progressive.org, 1 Aug. 2018,

progressive.org/magazine/where-theres-smoke-theres-fired/.10 March 2019.

“No High Risk: Marijuana May Be Less Harmful Than Alcohol, Tobacco.” NBCNews.com,

NBCUniversal News Group, www.nbcnews.com/storyline/legal-pot/marijuana-safer-alcohol-

tobacco-study-shows-n312876. 10 March 2019.

Purple, Matt. “Poll: 47% in under-40 Crowd Say Booze Worse than Weed.” Ajc, Rare Staff, 18 Sept.
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2014, www.ajc.com/news/poll-under-crowd-say-booze-worse-than-

weed/uupeEA9QTPsj89eCqjtvjM/. 10 March 2019.

“The Impact of Cannabis Legalization on Tobacco and Alcohol.” Euromonitor International Blog,

Euromonitor International, 20 Apr. 2018, blog.euromonitor.com/cannabis-implications-tobacco-

alcohol/. 10 March 2019.

Zezima, Katie. “Study: Legal Marijuana Could Generate More than $132 Billion in Federal Tax

Revenue and 1 Million Jobs.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 10 Jan. 2018,

www.washingtonpost.com/national/2018/01/10/study-legal-marijuana-could-generate-more-

than-132-billion-in-federal-tax-revenue-and-1-million-jobs/?utm.10 March 2019.