Pros and Cons of Alcohol vs. Marijuana

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Alcohol and marijuana usage is a common occurrence in many homes across the United States. People stock up on beer and “spirits” after a long week of work. As cannabinoids are legalized in states across the country, people are partaking in a variety of CBD products.

The usage of both alcohol and marijuana both have their pros and cons. There are many factors that cause people to lean towards one or the other. Today we’ll focus on some of the pros and cons of alcohol vs. marijuana.

Marijuana businesses are sprouting up across the world.

Though CBD products aren’t legal in all parts of the United States, it seems to be moving in that direction. Many states have made recreational and medical usage of marijuana, which includes the element of CBD, legal. These include places like Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, and the District of Columbia. As restrictions for marijuana and CBD usage disappear in many places across the United States, a host of CBD-focused businesses are sprouting up. In 2025 it's expected that the marijuana business industry will reach $82.9 billion in profit.

Many entrepreneurs are testing the full spectrum of what CBD products they can offer, now that restrictions are being lifted on marijuana. Studying the potency of CBD products, researching the flavor of different CBD products, and finding the highest grade products are all things that a CBD business owner will have to tackle.

Businesses such as NuLeaf CBD oil won’t have to spend their time worrying about the legal ramifications of running such a company. Since many states have allowed the usage and selling of marijuana-based products like CBD oil which NuLeaf offers, their main focus can now be on making a profit. The continued rise of marijuana businesses across the world is a pro for CBD products in the alcohol vs. marijuana discussion.

Alcohol is legal across the entire United States.

One of the many pros of the alcohol vs. marijuana debate is that alcohol is legal in all 50 states across the U.S. There was a time during the Prohibition period (1920-1933) where the sale or purchase of alcohol was illegal. Those times are far behind us now, as many people drink whatever alcohol is sold at local marketplaces such as American IPA.

The liquid comes in many forms, which creates a wide palette of selections for people to choose from. These include beer, brandy, gin, rum, vodka, and tequila. Through sustainable farming practices, and advanced fermenting methods, alcohol products like beer are processed for the enjoyment of many people to imbibe.

Alcohol is consumed in a variety of different settings. Some people break out a 12 pack of beer at football-watching parties. Couples enjoy a nice sip of wine as they wind down their evenings. Others consume brandy to celebrate a successful event, such as a recent retirement. Alcohol usage in moderation isn’t frowned down on, and many consume the liquid in moderation.

There are other circumstances where drinking alcohol is not legal, one example including during the operation of an automobile. As long as alcohol consumption is done in moderation, then state laws don’t make the practice illegal. Alcohol consumption is legal across the United States is a pro in the alcohol vs. marijuana debate.

Both alcohol and marijuana leave an aroma.

One common con between alcohol and marijuana use is they both leave a scent after being consumed. For instance, beer can leave a person's breath smelling like a drink. In other extreme cases, if a person consumes too much beer, then the smell will literally leak from their pores. Alcohol like beer contains ethanol which can stay on drinkers' breath for as long as 12 hours. In the case of marijuana once inhaled and exhaled the smell acts the same way that cigarette smoke does. The aroma can leak into your hair, your clothes, your furniture, or any other place which absorbs smoke.

The good thing is that in the case of legalized marijuana or other CBD-based products, you can consume or experience such items in different forms. This can include CBD oil, CBD-based capsules, CBD softgel capsules, and CBD gummies. Make sure to remember that the aroma which both alcohol and marijuana produces can be a common con.

PH, Japan sign 2nd tranche of loan package for Metro Manila Subway Project

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The country’s first underground railway was brought closer to reality yesterday, 27 July 2021, with the formal signing of an additional JPY253-billion (P116-billion) loan package to finance its construction.

The exchange of notes for the official development assistance (ODA) loan was signed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. and Japan Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko.

The second tranche of the project’s ODA loan has an interest rate of 0.10% per annum, is 40 years to pay, and has a 13-year grace period. This follows the first tranche (JPY104.530 billion) of the ODA loan for the subway project, the formal agreement for which was signed on 13 November 2017.

“The Metro Manila Subway will be a shining monument, better yet a state of the art working system attesting to the deep friendship between the Philippines and Japan. Japan holds a pre-eminent role in our government’s infrastructure development agenda, which is a priority of President Duterte’s administration,” Secretary Locsin said.

“I also laud the hard work put in by various Philippine agencies – the Department of Finance, the National Economic and Development Authority, the Department of Transportation, and Secretary Art Tugade (in my long experience the best, most achievement-laden Cabinet Secretary I’ve ever known) – which ensured the realization of this project,” Sec. Locsin added.

“This year marks the 65th Anniversary of the normalization of Diplomatic Relations and 10th Anniversary of Strategic Partnership between Japan and the Philippines. This signing will deepen and strengthen the cooperation and partnership of both countries, and I am happy to sign this Exchange of Notes today,” Ambassador Koshikawa said.

A Build Build Build flagship infrastructure project of the Duterte Administration, the 33-kilometer Metro Manila Subway Project will have 17 stations and aims to cut travel time from North Avenue in Quezon City to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from 1 hour and 10 minutes to just 35 minutes. It will traverse the cities of Valenzuela, Quezon City, Pasig, Makati, Taguig, Parañaque and Pasay. The line will have an initial capacity of up to 1 million passengers per day.

With the project’s financing in place, the construction of the subway line’s first segment is already ongoing with two (2) out of 25 tunnel boring machines already in Manila. Meanwhile, the line’s trains are also ongoing manufacturing, and with all contracts to be awarded before the end of the term of President Rodrigo Duterte.

PWD Student from Occidental Mindoro

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For a 19-year old child from Occidental Mindoro, with or without disabilities, one should not stop in achieving a dream. He may have taken a break for a while but taking the route to success remains his goal. For him, no gender, social status, age and, most of all, disability, is an excuse in pursuing a better life.

Laurence Bernardo, or Inan to his friends, lives in Sitio Kinarasyawan, Barangay Malpalon, Calintaan, Occidental Mindoro. Their family became a beneficiary of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in 2011. His father, Willian works as a part-time construction worker while her mother looks after him. William takes home Php 200.00 to Php 350.00 every day which should suffice to the daily needs and medications of Inan. His brother Freddie also helped with their family expenses.

Inan was born with a Congenital Genu Recurvatum or backward-bending knee. A rare condition where the knee grows backward resulting in a quadruped-like way of walking. “Kaya po ‘yan putik-putik lagi pag-uwi kasi sumasayad ang uniporme. E kaya ‘yung dalawang uniform n’ya, nilalabhan agad. Sya mismo naglalaba”, said Laura.

Inan was once featured in a TV documentary program in 2016. The 14-year old Inan, at that time, told that some kids in their community call him dog, carabao, cow, and monkey. While some went beyond calling him names. “Minsan may nakaaway s’ya, pinagsabihan ko na bakit naman inihian pa si Laurence sa likod. Sinisipa”, said Laura when asked about how other kids treat Inan. Laura also shared about how dogs chase and bark at him. “‘Yung aso kasing dinadaanan niya pagpumupunta s’ya sakin sa bukid, akala sa kanya aso din s’ya. Kaya tinatahulan, hinahabol pa kung minsan”.

Keeping on track

After Inan was featured in a TV documentary, financial assistance and support from different organizations and private individuals were received by his family. The call for assistance initiated by their school principal Efraim Tejada, also contributed to the medical operation of Inan. The Mabuhay Shiner Foundation responded to the call and sponsored the 4.5 million-worth operation of Inan. The Local Government Unit (LGU) Calintaan, through the Municipal Social Welfare Development Office (MSWDO), provided him with transportation to ensure that Inan’s family will no longer have to worry about travelling to and from the hospital. After months of preparation and with the collective support from different organizations, in 2018, Inan underwent the medical operation. This will enable him to walk just like other kids.

While recovering, Inan has to stay in the hospital. This made him worry about school. Instead of dropping out, through the Pantawid Education Focal in his school, Inan was able to catch up with his lessons. “Hindi po ako tumigil nung nasa hospital po ako. Pagdating po doon, binigyan po ako ng module para po masagutan ko po mga pinag-aralan nila [his classmates]. Para po ito makahabol ako. Binibigyan din po ako ng test.”

However, months after the operation, even with a heavy heart, Inan has to stop school and focus on his recovery. Because of this, he was also tagged as Not Attending School (NAS) from 2018 to 2019. But Inan’s mother Laura was concerned about how Inan worried too much about school instead of focusing on his recovery. “Matapang po si Inan. Hinarap po nya ang operasyon at desidido po syang gumaling upang makabalik uli s’ya sa paaralan. Ng nasa normal na syang kalagayan.”

Walking ‘extra’

According to Inan, with his condition, it is hard to keep up with his dream. There are days where he no longer sees school as a way to reach his goal of becoming a teacher. Not being able to attend school for a year also adds up in discouraging him to stop taking his route to success. But the ‘cheer’ from the people who believe in him was made louder. His parents and brother showed their support to Inan. “Pagkagaling nya sa opera ay nagplano po agad syang bumalik sa pag-aaral. Grabe ‘yung suporta ng magulang nya at kapatid kaya ibinili nila agad sya ng gamit sa paaralan. Kaya rin po siguro ang daming tumulong”,said Jonalyn D. Hitchon, Pantawid Pamilya Municipal Link.

A year after the operation, Inan went back to school as he believes that through education, a better future lies ahead of every Pantawid child – a future where opportunities are for all and poverty will no longer be inherited. “Tatapusin ko muna ang pag-aaral ko. Kasi pag sumuko ako, nag-asawa agad ako, kawawa magiging anak ko. Gagapang din sya sa hirap. Ayokong matulad siya sa akin. Mahirap. Sayang”.

With the support and encouragement from everyone, Inan was able to go back to school. He is also now getting himself used to walking and standing up through his feet without using his hands. “Minsan po nadadapa ako. Pero ano po ba ginagawa natin pag nadadapa, ‘di ba po tumatayo?”

For Inan, aside from his determination to finish school, he was able to move forward because he walked ‘extra’. The ‘extra’ is his real feet – the people who cheer and walk with him towards his goal. He believes that he is just a torch that carries inspiration to all and unites everyone. Inan proved that indeed reaching a goal is not just for those who can walk and run but also for those who dream.