According to a Pew study released Wednesday. By far, Americans believe that alcohol is more dangerous to a person’s health and to society in general than marijuana. And if you are wondering what Pew is, Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. They conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research.
When asked whether marijuana or alcohol would be more harmful to personal health, if marijuana were as widely available as alcohol, 69 percent of Americans said alcohol is more dangerous, while only 15 percent said that marijuana is more dangerous. Fourteen percent said both or neither are more dangerous.
Respondents showed more trepidation when asked to consider marijuana’s potential effects on society as a whole, but a strong majority still believed that alcohol is the more harmful substance. Sixty-three percent of those polled said alcohol is more dangerous, with 23 percent saying marijuana is more dangerous and 11 percent responding that both or neither are more harmful.
Here’s is how the data breakdown from Pew looks like:
Public opinion on marijuana, and much scientific research, could not be further from the federal government’s opinion on the plant. Official federal policy still considers cannabis to be among “the most dangerous drugs of all the drug schedules with potentially severe psychological and physical dependence,” alongside substances like heroin and LSD.
