Using alcohol and marijuana is a part of many college student’s experience and with the legalization of marijuana recreationally in California, those 21 and up can partake in both legally, so we took the time to properly weigh the main two. Which substance is better? Everybody’s favorite bud, or everybody’s favorite drink?
Marijuana – Alex Myers, Opinion Asst. Editor
Have you ever felt like traveling to Jupiter from the comfort of your couch? Well, then I got a herbal treat for you. Marijuana, is a therapeutic drug that can be used recreationally or medically. Weed comes in two main strains: indica, a body high, and sativa, a mental high. Indica can make your body feel like it has just received a massage from a luxury spa, while sativa will cause you laugh for hours at your favorite childhood cartoon. Marijuana has countless benefits as it has been prescribed by doctors to patients who have multiple sclerosis, cancer, and eating disorders. For those of you who do not want to smoke, fear not – marijuana comes in many forms, such as edibles and cannabis pills. Also, there is a whole experience in going to a dispensary, as long as you’re 21 years of age. The employees, who are called budtenders, truly care about customer service and want to accommodate your needs in order for you to have the best experience with marijuana. Sadly, weed is extremely pricey, so it should be consumed in moderation for the typical broke college student. With balance, weed can be a positive source of relaxation in life. If you ever just feel like relaxing after a stressful week, kick back on the couch and enjoy some quality California kush. Now if you were to choose to have a drink, you’d be making a mistake. The bitter taste of alcohol makes you want to spit your drink out the second you take a sip and hangovers can be unbearable. Getting high does not destroy your body- it is actually calming your central nervous system and easing any physical aches and pains you might have. Also, you can never black out from smoking weed – you might be slow and not remember somethings while you’re high, but the dangers are way less compared to alcohol. No one has ever died while smoking weed, so marijuana will always be the safer choice.
Alcohol – Jennifer Lee, Opinion Editor
Do you have inhibitions? Are you socially awkward? Are you a fan of flushing your cares down the drain like your freshman year goldfish? Are you an individual over or of the age of 21? Well, well, well. Do I have the product for you! It has been shown to provide health benefits when consumed in moderation, according to Mayo Clinic which suggests that it can reduce your chance of developing heart disease, getting diabetes or even having a stroke. It comes in a variety of flavors, colors and percentages so that truly any palette can partake of it. A glass of wine can be the perfect end to a busy work day or a handful of responsibly consumed shots and a mixed drink can be the key to a night on the town with your friends. Imagine, if you will, that it’s a Saturday night much like tonight, and you want to blow some steam off. Your friends are down to do something crazy, and you have the perfect idea: whiskey and pickle juice, and the nearest club. A shot or two gets you feeling giddy, and you’re ready to Uber to the club. New Rules by Dua Lipa is on and you’re dancing like it’s the first time you’ve ever heard it. “Oh my God! Dua Lipa is amazing! She is the voice of this generation!” you say to your friend as she is pulled onto the dance floor by a man who probably finished every sentence with the word ‘broski’. You see someone you matched with on Bumble and you walk straight up to them because you are bold right now. Tonight is your night. You invite them to dance and the floor clears for you. You show off amazing dance skills you never knew you had, and suddenly the whole club is cheering you on. Your Bumble match is eyeing you in all the right ways and you are alive. And then you have five more drinks. Go home. Throw up right quick. Drink water. Have a lovely Saturday morning brunch. And then prep for the next weekend. Now, imagine if you had taken a puff puff? You would have laid around all night watching Top Chef and stuffing your face with Lay’s Original potato chips, and probably dipping them in pickle juice or something wonky, which will not reduce your chance of heart disease in moderation or at all. Which kind of night do you want to have? I think we both know the answer.
credit:laloyolan.com