There are many debates that rage on in the world. Still, few are as polarizing as the debate about smoking pot vs. smoking tobacco. People have very strong opinions on both sides of the issue, and it can be hard to get unbiased information. However, science can’t really come up with a solid conclusion. But today, we’ll make things straight. We’ll compare cannabis and tobacco on four points and examine what science has to say about their relative dangers. So without further ado, let’s get started.

The Main Compounds

We first need to look at the main compounds in each of these substances. Cannabis contains THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive compound that gets users high. Tobacco, on the other hand, contains nicotine. Nicotine is a stimulant that has been shown to have some cognitive benefits but is also addictive.

Cannabis also contains CBD, or cannabidiol, which is a non-psychoactive compound that has a variety of potential health benefits. These include reducing anxiety, relieving pain, and even killing certain cancer cells. Tobacco, on the other hand, does not have any known health benefits. In fact, it contains a variety of harmful chemicals, including tar and carbon monoxide. So in terms of the main compounds, cannabis is clearly the winner.

Carcinogen Promotors

Various studies have confirmed that both tobacco and cannabis smoke contains carcinogens. However, the jury is still out on whether or not smoking cannabis causes cancer. The problem is that most studies have been done on heavy smokers, who often smoke both tobacco and cannabis. This makes it hard to isolate the effects of each substance.

However, one study did find that regular cannabis smokers had a higher risk of developing testicular cancer. So while the evidence is far from conclusive, it does seem that smoking cannabis may slightly increase your risk of cancer. Smoking tobacco, on the other hand, definitely increases your risk of cancer. In fact, tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the world. So when it comes to carcinogens, tobacco is the clear loser.

Final Verdict

So what’s the verdict? Is smoking pot more dangerous than smoking tobacco? The answer is it depends. In terms of the main compounds, cannabis is actually the safer choice. However, tobacco is more addictive, and smoking definitely increases your cancer risk. So quitting both substances would be ideal if you’re looking to make a healthier choice. But if you have to choose one, cannabis is the lesser of two evils.