Although I'm aware that these two are often compared--often in the context of their impact on health and addictive nature--it's hard to really specify a "preference" for another or the other as a
general statement. There's a considerable wealth of difference between the experience of serving wine at your wedding (for example) and meeting your friends on the weekend to get stoned for recreation. Neither, in my opinion, are inherently better or worse from a moral perspective, but the point I'm trying to make is that they're not necessarily two sides of the same coin. I feel like there's a greater need for specificity when it comes to alcohol, I suppose.
Long, pedantic rant that nobody cares about out of the way, I'll just give my responses to the questions above, then.
Which do you prefer?
I may have a glass of wine on special occasions, and I enjoy trying new drinks. But I don't make a habit of either of them. There is no alcohol stocked anywhere in my house, so the overwhelming majority of the beverages I consume are completely non-alcoholic (and honestly, it's mostly just tea). I will absolutely not touch marijuana, and I'd prefer to not be around it if possible.
Why do you prefer it?
I like beverages that have a sort of sting to them--something that is sweet, maybe a little sour, with the alcohol giving off a sort of harshness that is strangely enjoyable. The smell of alcohol can be quite revolting, which is another reason I don't have it at home, but unless you spill it all over yourself or get right in front of someone's face (and if you're drinking in proper moderation), it's not terribly noticeable. Marijuana, on the other hand, has hands down the absolute most nauseating odor that I've ever had to endure, to the point where I've grown physically sick. I don't judge or care if people do it in their own time, but unless you're a friend of mine who has been diagnosed as so medically depressed that marijuana is the only thing keeping you afloat, I'm not going to be particularly keen about staying around if one of my friends decides to pull out a joint in the middle of our get-together.
Is one more likely to be abused than the other?
From what I understand, alcohol is far more likely to become habit-forming and addictive than marijuana. I don't have any real medical science to back that up, however.
How has it effected your personal life?
To be quite frank, I have some very negative associations with both. Alcoholism runs absolutely rampant in my family, and it is a rare sight to see any of my siblings without a bottle or a joint or both. Without going into too much detail--both because it's a bit of a sensitive topic and because it pertains to family, whom I'd rather not delve into--bearing witness to as well as hearing (over the phone) of the various mishaps and domestic squabbles my family has been through because of either drug has caused me absolutely terrible amounts of distress that I wouldn't wish upon anyone.
You would think that having that sort of upbringing, one would be inclined to avoid it. And I certainly think that's a fair enough decision, particularly if you find yourself at risk for developing an addiction. However, it is in my opinion that the biggest culprit of all these horrible affairs is lack of education. That's not the only factor, of course, but in my opinion, overzealous avoidance of the topic also contributed a great deal to the problem spiraling out of control. In my personal philosophy, if you are uneducated, you are unprepared. So if you feel you must avoid alcohol or marijuana, then by all means. You're probably healthier for it. However, don't let your avoidance prevent you from educating yourself on the matter. You don't have to try any of it yourself, but don't be afraid to find out what it does to your body, how to spot the signs of an addict, and other medical information like that. But also, take the time to understand and appreciate (note:
liking and
appreciating are distinctly different concepts) the culture surrounding it. Evaluate your own unique relationship/lack there of with it. If you can properly educate yourself, then you're prepared to live in a world where these things exist, and thus--whether you partake or not--will hopefully not be as prone to making the same silly mistakes that people have made before you.
Also, I am not doctor, nor a therapist, nor a drug councilor, nor anything of the sort. So forget everything I just said.
Do you have a fear of one and not the other?
I suppose I'm more scared of marijuana, but only because of the legality.
Which is more damaging to your body?
I don't know; I'm not a doctor.
Which have you had a worse experience with?
That depends on what you mean by experiences. I've never smoked marijuana, so I don't have any negative experiences of
doing it. And I've never been ****-faced drunk, so I've never had any real problems with that, either. But my experiences with alcohol and marijuana secondhand are both equally horrid, to be honest.
In summary...
Thank you.
