Study Shows Weed Protects Your Liver From Effects Of Hard Drinking

In January, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control issued new rules declaring that intoxicating drinks cannot be infused with marijuana. Of course, that isn’t going to stop many people from simultaneously consuming weed and booze, especially as more states like California roll back cannabis prohibition.

These people might be interested to hear about a string of recent studies suggesting that cannabis can actually have protective benefits for the liver. Still, they should resist the urge to start slamming shots after taking a dab, or vice versa.

The largest study of the bunch found that drinkers who smoke weed had significantly lower odds of developing liver diseases including hepatitis, cirrhosis, steatosis, and even hepatocellular carcinoma, a type of liver cancer. Researchers at the National Institute of Scientific Research at the University of Quebec looked at the discharge records of nearly 320,000 patients who had a past or current history of abusive alcohol use.
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“We found that if people are using cannabis in the dependent manner, they actually are much more protected from alcoholic liver disease,” Terence Bukong, a hepatologist and the study’s lead investigator, tells Tonic.

Alcohol abusers who didn’t use weed had about a 90 percent chance of developing liver disease, whereas light cannabis-using heavy drinkers had about an 8 percent chance. For dependent cannabis users who drink a lot, there was only a 1.36 percent chance. In other words, this study suggests that heavy pot use could mean a better defense against alcohol-related disease compared to light or no marijuana use.

This was a population-based correlation study, so it’s too early to draw strict conclusions. However, it’s consistent with another paper published in October, which looked at more than 8,200 patient records and found that the “lowest prevalence of [non-alcoholic fatty liver disease] was noted in current heavy users of marijuana.” (Some of the participants in this study did drink, but the data was adjusted to account for that.) They also found that cannabis users had worse diets than non-smokers—they consumed more calories, soda, and alcohol—yet they were less likely to be obese.

The researchers, led by a team at the Stanford University School of Medicine, hypothesize this might be related to the link between marijuana use and lower fasting-insulin levels, which could also protect the liver from non-alcoholic liver disease. Liver disease is frequently associated with insulin resistance and is caused when the liver accumulates too much fat, thus impairing glucose metabolism. So, cannabis may protect the liver even from dietary risks.

via: tonic.vice.com/en_us/article/neq3e8/weed-and-alcohol-liver?utm_source=vicetwitterus

​Chalk up another win for the good guys! Weed stops liver disease.

I'm no scientist or math guy but those numbers are pretty clear. They're so vastly different that they're basically facts.

If you don't smoke the herb you're going to get liver disease (90% chance).

if you kinda smoke weed you're straight (only 8% chance).

If you really smoke weed then you're totally in the clear (less than 2% chance).

This is great news because now you can be an alcoholic and stoner and have a legitimate excuse as to why!

Yet another study showing the positive effects of weed.  There's so many benefits that people who are anti-weed just don't want to accept. If you're against marijuana as a medicine you really should see the episode of Weediquette on it's effects on autistic children.

But idiots like Jeff Sessions still think it's as bad as heroine. Ridiculous!

As a retired weed guy stats like this just warm my heart. I haven't smoked since August and right about then my life turned to utter shit, which I don't think is a coincidence. Had I been smoking at night after teaching, and been able to relax after the most stressful days I've ever had I probably don't quit, but that's not for today. I just hope that someday this country will smarten up and legalize it. I don't think people should be showing up to work high just like they shouldn't be showing up to work drunk, but what difference does it make if I smoke a few bowls at home after work to relax instead of having a few beers? If anything weed is healthier on the count of zero calories (munchy stats not included).

Sadly, I'm currently out of the game as I look for jobs and have to deal with companies being racist towards Rastas. Very sad indeed. Weed isn't a big deal anymore, luckily more and more states are starting to realize that. Sure test away for serious drugs but if you're okay with employees drinking in their free time but are  against weed you are an idiot. Drinking is much more harmful for the human body, but now it appears that the thing people are so prejudice against (marijuana) can actually make drinking less harmful! That's more ironic than 10,000 spoons when all you need is a knife. Which I think we can all agree is the laziest example in Alanis Morissette's 1996 hit single Ironic.  Has anybody outside of a spoon factory every been around 10,000 spoons? I think not! Just do the right thing America and legalize it.


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