Homeopathy kills more people than Marijuana.

The statement contained in the title of this entry, "Homeopathy kills more people than Marijuana.", is one of my favourite responses to someone who would both endorse the use of homeopathic products and condemn the use of marijuana products simultaneously.  It's not hard to imagine someone who quite likely thinks in terms of 'bio energy' and 'toxins' to be horrified at the idea of inhaling a mood altering chemical.


The only thing is, marijuana is quite possibly one of the safest drugs you can get.  Paracetamol, a common headache medicine that usually comes in 500mg tablets, can cause toxic effects in the body at doses as low as ten grams (twenty tablets) in a day, or even five grams a day over the course of a few days.  Ibuprofen is also dangerous in the ten grams and up range, Aspirin is likewise toxic in the ten gram range over a number of days.  All these pills are available over the counter and kill thousands of people every year due to overdose and toxicity.  There has never been a recorded death from overdose of marijuana, and although it may be implicit in deaths due to motor accident (by way of reduced reaction times and reduced capability for decision making), the number of deaths in this manner is low.

In contrast, homeopathy is directly responsible for the deaths and injury of hundreds.  In addition to those cases where homeopaths urge people with medical conditions to discontinue their treatments and medication in favour of homeopathic remedies and other 'alternative' solutions, the 'natural' and side effect free promise of homeopathy lures untold thousands more away from conventional medicine.  In some cases (as homeopaths are quick to point out), conventional medicine might do more harm than good, but someone converted to homeopathy out of fear of side effects isn't going to be easily persuaded when there's a need for real treatment.  And if the 'big pharma' really are conning people into treatments and medications which they don't need, we should address that issue, and do something about it, rather than trying to con people into our treatments and medications that they don't need and which don't work.

The sad truth of the matter is that homeopathy is bunk.  It doesn't work, it's water that does nothing but make you feel good.  Nice as it would be to have a 'gentler system of medicine with no side effects' that strengthens your immune system, avoids surgery, is low cost and treats the cause rather than the symptom, it just doesn't exist.  It really is too good to be true.  Anyone who uses a homeopathic Accident & Emergency kit in a real-life emergency situation where something conventional (like antibiotics) could have saved a life has killed someone.  Simple as that.  Giving water to a dying person who needs antibiotics or bandages or a transfusion or something to unclog their airways - is murder.


Not to forget about marijuana, though.  Sure, it might increase your chances of doing something stupid (less so than alcohol, but still) or make you say something embarrassing, but at least it's not being offered as an alternative to heart surgery or chemotherapy.  At least it actually does have pain relieving qualities and actual medicinal effects.  And don't forget that if it was legal, there'd be a lot more regulation and information going on.  Rather than 'safety through ignorance', it'd become 'safety through education' - which is really a better thing all around.


Finally, I have this to say:
Homeopathy kills more people than marijuana.  And I challenge anyone to convince me otherwise.