Alcohol v Cannabis — Who Wins?
Drunken accidents are on the up, yet alcohol remains a perfectly legal beverage. Here, PhilPatterson of Real Cannabis Club questions whether industry is being too hard on cannabis and whether, when compared to alcohol, it is really all that bad.
Excessive alcohol consumption is becoming increasingly common. According to a study published earlier this year, binge drinking in the UK is on the rise. It is anticipated that by 2030, 23 percent of adults will binge drink at least once a month — an increase of 4.5 percent from 1990.
Special occasions such as the hen or stag-do have further fuelled this British drinking culture, but according to Dr Thomas Thurnell-Read, lecturer in Cultural Sociology at Loughborough University, it wasn’t always the case. “A generation ago, the stag night would have been the groom and some friends down at the local pub,” Dr Thurnell-Read noted. “(Now) there’s this emphasis on ritualistically punishing the stag for this change of status (marriage). You humiliate him with fancy dress and make him get drunk.”
It has become embedded into a cultural psyche to such an extent that accidents are occurring at an alarming rate. In my opinion, the availability of cheap spirits combined with the rise of energy drinks has led to an inevitable brutal alchemy — a fusion of a stimulant and depressant in a glass. Vodka Red Bull has become a drink of choice amongst university students and school leavers; this “dangerous cocktail is going to rob many young people of their lives” said a coroner investigating the death of a holidaymaker in Thailand, who consumed four buckets of vodka and Red Bull.
An ecosystem of infrastructure lends legitimacy to these drinks. Turn on your television and you will be greeted by adverts of alcohol and caffeinated products; while certain beers and energy drinks have become associated with sports.
Why, then, is it still possible to consume life-threatening amounts of alcohol in a single visit to the pub, while cannabis remains illegal?
Cannabis
Cannabis was first decreed to be illegal in the United Kingdom in 1928. Interestingly, Doctors could prescribe cannabis for medicinal use until 1971, which suggests a certain disconnect between regulators and medical practitioners. This continues to be the case. The Mother of a 13-year-old epileptic child recently engaged in a legal battle for the right to be prescribed medicinal cannabis. Medical professionals attested to the impact that cannabis had on the child.
In short, the reasons underpinning the legal status of Cannabis are open to interpretation. As for the question of why it was initially criminalised, well, there are a number of theories that demonstrate remarkably little consensus. There are disparate schools of thought such as: the impact that hemp was having upon the timber industry, a domestic policy to thwart immigration and the inability to adequately tax a plant.
Pick your favourite.
It is well documented, that the psychoactive element within the cannabis plant, known as THC, has been linked with causing psychosis and other mental problems as a result of sustained or prolonged use. What is remarkable now, however, is the lack of coherent medical advice to suggest that controlled cannabis usage has a deleterious effect upon wellbeing. In short, the theory that cannabis has been criminalised to protect us, has very little literature or empirical evidence to support it.
Stigma
In the UK at time of writing, Cannabis remains a tightly regulated substance. It is designated as a Class B drug. It is illegal to cultivate cannabis in the UK, illegal to sell it, and possession of cannabis is also a punishable offence.
The vernacular here is important. Referred to in legal frameworks as a “drug” or “substance”. Cannabis is, in fact, just a plant. Entirely natural. Not synthesised in a laboratory, not a chemical composite and not enhanced with any non-organic properties
Is broccoli a nefarious ‘substance’? Is the dreaded artichoke a ‘drug’? No. It is, in my estimation, misleading to include cannabis in a framework, classed alongside speed and barbiturates. Perhaps it is this branding issue which has triggered an enduring stigma towards cannabis; why are blueberries considered a superfood and cannabis a controlled Class B substance?
A typical energy drink ingredient list will be comprised of circa 20 composite ingredients, often things such as acids, preservatives, sugars and artificial sweeteners. The dreaded ‘E numbers’ also have a starring role.
On the other hand, cannabis is comprised of just one vital and core ingredient — cannabis. In the age of being environmentally ‘woke’, it is entirely organic and vegan and has a carbon footprint of zero.
It could be argued that this controlled regulatory environment has led to negative attitudes towards cannabis. Illegality of anything lends a natural stigma, a natural caution that is embedded into a cultural awareness.
Like any controlled substance, illegality drives a heightened demand for ‘black market’ supply. This underground trade also leads to ineffective cultivation of cannabis itself. Like any black market good, traders are incentivised to boost their margins by reducing their cost base. “Skunk” is a colloquialism for a strain of cannabis that has been infused with other chemical additives to make it cheaper.
Canada
Canada legalised cannabis usage in 2018. Of course, there are rules governing the cultivation, sale and consumption, but it is a large step forward for liberal attitudes towards the plant. Opinion is, as ever, divided over this policy mechanism, but broadly speaking, it has resulted in an increase in taxation revenue and a fall in crime. Cannabis is tightly controlled and is available only in licensed dispensaries, but consumers are advised as to its consumption, and the stigma surrounding the black market of cannabis has subsided.
What is the difference between cannabis and CBD?
The cannabis plant is derived from the cannabacae family of vegetation. The cannabis plant itself has three strains — indica, sativa and ruderalis. Indica and sativa are the typical strains of the plant that are cultivated for consumption.
Cannabis plant is typically categorised into two product groups; hemp and marijuana. Hemp and marijuana share large concentrations of cannabidiol (CBD). CBD and hemp contain only trace amounts of THC, whereas marijuana contains significant amounts.
Hemp oil does not contain cannabinoids. CBD oil does — canniboids regulate the internal human endocannabinoid system. It is these canniboids that deliver healing and wellbeing to users.
Usage
There is noteworthy empirical evidence to suggest that CBD oil has therapeutic properties. It is consumed to combat a wide array of ailments, including joint pain, anxiety and auto immune conditions. There is also a school of thought emerging that cannabis oil is effective in dealing with the symptoms of cancer. While there are no medical studies or approved literature, there is a growing amount of case studies it is efficacious as a wellness product.
Cannabis cannot continue to endure a stigma whilst big tobacco, high concentration alcohol and energy drinks are not regulated. Treating a plant on the same playing field as these substances is, as far as I’m concerned, is not right.
Startup companies, such as Real Cannabis Club seek to add further legitimacy to cannabidiol use by publishing its supply chain on a blockchain to heighten transparency and visibility. Customers scan a QR code on their product to which takes them to a unique web page detailing the origin and supply chain of the product. The ability to download technical analysis and lab reports is an important feature which allows consumers to have full faith in the provenance of their product.
Cannabis based products are at the forefront of a wellness revolution. It seems perverse that elements of cannabis remain legal whilst regulators continue to turn a blind eye to the damage that alcohol continues to cause.
