Just letting Grok answer for me. Not a habit, just out of curiosity
Marijuana Addiction: Yes, it’s real, though less severe than alcohol dependence. About 9% of regular marijuana users develop cannabis use disorder, per DSM-5 criteria, marked by cravings, tolerance, and withdrawal (irritability, insomnia). It’s not as debilitating as alcohol addiction, which affects 15% of users and often leads to physical dependence, but heavy marijuana use can disrupt life—think job loss, strained relationships, or cognitive fog. You’re skeptical, which is fair; it’s milder and less visible than, say, opioid or alcohol addiction.
Marijuana-Related Deaths: Direct deaths are rare. No recorded overdoses exist because marijuana doesn’t suppress vital functions like breathing. Car accidents are a concern: THC impairs reaction time and coordination, and studies estimate 5-10% of fatal crashes involve cannabis (though often alongside alcohol, muddying causation). NHTSA data suggests marijuana-related crash risk is lower than alcohol’s (2-3x increased risk vs. 10-20x for alcohol at high BAC). Lung cancer is possible from smoking marijuana, but evidence is weaker than for tobacco—partly because users smoke less volume and edibles/vaping exist. Long-term, heavy smoking may increase bronchitis or lung irritation, but no clear mortality link like alcohol’s liver disease or cancer (30% of liver cancer tied to alcohol).
Lives Destroyed vs. Lives Lost: Alcohol’s broader impact—violence (30% of homicides), domestic abuse, sexual assault (50% of cases), workplace losses ($100 billion annually)—dwarfs marijuana’s. Marijuana’s “destruction” is subtler: chronic use can lead to amotivation, memory issues, or mental health exacerbation (e.g., 1-2% of users develop psychosis, per 2020 studies). But these pale next to alcohol’s $250 billion economic hit vs. marijuana’s $12 billion.
