Is THC Or Alcohol Better For You? Here's What The Science Says

Is it better to kick back with a beer or try some edibles containing THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the ingredient in cannabis that gives you a "high")? Science has some, but not all, of the answers.

According to the World Health Organization, alcohol use negatively affects your body regardless of quantity or type. (You might be drinking too much if this happens to you.) But that doesn't necessarily mean you'd be better off with a THC product; after all, cannabis remains a federally illegal drug despite THC-infused products being widely available. Plus, THC hasn't been well-researched (cannabis is a Schedule I controlled substance, causing ethical research roadblocks), so its health pros and cons aren't that well-documented. 

As drug and alcohol expert Carol Boyd explained to CNN, "We know that moderate alcohol consumption has health risks, and risk increases as alcohol consumption increases." Yet she was quick to add that "[we] do not yet know risks [sic] of daily use of edibles," citing limited studies. Therefore, the only way to compare alcohol and THC is to use the available evidence, starting with how they affect the brain.

Both alcohol and THC alter the mind. Alcohol impairs brain function, slowing cognition, memory, balance, and judgment by interrupting normal neurological communication mechanisms. And the problem could be permanent: A 2022 study in Nature Communications revealed that even when people drank one to two "units" of alcohol (10 milliliters per unit) each day, they risked shrinking of the brain. THC also interrupts the brain's communicative abilities, often altering the perception of time as well.

Over time, cannabis may damage the brain as well. Per a 2025 study in JAMA Network Open, lifetime cannabis product users experienced memory issues. Meanwhile, a 2022 study in Stroke found that long-term THC users who started using THC in their youth disrupted their neurological development, as well as increased their likelihood of stroke.

The effects of THC (or cannabis) and alcohol on the cardiovascular system are equally sobering. A 2024 study in the Journal of the American Health Association showed that the odds of having a heart-related episode like a heart attack increased with regular (daily) cannabis use. Alcohol doesn't fare much better in terms of cardiovascular concerns. A 2025 study in Circulation cautioned against assuming that alcohol use is "healthy," noting that excessive alcohol consumption has been linked to heart-related deaths.

What about other body parts? If you drink alcohol excessively for years, you could damage your liver as well as increase your chances of esophageal cancer, neck cancer, breast cancer, and some other cancers. On the other hand, if you use THC (and especially if you smoke cannabis), you could risk developing respiratory problems or lung cancer. You may also increase your chances of early-onset psychosis. In fact, THC-related psychotic reactions may be related to a genetic predisposition or an existing mental health disorder, making it harder to predict a person's likely responses when trying THC products.

If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).