{"id":11559,"date":"2025-07-17T23:22:31","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T21:22:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mylasertabac.com\/why-do-the-french-consider-cannabis-less-dangerous-than-alcohol-and-tobacco\/"},"modified":"2025-07-18T00:07:29","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T22:07:29","slug":"why-do-the-french-consider-cannabis-less-dangerous-than-alcohol-and-tobacco","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mylasertabac.com\/en\/why-do-the-french-consider-cannabis-less-dangerous-than-alcohol-and-tobacco\/","title":{"rendered":"Why do the French consider cannabis “less dangerous” than alcohol and tobacco?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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At first glance, this perception seems logical: cannabis<\/strong> is less frightening than cigarettes<\/strong>,alcohol<\/strong> or industrial tobacco<\/strong>. Yet cannabisuse<\/strong> remains a psychoactive drug<\/strong> that interferes with health<\/strong>, the brain<\/strong>, the risk of<\/strong> dependence<\/strong>, and with substances<\/strong> like banned cocaine<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n

A recent study<\/strong> carried out in France<\/strong>, relayed byOFDT<\/strong>, reveals that over 60% of French people<\/strong> consider cannabis<\/strong>to be “less dangerous” than tobacco<\/strong> andalcohol<\/strong>, with worrying results<\/strong> among the population<\/strong> as a whole, particularly among young people<\/strong> and teenagers<\/strong>. Yet the risks<\/strong> associated with cannabis<\/strong>, even if perceived as lesser, are very much present: addictions<\/strong>, psychotic effects<\/strong>, mental health<\/strong> disorders<\/strong>, disruptions to care<\/strong>, and alterations to cognitive and physical work<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

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\ud83c\udf43 Perceived but real danger<\/h2>\n\n
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This experimentation<\/strong>, often initiated early inadolescence<\/strong>, is facilitated by an image as a “soft substance”. Smoking<\/strong> cannabis, sometimes mixed with tobacco<\/strong>, exposes the user to respiratory risks<\/strong>, mental disorders and even addiction<\/strong>. Prolongeduse<\/strong> affects the brain<\/strong>, with impaired memory and attention, and sometimes the onset of psychotic disorders<\/strong>. Psychoactive substances<\/strong> really work. <\/p>\n\n

OFDT stresses that behind the “less dangerous” belief lies a lack ofinformation<\/strong> and an underestimation of the risks<\/strong> that have been scientifically demonstrated. Tobacco<\/strong> remains the main addictive substance<\/strong>, responsible for cancers and mortality.Alcohol<\/strong>, for its part, is the substance<\/strong> that causes the most dependence<\/strong> and social problems<\/strong>: pathologies, accidents, implications for work<\/strong>, violence. But cannabis<\/strong> is no exception to the rule. <\/p>\n\n

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\ud83d\udca1 Commonplace factors<\/h3>\n\n
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  1. Comparison<\/strong> with legality: tobacco<\/strong> andalcohol<\/strong> are widely accepted legal products, which makes cannabis commonplace.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Alternative marketing<\/strong>: cannabis is often seen as an “organic”, “more natural” product, overlooking its effects<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Lack of perceived control<\/strong>: cannabisuse<\/strong> among teenagers<\/strong> remains marginally monitored, fostering the mistaken belief that cannabis use<\/strong> is without consequence.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Lack of<\/strong> targeted prevention<\/strong>: campaigns focus on tobacco<\/strong> andalcohol<\/strong>, leaving cannabis<\/strong> in the shadows, with no real education on the risks<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n
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    \ud83d\udcca Worrisome health results<\/h3>\n\n
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    Surveys show that regular cannabis use<\/strong> increases the risk of<\/strong> psychiatric disorders, especially whenuse<\/strong> begins early. Inadolescence<\/strong>, the fragility of the brain<\/strong> makes young people more vulnerable. Cannabisaddiction<\/strong> affects around 9% of regular users – a rate comparable toalcohol<\/strong>, but well below that of tobacco<\/strong> (over 20%). This underscores the need to take every psychoactive substance<\/strong> into account in prevention<\/strong> and support programs. <\/p>\n\n

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    Read also: If you’d like to start your own wellness business, we offer training courses in anti-smoking and addiction lasers.<\/mark><\/a><\/p>\n\n

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    \u2705 What the OFDT study reveals<\/h2>\n\n

    The OFDTstudy<\/strong> and EROPP data show that more French people<\/strong>, especially young people<\/strong>, consider cannabis<\/strong> to be “less dangerous”. But this biased judgment is based on a lack of awareness of the associated risks<\/strong>: mental disorders<\/strong>, dependence<\/strong>, negative effects on work<\/strong>, possible progression to other drugs<\/strong> such as cocaine<\/strong>, or even lung damage. <\/p>\n\n

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    \u270a Why take action today?<\/h2>\n\n
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    Because every psychoactive substance<\/strong> has effects<\/strong> on health<\/strong>, the brain<\/strong> and quality of life. Because the drift towards regular use transforms experimentation<\/strong> into dependence. Because early cessation of a dangerous substance can prevent long-term use<\/strong> and health<\/strong> problems, and protect young people<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n

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    \ud83c\udf1f Our proposal for successful weaning …<\/h3>\n\n
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    Today, we have numerous anti-smoking and addiction laser centers throughout France<\/strong>, treating various addictions such as sugar, cannabis, alcohol and tobacco. We apply the same rigor and expertise to helping people tempted by cannabis<\/a><\/strong>. Thanks to a natural<\/strong>, gentle and drug-free withdrawal<\/strong> method: <\/p>\n\n