Alcohol and tobacco far more harmful than cannabis, says Canadian government study

A new study funded by the Canadian government puts another piece in the machine of the drug policies concluding that’alcohol and the tobacco are far more harmful to both consumers and society than cannabis. These findings, published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, are based on a comprehensive assessment carried out by a group of 20 experts specializing in substance use.

Researchers evaluated 16 substances according to several criteria, including consumer harm and wider social impact. Each substance was rated on a scale from 0 to 100, providing a comparative framework for understanding their overall risk profile.

These conclusions echo earlier landmark research, notably the Roques report, which has long been the benchmark in France for assessing the harmfulness of drugs. Commissioned by the French government in 1999, this report already established a hierarchy in which the’alcohol and tobacco were considered more harmful than cannabis, both in terms of individual health and societal consequences.

Alcohol comes out on top

According to the study’alcohol ranks as the most harmful substance overall, with a score of 79, far outstripping all others. It is followed by tobacco (45), over-the-counter opioids such as fentanyl (33), cocaine (19), methamphetamine (19) and finally cannabis (15).

Alcohol's dominant position is explained by its predominance in multiple risk categories. It ranked first in 9 out of 16 indicators, including damage to physical health, the weaning, the mental disorders, the injuries, the family and social difficulties and the economic cost. These findings reinforce long-standing public health concerns about the widespread impact of alcohol, despite its legal status in many countries.

Tobacco also scored highly, particularly in areas such as drug-related mortality, the dependency and environmental damage, and came first in four categories.

Drugs classified according to their overall harmfulness score, indicating separately the harmful effects for consumers and those for third parties.

Cannabis: fewer overall harmful effects, but not without risk

With a score of 15, the cannabis ranks well below the other substances evaluated in the study. However, the researchers caution against interpreting this result as an absence of risk.

The study points out that cannabis still presents adverse effects on mental health, These include dependence, withdrawal symptoms and short- and long-term cognitive impairment. It ranked third in the combined category of adverse effects on consumers' mental health.

In fact, the most significant adverse effect associated with cannabis was not directly related to consumption, but rather to the illegal market. The report states, «The highest weighted score for cannabis was for organized criminal activity.»

Despite the legalization in countries like Canada, In Canada, where cannabis has been legal for adults since 2018, illegal production and distribution networks remain active to a lesser extent. While over 70% of Canadian consumers reportedly purchase their cannabis through legal channels, the persistence of illicit markets continues to generate social harm.

Changing consumer habits and substitution effects

The study's findings are in line with general trends observed in recent years, particularly among young consumers. Surveys suggest that cannabis products, in particular THC-infused beverages, are increasingly used as an alternative to alcohol in social contexts.

Another trend shows that a significant proportion of Generation Y and Generation Z consumers opt for cannabis drinks rather than alcohol for after-work activities. Other studies point to a «substitution effect», where the cannabis use is associated with reduced alcohol consumption and even tobacco.

For example, research has shown that adults who consume cannabis beverages often report drinking less alcohol. Similarly, another study found a «strong negative association» between tobacco consumption and legal sales of medical cannabis, suggesting that access to regulated cannabis markets could influence substance use behaviors in general.

Implications for public policy

Beyond individual consumption habits, the study invites policy-makers to reconsider the way in which drug-related harm is assessed and regulated. The authors highlight the importance of taking into account not only the direct effects of substances, but also the consequences of drug use. drug laws and their enforcement.

«This analysis of drug harms in Canada revealed that alcohol is overall the most harmful substance,» the researchers conclude, urging governments to incorporate these findings into future regulatory decisions.

Although the cannabis is not without risks, the study adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that its overall harm profile is lower than that of widely consumed legal substances such as alcohol and tobacco, always raising the same questions about the coherence of drug policies.