Statistics show that about 27% of Canadians smoke weed. In other reports, up to 60% gamble. Clearly, online sports betting and casino gaming are much more common compared to smoking weed. The primary reason is that there are many top-notch sites in Canada where players can access exciting slots and table titles, especially casino games Slots City https://slotscity.com/game-hall.
There’s a massive debate about which carries more risk: smoking weed or gambling. From our research, the former is more dangerous, and we’ll explain why in this post. Read on to learn more.
What are the dangers for Canadians who smoke weed? Well, there’s quite a number, ranging from physical health risks to psychological dependence. Check them out below:
Smoking generally affects the lungs in the long run. Tobacco is more known to have this effect, but it also applies to weed. So, for weed smokers in Canada, there’s the risk of lung irritation, which can develop into chronic cough and bronchitis, ultimately leading to breathing problems.
Next, there’s tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound in weed. This chemical is highly potent and can affect the brain, resulting in memory, learning, and concentration problems. Young Canadians are more prone to this risk, that’s why underage smoking is illegal.
Similarly, smoking weed regularly can further impact the brain and cause mental health issues. According to reports, anxiety, psychosis, and schizophrenia are common among heavy weed smokers, not only in Canada but worldwide.
While not fully confirmed, some studies warn of a potential link between smoking weed and an increase in heart issues. However, what’s undebatable is that weed smoking is super addictive, and quitting is challenging due to the many withdrawal symptoms.
When it comes to online sports betting and casino gaming, there are also some negative effects for Canadians. Check them out below:
Notably, everything boils down to addiction. When players find it difficult to control their betting, they tend to chase losses. If they don’t win a spin of a slot machine or a blackjack hand, they want to bet more to recover the money. Unfortunately, that only leads to more losses and financial drain in the long run.
Furthermore, most people always keep their gambling a secret — especially if they have an addiction. This can affect the trust of their loved ones when they find out. Arguments and quarrels can result in a complete breakdown of the relationship.
With all the above risks, it’s natural that some gamblers end up feeling shame and depression. As a result, gambling can have a toll on mental well-being, which affects the overall quality of life.
Now, why do we debate that weed smoking is more dangerous than gambling? A comparison between the risks will suffice. Whether placing sports bets or gambling on slot machines at online casinos, there’s less danger compared to smoking marijuana and cannabis.
First, according to research, dependence on weed occurs much faster than gambling. This is primarily due to the high potency of THC mentioned earlier. For players in Canada who gamble on casino slot machines or bet on sports, it’ll take a much more extended period to develop addiction.
Furthermore, smoking is usually an isolated activity. Dangers like lung and brain damage are sometimes permanent. On the other hand, gambling is natively social, and the risks are reversible with support and financial counselling. Notably, gambling sites have resources to help bettors and players stay in control. For instance, if you play casino games Slots City in Canada, you’ll find responsible gaming tools to keep your betting in check.
Smoking weed and gambling both have addiction risks. However, from analysis, there are more dangers to smoking weed. The bottom line is that the adverse effects of gambling can be mitigated, while that of smoking is usually long-lasting.