this post was submitted on 18 Mar 2026
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Ive been thinking of going caffeine and alcohol free for a while. Alcohol wouldnt be an issue but I really love coffee.

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[–] Dasus@lemmy.world 0 points 17 hours ago (2 children)

Coffee has never been proven harmful

Really?

You're in a stimulant psychosis, probably. That or you just said that while knowing you've never actually even looked that claim up, while reading all the "caffeine is necessary for your brain" research funded by companies like Coca-Cola.

There's a reason there's a huge warning on energy drinks to only have a maximum of three a day. Less so for pregnant women. (Because of the caffeine content, which is in similar levels as coffee.)

Caffeine and cannabis are similarly low-risk drugs, but there are some important differences.

“In wise hands poison is medicine. In foolish hands medicine is poison.” – Casanova

Long-term caffeine use kills between 1,000 to 10,000 people every year in the US, from “stress, ulcers and triggering irregular heartbeats,” according to the US Bureau of Mortality Statistics.

Cannabis overuse deaths are, again, zero, according to the same source

Conclusion

To conclude, caffeine is clearly more risky, more dangerous, more deadly, more harmful and more costly than cannabis in every category – overdose deaths, overuse deaths, withdrawal symptoms and acute toxicity.

The only area where cannabis provides the greater risk is in regards to the impairment levels of novice users.

Regulations that treat cannabis as far more dangerous than caffeine don’t reflect reality, and should be challenged by drug peace activists. Society should treat each drug according to the risks that drug provides, rather than making rules based on ignorant myths and racist, outdated traditions.

How about

Caffeine Linked to Hallucinations

Hard-core coffee and tea drinkers tend to see and hear things that aren't there

https://www.science.org/content/article/caffeine-linked-hallucinations

It's quite well documented as well

According to a study published this week in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, "high caffeine users"* are three times more likely to experience auditory hallucinations—hearing voices when no has actually spoken—than people who consume little or no caffeine.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/caffeine-linked-to-hallucinations-51161154/

And obviously we know a hard upper limit for caffeine, after which people fucking die. No such thing for cannabis.

Caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive compound worldwide. It is mostly found in coffee, tea, energizing drinks and in some drugs. However, it has become really easy to obtain pure caffeine (powder or tablets) on the Internet markets. Mechanisms of action are dose-dependent. Serious toxicities such as seizure and cardiac arrhythmias, seen with caffeine plasma concentrations of 15 mg/L or higher, have caused poisoning or, rarely, death; otherwise concentrations of 3–6 mg/kg are considered safe. Caffeine concentrations of 80–100 mg/L are considered lethal.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5986491/

I don't do any other drugs.

Obviously, because you've drank the koolaid of drug propaganda.

[–] RBWells@lemmy.world 1 points 14 hours ago (1 children)
[–] Dasus@lemmy.world 1 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Honestly, this is like listening to some old smelly smoker puffing unfiltered rollups tell me how unhealthy vaping is.

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2009/02/coca-cola

I don't care about your addictions, you're welcome to have them. But to pretend it isn't an addiction and is actually healthy for you is more ridiculous than those "you can't get addicted to weed" bros.

Not to mention that caffeine is a more risky and harmful drug than cannabis, except for when it comes to first-time inebriation, where cannabis slightly takes the lead.

70% of daily users get physical withdrawal if they skip their daily fix.

Physical. Withdrawal.

Caffeine makes you much more likely to hear auditory hallucinations. We had one coworker at a phone dispatch, who yelled loud af and always banged her keyboard constantly, some sort of neurosis. She was literally banned from doing orders that the govt paid for because of her massive error rate, because she was always so amped on caffeine as to be half-blind. No-one drunk the shit she made. It was like tar. And she had like a dozen cups during the working day.

"Healthy" yeah sure.

If your daily caffeine fix is not an addiction and just for your health, would you believe my daily wake&bake is also just for health reasons and carries absolutely zero risk?

[–] RBWells@lemmy.world 1 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

I didn't say I am not addicted. Physical addiction, sure, because I get the headache when quitting. But as a drug I like it and it's been an overall benefit to my life and health. Fewer migraines with daily coffee than without. Meaning even after a couple of years off it, increased incidence of migraine if I abstain from all caffeine. Reduced incidence if I use it daily.

My ex wrecked his teeth smoking pot, so I do not think smoking anything is good for you. But no I wouldn't judge, whatever works for you. And no I don't think cannabis is bad, certainly ought not be illegal I just hate the effect. Blah feeling, irritated not high just feel tired and slow.

[–] Dasus@lemmy.world 1 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago)

Physical addiction, sure

Except that's an oxymoron. You mean dependency. That's a physical thing. Addiction is a brain disorder. They're actually medically two different things. Like a psychiatrist and a psychologist. Sometimes a thing can be both at the same time, but those two are distinct medical things.

But as a drug I like it

Yeah see that's the addiction speaking.

an overall benefit to my life and health.

Luckily I've never heard this from people who shoot up amphetamines and go to work (driving a HGV) and think their boss can't see they're high as balls. Oh wait, yes I have.

so I do not think smoking anything is good for you.

And who would argue otherwise? Cannabis can be used without staining one's teeth, unlike coffee. Just eat it.

We're not doing a comparison between coffee and cannabis, because this thread didn't start with me saying "cannabis has never been proven harmful", because I know that's not true. You however you said is "coffee has never proven to be harmful". Yes it has. Very clearly and obviously and there's tons of data on it.

[–] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 2 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago) (1 children)

Ok, that was unnecessary. We could go on rant about excess anything, like oxygen or water, also potentially causing harm or even death. People drinking beverages designed to have excess caffeine and other stimulants are not comparable to what would be considered normal consumption. FWIW I think energy drinks suck, they absolutely can cause harm.

Having a couple cups of coffee a day, as long as you don’t have any deleterious effects, has been associated with health benefits. Leave it at that.

[–] Dasus@lemmy.world 0 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Leave it at that.

"I want to be ignorant of any possible downsides in my addiction! >:( I don't want to hear 'science' about it, I listen to my feelings."

Especially when

FWIW I think energy drinks suck, they absolutely can cause harm.

That's like someone dissing vaping while reeking of old tobacco. Rofl.

We could go on rant about excess anything, like oxygen or water,

"Sola dosis facit venenum" pffft. No, we really can't in the same way. Water isn't toxic in any amounts. Dehydration through hyponatremia is a thing called water toxicity, but it's not aptly named, as you need distilled water and can't have any salt, otherwise the water won't be "toxic". Also, you can breathe 100% oxygen and be completely fine.

Caffeine LD50 values are honestly rather low. Not as low as alcohol, but still, pretty low. And the amount it takes for harmful effects to show up is literally on the same level as an average to high daily caffeine user.

So no, your substance use isn't the same as drinking water and breathing. All substance use has inherent risks, no matter how small. Yes, even caffeine and cannabis. What is ridiculous to me is that the same folk who literally can't manage without a daily dose of their chosen substance without physical withdrawal (>70% caffeine users get headaches if they stop) and think there's no harm in it, are the same people who think cannabis causes psychosis.

Stimulant psychosis is much more likely. Just like is psychosis brought on by alcohol.

excess caffeine and other stimulants are not comparable to what would be considered normal consumption

Ignorant. Just so ignorant.

Like any addict you're rationalising your addiction. But unlike many addicts, you're at the same time also judging others for the same addiction you have and making up "facts" you feel are right.

Regular, excessive coffee consumption (typically >4 cups/day or >400-600mg caffeine) can cause negative effects including, insomnia, jitters, anxiety, and heart palpitations. It may cause digestive distress (acid reflux, diarrhea), increased blood pressure, addiction, and potential bone density issues. Regular use often leads to tolerance, requiring more coffee to achieve the same effect

https://www.medparkhospital.com/en-US/lifestyles/coffee#d

[–] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 1 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

You’ve got too much free time on your hands.

[–] Dasus@lemmy.world 1 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Why is it always "lol do you think I'm reading all that" or an equivalent reply where you're trying to mock a user on a forum for.... using the forum.

And it's never to do with the length (writing that took less time than smoking a cigarette, which I used to do years ago), but the content. You're a bit ashamed that your take is so objectively biased due to your addiction.

"Coffee! Aaah, black as night and sweet as hell mmmm. Great, healthy, amazing!"

"A carbonated sugar-free drink with less caffeine? Poison!"

[–] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 0 points 15 hours ago

I don’t need to reply to a WoT that completely ignored the substance and intent of my reply. You’re wasting our time. I don’t see any reason to reply when you’re making up everything you think I would say, with a massive sprinkling of hyperbole, just fine on your own. You don’t need me to join the conversation you’re having in your head.