As America continues to reject ideas about the legalization of marijuana, many citizens continue to legally consume a “drug” that has been shown to have far worse side effects.

According to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, alcohol is one of the most widely abused drug substances in the world, resulting in approximately 75,000 deaths per year.

Along with this growing death rate, alcohol can also lead to heart disorders, certain cancers, and liver disease, according to a 2010 US government study.

One would think that a substance with such negative effects would be illegal or banned from recreational use, but many people still make the argument that smoking weed is worse than drinking alcohol.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana usage causes the user to experience distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty with thinking and problem solving, and difficulties with short-term memory.

As “severe” as these effects may be, they are not exclusive to marijuana use.

According to a study by the University of Washington, alcohol usage causes users to experience a decrease in fine motor skills and reaction time after consuming large quantities.

Being compared side by side, it seems that there is no real difference between smoking marijuana and consuming alcohol however people always seem to overlook one small detail.

According to the same University of Washington study, too much alcohol consumption in one sitting (more than 10 drinks) can result in unconsciousness and even death.