Generally speaking, weed tends to come with fewer risks than alcohol, but there are a lot of factors to consider. Plus, they’re unique substances that produce different effects, which makes side-by-side comparisons difficult. A 2001 study in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence showed that when people drank the equivalent of two shots of alcohol and smoked marijuana, their THC levels were almost double that of individuals who hadn’t had any alcohol.
Luckily, this is easy to avoid by just knowing your limits and not overdoing it. powerless over alcohol examples If you’re going to use alcohol and cannabis together, we recommend starting low and going slow. Your tolerance can be affected by the potency of the alcohol and the cannabis used, so be mindful that not every mix may have the same effect. As much as possible, know what you’re drinking and which cannabis you’re using, and let this factor into how much you consume of both. CBD does not have the psychotropic effects of THC, so consuming it with alcohol does not include the risk that you will experience heightened levels of intoxication from the alcohol.
Alcohol And Marijuana
To date, research in this area has been constrained by a relatively low dose of cannabis administered relative to cannabis with much higher THC potency commonly in use today [46]. This increased potency has been implicated in worse behavioral outcomes including increased alcohol intoxication, yet has been largely left unstudied. This type of research is difficult to conduct, however, due to the classification of cannabis as a Schedule I substance that restricts researcher access to cannabis products [102]. Research suggests that co-use of alcohol and cannabis has synergistic effects over and above additive risk, as is evinced in the impaired driving literatures.
Both alcohol and marijuana slow reaction time, impair coordination and concentration, and reduce decision-making abilities — and the drugs cause greater impairment when used together. Alcohol and marijuana are both psychoactive substances, meaning they can change the way a person thinks and feels. Mixing the two can intensify these mind-altering effects, increase the risks of driving drinker nose drunk and make a person sick.
Individuals who are drinking alcohol and consuming edibles should carefully monitor what they consume. However, it is safer to avoid edibles entirely when drinking alcohol. Using alcohol and weed simultaneously also increases the chances of having unprotected sex with a partner, as well as other negative outcomes relating to legal issues, academia, and relationships. Research indicates that people who mix alcohol and cannabis are more likely than those who only drink alcohol to engage in sensation seeking behavior.
Getting drunk and stoned at the same time is sometimes referred to as getting crossfaded. But while most people drink and smoke pot at the same time to enhance their buzz, mixing the two drugs isn’t always a pleasant experience. Weed use before alcohol may slow down the rise in blood alcohol levels, which can reduce or delay the sensation of being drunk.
How to handle a bad reaction
However, this finding comes from older research, and some people have questioned this study. Not everyone reacts in the same way to weed, alcohol, or a combination of both, and many factors play a role in how a person will respond. However, it is helpful to understand the possible outcomes of mixing these drugs.
Drunk driving, self-harm: the other risks of mixing marijuana and alcohol
“Acute and residual effects of alcohol an[…]mood and performance.” Psychopharmacology (Berlin), July 1994. While awaiting medical attention, it is important to keep the person safe from harm. This includes preventing injury and providing reassurance and emotional support.
Clinical Research on Behavioral Performance Impairment from Co-use
Still, there’s some evidence to suggest that regularly combining alcohol and weed may have some concerning effects over time. One of the main active ingredients in marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC acts on cannabinoid receptors in the brain, which can lead to cognitive effects and impairments. There is a need for more rigorous and longitudinal research studies on the co-use of cannabis and alcohol to glean a more complete understanding of the relationship between the two substances. Findings can be used to develop and refine intervention strategies to successfully reduce cannabis and alcohol co-use. Too much of a good thing can be a real bummer, even if the worst thing that happens is a bad hangover (or a bad “weedover”).
Health Risks of Taking Marijuana and Alcohol Together
- Negative social consequences include fighting, relationship problems, accidents, arrests and other legal problems.
- The effects of marijuana and alcohol on their own are unpredictable, and combining them makes this worse.
- Using similar methodology, a second study suggested that plasma THC levels were significantly increased when subjects first consumed alcohol [72].
- Because physical and mental impairment can be more pronounced when you combine cannabis and alcohol, it can be hard to know if someone’s symptoms are due to a marijuana green-out or excessive alcohol intake.
- Therefore, more laboratory research is needed on pharmacokinetic interactions between cannabis and alcohol and performance impairments from co-use.
- Used alone and in moderation, these substances can be consumed safely and legally in certain states.
The reason behind this is that alcohol increases the absorption of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the main psychoactive component in cannabis. People who smoke weed after drinking alcohol often experience a stronger high. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. A recent study has also shown that those who consumed alcohol had much higher levels of THC in their bloodstream compared to a placebo group.
She’s passionate about empowering readers to take care of their mental and physical health through science-based, wean off prozac empathetically delivered information. On the surface, weed appears to be safer, but there’s simply not enough evidence to declare a winner. Cannabis addiction is surprisingly common, however, according to 2015 study. For example, one person may have a very low tolerance for weed but be able to tolerate alcohol well.
If you use weed before drinking, pay extra attention to how much you’ve had to drink. To err on the side of caution, assume you’ve had a bit more to drink than you actually have, or aim to drink less than you usually would without using weed. For example, you might feel like you’re good to drive, but your blood alcohol level may be well over the legal limit. However, this study was pretty small, making it hard to draw any firm conclusions. Plus, a similar (but equally small) 2010 study found that alcohol consumption didn’t have much of an effect on THC concentrations.
If you or someone you love is struggling with a marijuana addiction, consider calling a marijuana hotline. The free and confidential advice lines can help you determine the severity of the problem and whether treatment is necessary. Negative social consequences include fighting, relationship problems, accidents, arrests and other legal problems. While a marijuana overdose won’t kill you, it can cause uncomfortable symptoms, such as severe nausea and vomiting, extreme paranoia, panic, trouble concentrating, and decreased coordination and muscle control. Alcohol can also cause people to feel more hungry than usual, which may lead them to overindulge on edibles.
The researchers found significantly higher peak THC levels among participants who had alcohol versus those who had a placebo. “Any dose of alcohol combined with cannab[…]els of THC in blood.” May 27, 2015. That is why alcohol detox and alcohol withdrawal treatment is administered by medical professionals.
