Study Finds: Marijuana, LSD and Ecstacy Less Dangerous Then Alcohol and Tobacco

Study Finds: Marijuana, LSD and Ecstacy Less Dangerous Then Alcohol and Tobacco

April 11, 2007 by
Richard Sepulveda  
Richard Sepulveda
Richard Sepulveda
  • Published Content: 71
  • Total Views: 321,878
  • Fans: 12
View Profile | Follow | Add to Favorites
Single page
Font Size
Read comments (20)
More topics
Cocaine Addiction  |  Buprenorphine  |  Then  |  Ganja  |  Study  |  Marijuana

A Study Recently Published in the UK Finds that Certain Illegal Drugs Are Less Dangerous to Society Then Some Other Legal Drugs

A new study of recreational drug use out of the UK has reached some startling conclusions. The study headed up by professor David Nutt of Britain's Bristol University and his colleagues have proposed a new framework for classifying recreational drugs and harmful substances. Within this
 new framework alcohol and tobacco were listed higher on the danger scale then other more notorious drugs like: LSD, Ecstasy and Cannabis (more commonly referred to as marijuana). Here is the list of the twenty harmful substances with the number one spot and title of most harmful drug going to Heroin.

1. HEROIN

2. COCAINE

3. BARBITURATES

4. STREET METHADONE

5. ALCOHOL

6. KETAMINE

7. BENZODIAZEPINES

8. AMPHETAMINE

9. TOBACCO

10. BUPRENORPHINE

11. CANNABIS (MARIJUANA, WEED, GANJA, REEFER ETC)

12. SOLVENTS

13. 4-MTA

14. LSD

15. METHYLPHENIDATE

16. ANABOLIC STEROIDS

17. GHB

18. ECSTASY

19. ALKYL NITRATES

20. KHAT

The study compiled this list by examining three key factors regarding the substances: The physical harm done to the user, the drugs potential for addiction, and its impact on society as a whole. The researchers then asked numerous experts in: Law enforcement, psychologists (specializing in addiction), and legal officials to assign scores to twenty different drugs. Nutt and his colleagues then calculated the drugs overall ranking. The end result was the above list, which needless to say has caused a serious uproar as it is in direct conflict with the current UK and US perceptions of specific drugs and the legality of specific substances. "The current drug system is ill thought out and arbitrary." said Nutt. Nutt and his colleagues hope that the conclusions of the study will prompt greater debate about how drugs should be regulated.

Page: 1 2 Next »
 Print   Save Read comments (20)   Next piece
Related Video
   
RelatedRecommendedFeaturedMore By This Source
Illegal Drugs, Sports and Protecting Our Children
Protecting our kids from using illegal drugs is still critically essential to our entire well-being and survival. Drugs and Sports can be dangerous combinations, so prevention is really better than cure. Love kids and protect them from this evil.
By MichaelTaylor  |  Published 9/22/2006  |  Read more »
High on Health
I am a leukemia survivor who did two years of chemotherapy as a medical marijuana practitioner. I'm not looking to argue, just to share my experience in hopes that people might pause a moment to reconsider their stance, maybe even change their mind.
By MJ Campbell  |  Published 11/7/2005  |  Read more »
Marijuana: Taming the Beast
In the late 19th century, hemp was banned from the United States, leaving us with costly alternatives in industry, and leaving marijuana to settle in the soils, unregulated in the black market.
By Valerie Desilets  |  Published 10/25/2005  |  Read more »
High court rules against medical marijuana
The Supreme Court rules against states on medicinal Marijuana. Now that this ruling ends future litigation of the issue, Marijuana advocacy groups need to wake-up and really start fighting the War on Drugs. This article explains what groups should do.
By Jason DeLeon  |  Published 7/12/2005  |  Read more »
Heavy Marijuana Smokers Face Numerous Health Risks
The issue of legalizing marijuana will be passionately debated for a long time to come. However, from a medical perspective, the problems arising from consistent use of marijuana are considerable.
By Robert Besser  |  Published 2/10/2006  |  Read more »
Understanding Legal Definitions and Doctrines: What is Constitutional Law?
Even though we live and benefit from laws everyday of our lives, often we do not think about the sources of the legal material that affects us. With that in mind, there is much that we can gain from understanding what is derived from Constitutional Law.
By John Galt  |  Published 2/7/2008  |  Read more »
Related information
ResourcesTakeaways
 
Comments 1 - 10 of 20 Next >>
Comments
Type in Your Comments Below

While I agree with others that cannabis and some other drugs should be legalized, I oppose having LSD legalized. Some of you are looking at it only from the perspective of someone voluntarily taking the drug, or of toxicity. With LSD and some other drugs, there is an additional danger: That someone will slip the drug into someone else's drink. In the case of LSD, that would automatically result in a "bad trip" because the person would not know that he's on a drug. Having been subjected to that, I believe that LSD would (if commonly available) be used to make a person defenseless so that other crimes could be committed (e.g., rape or murder). I know of a girl named Dixie who was slipped LSD and later gang raped.
Add a Comment

Posted on 05/23/2009 at 2:05:05 PM

Guy below is right, and LSDlou stfu people take 15 hits and are fine physiclly, but possible mental problems. ONLY ONE GUY died from injecting like 1000 hits of lsd into himself, he did that on purpose.
Add a Comment

Posted on 02/08/2009 at 10:02:50 PM

@ annika: Ecstasy would not be cut with Heroin or Cocaine since those drugs are generally MORE expensive and of value than Ecstasy, usually Ecstasy is cut with Caffeine, Speed, 2c-b/i/e/t-7, and Meth (and Occasionally Ketamine/Procaine), Cannabis is probably 11th due to lung problems and coordination/intoxicated driving problems. but i definitely agree it should be legalized. i don't get how Cocaine is 2nd though, it's bad but not THAT bad. Meth/Amphetamines are worse. LSD and Psilocybin Mushrooms is to little cautious of legalizing that due to Bad trips, Psychotic Episodes, and permanent Mental illness (can make you paranoid, schizophrenic etc..) ALSO GHB is date rape ONLY when mixed with alcohol and/or used in high amounts to put you in a temporary coma. GHB is naturally occurring substance in your body's cells.
Add a Comment

Posted on 01/30/2009 at 7:01:02 PM

Your name you are the misinformed one. You obviously don't know your facts, LSD in any dosage will not kill you. Look it up on erowid.com, the only place you should trust for your drug information. Also, please don't just insult people it makes you look stupid.
Add a Comment

Posted on 12/26/2008 at 3:12:02 PM

To annika you obviously have no idea about the chemistry or effects of LSD the worst possible thing that can happen is tha an individual recieves bunk lsd there is no way to buy acid that is rat poison or speed. In fact LSD is so safe that anyone no matter brain chemistry, height or body weight can take it as long as they do not ingest 12,000 ug (micrograms) or 12 miligrams of the substance. the only prson to ever die on LSD shot 320,000 ug or 32 miligrams which is an absurd amount. And a little fact aboout hallucinogens, YOU TRIPP ON DMT EVERY NIGHT! dreams are a psychadelic tripp from your brain naturally producing DMT a drug way more powerful than LSD hope this helps. :)
Add a Comment

Posted on 10/19/2008 at 3:10:33 PM

Cannabis is legal here, and we're all doing fine. Most people that screw up with the drug, are tourists who come here to try it, and don't know how to cope. Since soft drugs are sort of legal, I have the feeling that a lot of harmfull products have been removed. LIke Eddie Izzard said, the Dutch smoke Marijuana, and still speak over 2 languages! Anyhow, I believe that drugs should be legalized, but that there must be certain changes in the drugs as well. Like, remove harmful chemicals and only sell them at certain places. Coffeeshops here are getting stricter nowadays (which I am happy to witness, since underage drug abuse isn't a good idea), and that the government is trying to prevent young people to buy the drugs. And yes, I belivee Alcohol is one of the hard drugs, and I am shocked to see that while the drinking age is 16 here, kids are starting to drink from age 12 and even lower sometimes... It's a difficult situation, but making these things illegal only causes more pro
Add a Comment

Posted on 05/28/2008 at 2:05:13 PM

kevin, i can see what your saying but no way is cocaine not an addictive drug, it is chemically very similar to nicotine and heroin, both of which are very addictive drugs.
Add a Comment

Posted on 04/26/2008 at 8:04:52 AM

kevin your an idiot.
Add a Comment

Posted on 04/05/2008 at 4:04:06 PM

even been able to establish an LD50 for Cannabis. And boy have they tried- force feeding rats pure Cannabis extract, but they just wouldn't die- until finally their stomachs exploded. They estimated the LD50 to be more than your body weight worth of Cannabis- translation: it is impossible to die from Cannabis use. Cannabis has been safely used for thousands of years and in all of recorded history not a single death is accredited to Cannabis use in and of itself. It shouldn't even be in the rankings. It does not have a negative effect on society, except for the fact that so many good people's lives are ruined due to it's illegality. It is only harmful if you make it harmful. Also, Solvents should be ranked near the top- talk about physical harm.
Add a Comment

Posted on 04/02/2008 at 10:04:00 PM

Interesting study. There are some improvements over the current legal classifications which are ridiculous. For example, in the US, Cannabis is a schedule 1 substance, while Cocaine and Methamphetamine are schedule 2. However, I am perplexed with a lot of these drug "rankings". I agree that Heroin is probably number one, but Cocaine number 2? In my opinion, if you want to talk about stimulants, the amphetamines (including Ecstacy) are far more dangerous than Cocaine. Amphetamines cause a massive release of dopamine, even more so then Cocaine and over time cause damage to your brain, rendering your brain unable to produce a sufficient amount of dopamine without the drug. Also, it is far easier to overdose on Methamphetamine than Cocaine. Cocaine, while somewhat harmful, is not physically addicting, and in small amounts is practically harmless. The ranking of twelve for Cannabis is laughable. Cannabis has never been proven to cause physical harm of any kind, hell they haven't
Add a Comment

Posted on 04/02/2008 at 10:04:14 PM

Comments 1 - 10 of 20 Next >>

Have more to say?
Become a Source on AC