Alcohol Damages the Brain More, Marijuana Leaves It Unharmed

By Heather Callaghan, Editor

Although alcohol (and caffeine, nicotine, opiates) seem to be the elites’ legal drug of choice for the masses, it is only recently that researchers have unveiled the true, harmful effects of booze. Regular-to-severe alcohol use is not just toxic to the liver. It holds real, measurable consequences for the brain.

A number of recent studies have also measured cannabis use on the brains of adults and adolescents. Some, like this recent study from the University of Colorado have compared alcohol and cannabis use on the brain of adults and adolescents.

More specifically, the study compares gray matter size and white matter integrity in chronic alcohol use for teen and adult brains; and gray matter size and white matter integrity in cannabis use for teen and adult brains.

Local10News reports:

A new study claims alcohol does more damage to the brain than marijuana.

Using existing imaging data that looked at the effects of alcohol and marijuana on the brain, scientists at the University of Colorado found pot does not affect the size or integrity of the brain’s white or gray matter.

WJXT reports the opposite holds true for alcohol. Even after years of exposure, marijuana did not affect the brain.

Professor Kent Hutchinson is quoted,

While marijuana may also have some negative consequences, it definitely is nowhere near the negative consequences of alcohol.

Indeed, chronic alcohol use in both teens and adults produced negative associations with widespread gray matter in the brain. As far as white matter, though, only the adult brains were significantly altered.

Cannabis left both teen and adult brains unharmed. Gray matter and white matter integrity were preserved after long-term cannabis use.

Other recent studies show that cannabis use actually protects the liver from alcohol damage and that alcohol is ten times deadlier on the road than cannabis use for drivers. Over time, alcohol use atrophies the hippocampus which is your important memory and emotional center. Translation? Bad news for your relationships and career!

DISCLAIMER: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

This article (Alcohol Damages the Brain More, Marijuana Leaves It Unharmed) was created by and appeared first at Natural Blaze. It can be reshared with attribution but MUST include link to homepage, bio, intact links and this message. 

 Heather Callaghan is an independent researcher, writer, speaker and food freedom activist. She is the Editor and co-founder of NaturalBlaze as well as a certified Self-Referencing IITM Practitioner.

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