Which is Better for Unwinding?
A recently released report from Statistics Canada found that Canadians consumed almost as much marijuana as they did wine in 20151. So, this begs the question - which is better for unwinding, weed or wine?
Weed Vs. Wine: How They Affect The Brain Alcohol and weed affect the brain in very different ways and, therefore, result in supremely different responses and situations.
1
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-18/marijuana-use-may-have-hit-c-6-2-bln-beforecanada-legalization
Alcohol and The Brain
There is no doubt that alcohol produces a strong effect on the brain, especially in larger amounts. Alcohol is more commonly referred to as a “depressant” or a “downer” due to the way it can inhibit certain brain functions. Specifically, alcohol can impact the following areas of the brain and related functions: ● The Frontal Lobes - Responsible for evaluating choices and making decisions. This ability becomes suppressed the more you drink and results in individuals oversharing, losing control of their emotions or willpower and engaging in risky behaviours. ● The Amygdala - This is the part of the brain that is responsible for the “fight or flight” response, and allows us to perceive danger. However, a few drinks can damage the response of this center of the brain. In some cases, the fear response dampens enough to put individuals into risky or dangerous situations. ● The Hypothalamus - This is the center of the brain that controls simple functions such as sex drive, hunger, body temperature and fear2. As individuals drink more, the nerve centers in this area become depressed. This can result in increased sexual desire, which is not always a great mix when your decision making and fear responses are compromised. ● The Hippocampus - Lastly, drinking can shut down the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain responsible for creating and retaining memories. This is why you blackout and cannot remember the events of the previous night. 2
http://winefolly.com/update/coffee-vs-wine-vs-cannabis/
Cannabis and The Brain
THC, which is a cannabinoid component found in the cannabis plant, has an effect on all neurotransmitters in the brain (and body). This is because cannabinoids are naturally found in the human body, as well as throughout nature. These cannabinoids are placed throughout the Endocannabinoid System, which function in the Central Nervous System and are also a component of the immune response. Here are some of the ways that cannabis can affect the brain: ● Nuccleus Accumbens - One of the benefits of cannabis on the brain is that it has a positive effect on the brain's natural reward and motivation system. This is what causes the euphoric and positive feelings associated with being high. ● The Hypothalamus - THC can also affect the Hypothalamus, much like alcohol. In this case, the THC slows the brain's ability to provide information to this center. As such, we can become paranoid or overeat because hunger and fear signals do not get processed as quickly. ● Stimulates Release of Neurotransmitters - The cannabinoids in marijuana communicate with the brain to create an abundance of responses. For instance, THC is able to promote the release of dopamine, serotonin and anandamide. These three neurotransmitters are all related to mood management. Serotonin is responsible for happiness and feeling uplifted, dopamine plays a part in pleasure and reward and anandamide produces calmness as well as managing appetite and memory.
Weed Vs. Wine: Health Benefits It has been said that a glass of wine a day can help people live longer, but marijuana has some pretty amazing health benefits too. Let’s compare the two.
Health Benefits of Wine
A large Harvard study of middle-aged women found that those who drank 0.5 to 1 ounce of alcohol per day were more likely to retain memory and less likely to suffer from chronic illness as they aged. While this specifically refers to “alcohol”, who drinks just one ounce, especially when it comes to wine? Other studies have linked red wine to the slowing of aging and have even found that moderate daily champagne consumption improves communication between brain cells3. The issue with these studies is that a “moderate” glass is considered 4-6 ounces of wine and most individuals don’t limit themselves to just one small glass. However, if you abide by the moderate-drinking rule, here are some additional health benefits4: ● Reduced Risk of Heart Attack - Moderate wine drinkers with high blood pressure are 30% less likely to have a heart attack than non-drinkers. ● Lowered Risk of Heart Disease - This is due to the procyanidins found in red wine, which protect against heart disease. ● Reduced Risk of Type 2 Diabetes - Again, moderate wine drinkers have a 30% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than their non-drinking counterparts. ● Lowered Risk of Stroke - Moderate drinkers have a 50% lower risk of suffering from a stroke caused by a blood clot.
3
https://www.brainhq.com/brain-resources/brain-healthy-foods-nutrition/brain-alcohol
4
http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/8-health-benefits-of-drinking-wine
Health Benefits of Cannabis
Cannabis has a wide range of health benefits thanks to the THC and CBD cannabinoid compounds. The reason that these are so effective for treating diseases and managing symptoms such as chronic pain is due to the fact that cannabinoids are found naturally in the body, allowing these compounds to communicate with the brain and body reducing inflammation, promoting cell growth and managing dysfunctional nervous systems or neurotransmitters. The following are just a few of the medical benefits cannabis has to offer: ● Slows and Stops Cancer Cells - The American Association for Cancer Research concluded that cannabis slows down tumor growth in brain, breast and lungs. In addition, the CBD component can stop cancer growth in some cases by turning off a specific gene called ID-15. ● Reduce Symptoms of Arthritis - Due to the anti-inflammatory properties of cannabis, it is an effective pain reliever and can manage symptoms of arthritis. Even Sir Patrick Stewart uses cannabis to treat his arthritis because of its effectiveness. ● Prevent's Alzheimer's - A 2006 study6 found that THC is able to slow progression of Alzheimer's by blocking the production of amyloid plaques that kill brain cells. ● Treats Glaucoma - The National Eye Institute found that marijuana can prevent blindness by lowering pressure inside the eye. ● Can Control Seizures - Several studies, including a 2003 study by the VCU Department of Neurology7, found that marijuana use can control seizures.
5
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/marijuana-and-cancer_n_1898208 http://www.scripps.edu/news/press/2006/080906.html 7 https://www.news.vcu.edu/article/Marijuana_and_its_receptor_protein_in_brain_control_epilepsy 6
●
Helps Manage M.S., Crohn’s and Other Diseases - Cannabis has been used against many prevalent diseases and has produced accurate results in all studies. Regardless of how it is ingested, cannabis has extraordinary antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, which can regulate a multitude of symptoms. ● Manages Mood Disorders - Cannabis has been prescribed for a long time for mood disorders such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, ADD/ADHD, etc. This is due to its ability to communicate and manage the production of neurotransmitters responsible for mood and mental stability. While the list goes on, these are some of the more prevalent health benefits of cannabis.
Weed Vs. Wine: The Negatives
As with any substance, there are bound to be negative effects. Besides the ones outlined in the first section regarding the brain, both weed and wine have a few additional negatives. ●
●
●
8
Weight Gain - Both weed and wine can contribute to weight gain. Wine due to its caloric value as well as its ability to reduce inhibitions, which may make you more likely to break your diet and indulge in fatty foods or unhealthy snacks. For weed, it is the ability to increase appetite and induce “the munchies”. However, studies have shown that despite “the munchies”, weed users tend to have a lower BMI than their alcoholic counterparts. Addiction - Alcohol is addictive to approx. 14% of individuals who have tried it; this is nearing the addiction level of cocaine (17%). Cannabis, on the other hand, matches the addiction level of caffeine, both of which are 9%8. Violence - The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence has noted alcohol as a factor in 40% of all violent crimes9. Weed does not have any associated violence.
http://marijuanapolitics.com/alcohols-not-just-drugs-its-hard-drugs/
●
●
Cause of Death - It is estimated that 88,0008 people in the US die from alcohol-related causes annually10. This makes alcohol the third leading cause of preventable death, second to tobacco and poor diet or lack of exercise. Weed, however, has had no reported deaths. Increased Risk of Cancer - Alcohol is a known carcinogen according to The US Department of Health. In addition, the National Cancer Institute has found that the more often you drink, the more you are at risk of developing cancer. Weed has not been proven to cause cancer; myths about lung cancer and cannabis have long been debunked.
At the end of the day, every individual has their own preference for unwinding. In the words of Russell Brand, “we all need something to help us unwind at the end of the day. You might have a glass of wine, or a joint, or a big delicious blob of heroin to silence your silly brainbox of its witterings but there has to be some form of punctuation, or life just seems utterly relentless”. While a glass of wine won’t hurt you if you have a small amount, binge drinking on the weekend or regular alcoholism can have dangerous effects both on your body and safety. On the other hand, there is no proof that long-term marijuana usage is dangerous to the body.
Buy Weed Online If you are looking for a safer (and more effective) alternative for unwinding, consider trying medical marijuana. You don’t even have to smoke it! Today cannabis comes in many forms from traditional joints to vapable oils, edibles and dabbable concentrates. Fair Canna Care is a group of group of compassionate growers that developed a mail-order marijuana service to ensure that quality cannabis is available to every Canadian. Visit the Fair Canna Care online cannabis dispensary shop to view our strains - here are some that are great for relaxing! Read our frequently asked questions for more information and to learn how easy it is to buy weed online.
9
https://www.ncadd.org/about-addiction/alcohol-drugs-and-crime https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/alcohol-facts-and-statistics
10