Alcohol is proven to be 114 times more harmful than marijuana

New evidence suggests that drinking alcohol could be up to 114 times more harmful than smoking weed. A study published in the Scientific Reports journal aimed to quantify the risk of fatalities among some of the most frequently-taken substances.

And, worryingly yet unsurprisingly, alcohol came out as the most deadly substance, closely followed by heroin and then cocaine. As opposed to simply counting how many deaths have occurred as a result of consuming each intoxicating substance, which most similar reports do, researchers compared the average amount a typical user would take, to how much is required for a lethal dose. 

 Which is possibly why marijuana found itself all the way at the bottom of the list; you'd have to smoke a lot of pot to wind up with an overdose. Whereas an over-consumption of alcohol could easily take a fatal toll on your body.

But, before you all start preparing to celebrate with a great big spliff, cannabis's dangers - although lesser - are not non-existent. The Class-B drug, which was upgraded in severity back in 2009 when lawmakers decided it was more damaging than first thought, is a common factor in the development of mental-health issues.

It's often argued that because marijuana is a natural herb, it's somehow therefore safe. But gin is made with juniper berries, is it not? And the last time I looked, they grew on bushes.

So the point is - moderation is required. Well, the main point is actually that regardless of this study, cannabis is still illegal where alcohol is not, and if you don't want to end up with a criminal record then it's probably best just to steer clear.

But we should all be taking a lesson from this regardless, and that's to do with alcohol consumption. Just because it's within legal boundaries, doesn't mean it's bullet-proof. So just make sure when you go out drinking, you do it sensibly so as to avoid dangerous risks.

cosmopolitan