Why weed could be the new green tradition on St. Patrick’s Day

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and has been republished with permission.

As the US transitions to the original green holiday, St. Patrick’s Day, could there be a change? Americans began celebrating the Irish saint in 1601 when the country was still a British colony. New York City hosts the world’s largest parade and Chicago is turning its river green to get in the mood. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with remarkable celebrations from Catherine Coleman and Chris Hadfield.

But for those who celebrate drinking an average of 4.2 glasses per person, does the change come with legislation introducing a healthier option? A new poll conducted by YouGov shows more people are seeing the health benefits of cannabis, especially when compared to alcohol.

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The survey polled 10,412 Americans and found that 27% of respondents think it would be better if people used cannabis instead of alcohol, but 20% said they think it’s a bad idea. Meanwhile, 38% said it was neither bad nor good, and 15% weren’t sure. With liquor sales up 153% on March 17, this could be good news for the marijuana market and worrying news for alcohol companies.

Looking at the demographic breakdown of participants, the poll results showed that Democrats are more likely (34%) to support the switch from cannabis to alcohol than 18% of Republicans and 27% of independents. Additionally, participants aged 30 to 44 were more likely to say that using cannabis was better than alcohol, while only 17% of respondents aged 65 and over said the same.

Why cannabis is the safer and healthier option

The federal government has considered cannabis illegal for far too long, and prohibition has done no good. They wanted us to believe that cannabis is dangerous and then it should definitely remain illegal. For the last several decades, the federal government has spread lies and funded studies that only focus on the harms of marijuana, not even the millions they’ve spent on TV ads just trying to convince people that cannabis is a terrible drug, who will turn you into an unemployed couch potato.

The truth couldn’t be further, especially when you compare it to alcohol.

Many of us use cannabis the same way we use alcohol: meeting friends, relaxing after work, etc. There are also those who use it solely for its medicinal benefits.

The harmful side effects of alcohol consumption have been well documented over the last few decades. Over 17 million people struggle with alcohol dependence or addiction in one way or another, yet the government has done nothing to limit access to it.

But why would you replace your alcohol habit with cannabis?

Let’s look at the numbers: According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 30,000 deaths in the United States are attributed to alcohol each year. Now, they don’t even have an existing category discussing the health risks of cannabis. In addition, the American Scientist reports that alcohol is a dangerous drug and consuming it as little as 10 times can lead to health effects so serious that they can be fatal.

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Then there are also the dangers it poses to society. Domestic violence and drunk driving have devastated families and lives, but cannabis doesn’t even come close to matching these dangers. In fact, it benefits societies where it is legalized.

There was also a 2018 study conducted by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder. They analyzed data on the effects of cannabis and alcohol on the brain and also had to analyze brain images from 853 adults aged 18 to 55, including 439 teenagers aged 14 to 18. All study participants had different levels of cannabis and alcohol consumption.

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They found that alcohol consumption was associated with long-term changes in the brain’s white and gray matter, while cannabis had no significant long-term effects on brain structure.

“If you look at these years of studies, you see that one study reports that marijuana use is associated with a reduction in hippocampal volume. Then the next study comes along and they say that marijuana use is linked to changes in the cerebellum,” explained Kent Hutchinson, one of the study’s co-authors. “The point is that in all of these studies, there is no agreement in terms of actual brain structures.”

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Another study published in the journal Scientific Reports shows that cannabis is at least 114 times less deadly than alcohol. The researchers looked at seven drugs, including alcohol, as well as tobacco, ecstasy, cocaine, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine. There are also studies showing that cannabis is the safest recreational drug on the market, but this study proves how significant the discrepancies are.

The researchers compared a lethal dose of each of the drugs for the study to the amount normally consumed. Cannabis was tested lowest and was the only one of the substances to show a “low risk of mortality” related to use, while others were high or moderate.

The role of public order

Keeping cannabis illegal at the federal level was not only pointless, it was also dangerous. Almost anyone can now buy and access alcohol easily: it’s too easy to get a fake ID to buy in a store, and kids can access their parent’s stash right at home. Getting drunk seems socially acceptable these days, while others are busy fighting the stigma against cannabis when it’s proven so much safer.

With cannabis legalization spreading every year, more people have choices about how to party. With two-thirds of Americans saying they’ll try weed when it’s totally legal, future celebrations and parades could have a more relaxed look. Of course, the green of the holiday and general celebration would be a natural holiday to encompass more than a four-leaf clover.

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and has been republished with permission.