Swapping one addictive, mind-altering substance for another isn’t harm reduction—it’s exploitation.
THC in liquid form shouldn’t be sold as filling a niche for those wanting to quit alcohol (“Your Health: Drinks With Weed Gain Popularity,” Personal Journal, May 5). THC drinks are the latest scheme to rebrand intoxication and keep vulnerable people trapped in a cycle of profit-driven dependency. Swapping one addictive, mind-altering substance for another isn’t harm reduction; it is exploitation and a tried-and-true marketing tactic of the addiction-for-profit industry.
Setting aside the known health risks, unintentional edible-related THC ingestion in children under 12 surged between 2017 and 2023, largely driven by edibles that look like candy. With THC-infused drinks packaged like soda, we don’t have to guess what comes next.
Trading alcohol for weed isn’t healing. This is about shifting addicted drinkers to THC to maintain and grow dependence-driven profits.