Our state-specific resource guides offer a comprehensive overview of drug and alcohol addiction treatment options available in your area. Karoly, Hollis C.; Ross, J. Megan; Prince, Mark A.; et al. “Effects of cannabis use on alcohol consumption in a sample of treatment-engaged heavy drinkers in Colorado.” Addiction, September 2021. If you’re using an alcohol and marijuana combination, you can be more likely to get alcohol poisoning, which can be fatal.
- In legal markets, users can purchase regulated products that have measured doses.
- Cannabis beverages, though, present a real alternative to alcoholic beverages that can fit into many of the same social settings.
- Additionally, combining the two can increase the risk of potentially harmful or distressing side effects, such as dizziness, nausea, and impaired judgment.
- If you know you’re going to be consuming these substances, arrange for safe transportation, Lonano says.
- Adding alcohol to a high dose of THC impaired driving simulator scores by 17 percent.
Mixing Weed and Alcohol: Effects and Risks
The sooner that you start treatment, the lower the chances of your misuse worsening over time. These signs of overdose or THC toxicity are a medical emergency. For instance, a beer has lower alcohol per volume, and people tend to drink it more slowly than a shot.
- Some cannabis users may find that their use has gotten out of control.
- Still, there’s some evidence to suggest that regularly combining alcohol and weed may have some concerning effects over time.
- This enhanced effect can be compounding, catching even experienced marijuana users off guard.
- Drinking before using weed can intensify weed’s effects.
- According to recent research, around 75% of young people who use cannabis also drink alcohol.
It is not advised to combine alcohol and cannabis if you have a history of substance abuse or are currently taking medication that can interact with either substance. THC-infused beverages present a fantastic opportunity for cannabis consumers who would like an experience similar to drinking alcohol (but without any actual alcohol being involved). Estimating intoxication can be challenging when combining alcohol and cannabis, but several tips and tricks can help. In one study, researchers found that combining cannabis and alcohol actually increased the risk of more severe cases of COVID-19, especially when it comes to lung inflammation.4 Additionally, a more recent concern has arisen for people combining cannabis and alcohol.
Anxiety
While there is some evidence for marijuana’s anti-tumor properties, the science is far from complete. Medical marijuana patients use the plant for a wide number of ailments. The cannabis flowers are dried and smoked to release a range of cannabinoids which produce a psychoactive and/or therapeutic effect. Contact a Recovery Advocate today to take the first step toward living a healthier life. However, some strategies can minimize your risk if you do take them together. “Greening out” or getting “cross-faded” refer to being drunk and high at the same time.
Use Risk Prevention Strategies
A related term, “greening out,” specifically refers to the negative reaction that can occur when someone consumes too much marijuana—often in combination with alcohol or other substances. You may put yourself in risky or dangerous situations if you’re drinking or using marijuana, and an alcohol and marijuana combination makes this even more likely. While people might use a combination of alcohol and marijuana to experience a more intense high, this can be dangerous. People may use a combination of these substances to get more of an effect for both or combat the side effects of one or the other, but it can be risky and unsafe. Because more alcohol is usually consumed when using alcohol and marijuana at the same time, users are at risk for alcohol poisoning and should pay close attention to how much they are consuming.
Dangers Of Mixing Alcohol And Marijuana
The first step is often speaking with a healthcare provider or calling a substance use helpline, where trained professionals can help you assess your situation and discuss potential next steps. If you’re concerned about your alcohol or cannabis use – whether separately or in combination – there are many confidential resources and professional support options available. A DUI conviction involving both substances can result in heavier fines, longer license suspensions, and increased chances of jail time compared to single-substance charges. While alcohol is legal for adults 21 and over, cannabis remains federally illegal in the US, even though many states have legalized it for medical or recreational use.
Those who used alcohol and marijuana were more likely to drive unsafely than those who used alcohol and marijuana separately. Despite the fact that alcohol is legal for people over the age of 21, it can be dangerous and deadly in both the short and the long term. Depending on the method in which marijuana is consumed, the user can start feeling effects within minutes. Sunnyside Med offers access to compounded naltrexone (50mg + B6 5mg), paired with behavioral tools to help you reduce your drinking over time. Used alone and in moderation, these substances can be consumed safely and legally in certain states.
Harm reduction strategies for weed and alcohol
This means starting with small amounts of both substances and gradually increasing the dosage as needed. Therefore, you should be especially cautious about combining liquor and weed. This can increase the risk of adverse outcomes, such as impaired judgment, slowed reaction times, and decreased motor control. Beer, for example, typically contains a lower percentage of alcohol, or ABV, making it less likely to result in severe impairment when consumed alongside cannabis.
A 2013 study found that those who combined weed and alcohol showed consistently impaired driving performance during driving simulations. Weed and alcohol together can also impair reaction times and other cognitive functions necessary for safe driving. Both drugs have similar effects on the body and mind, including drowsiness, slowed reflexes, and changes in judgment and time perception. Keep in mind that combining the two may be linked to a decline in cognitive function and an increased risk of dependence. It might seem harmless to mix alcohol and weed, but doing so can be a slippery slope toward getting overly intoxicated. Both weed and alcohol, together and on their own, are also potentially addictive and can lead to dependence and misuse.
There’s also the potential for developing cannabis use disorder, where someone becomes dependent on the drug in their daily life. More significant side effects can include memory problems, difficulty concentrating, and impacts on motivation, particularly with regular, heavy use. Physical coordination and reaction time can be impaired, which is why driving under the influence is both dangerous and illegal. These effects largely depend on the balance of compounds present in the particular strain and the individual’s own body chemistry and tolerance levels. Cannabis has a complex substance interaction with the human body’s endocannabinoid system, a network of receptors that plays a role in mood, memory, appetite, and pain sensation. Before deciding to use both together, it’s worth knowing how they interact and what risks you might be taking.
If cannabis users overdose, it’s important that they realize what is happening to them. Heavy cannabis users may experience difficulty sleeping, irritability, reduced appetite, and headaches. Within the first 1-3 days, users will begin to experience withdrawal symptoms. Though the consequences aren’t as dire as with alcohol, users can experience paranoia, heart arrhythmia, and even psychotic episodes.
What Happens When Weed and Alcohol Are Consumed Together?
Although weed can relax some people, it may cause heightened anxiety and panic attacks in others. The risk is higher for those who started using cannabis earlier in life and use it frequently. “If too much alcohol is consumed with this combination, it can lead to alcohol poisoning,” she adds. As for how cannabis consumption impacts alcohol consumption, there’s some old research suggesting that cannabis slows down the rise in blood alcohol levels if you smoke before you drink. This higher level of THC may result in “greening out,” which is essentially a marijuana overdose.
How to handle a bad reaction
Increasingly, studies exploring marijuana and alcohol demonstrate they can be harmful when used together. Looking to make the most of your cannabis experience? Learn what crossfaded means, its symptoms, risks and what you can do if you find yourself in such a position. This information is neither a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is never advised to operate a vehicle or machinery while under the influence of either alcohol or cannabis.
“Any dose of alcohol combined with cannabis significantly increases levels of THC in blood.” May 27, 2015. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Here’s what you need to know about what happens when you mix weed and alcohol, the dangers of mixing these drugs, harm-reduction strategies, and how to know if you might have a problem. Are you curious about the safety of mixing weed and alcohol? Individuals who choose to mix the two should keep track of how much alcohol and weed they consume. Individuals who are drinking alcohol and consuming edibles should carefully monitor what they consume. In turn, this could increase risky behavior and the likelihood of alcohol poisoning.
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Taking cannabis (marijuana) and alcohol can result in undesirable short-term and long-term effects. While several states have legalized or decriminalized weed (marijuana or cannabis), using it is not without combining alcohol and marijuana produces risk. Ramaekers JG, Theunissen EL, de Brouwer M, Toennes SW, Moeller MR, Kauert G. Tolerance and cross-tolerance to neurocognitive effects of THC and alcohol in heavy cannabis users.
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Using cannabis after drinking can increase the likelihood of nausea and dizziness, as alcohol expands blood vessels and can speed up THC absorption. The combination also significantly impairs judgment, coordination, and reaction time far more than either substance alone. This enhanced effect can be compounding, catching even experienced marijuana users off guard.
It is not currently known if there is any completely safe level of alcohol and THC in the brain’s cannabinoid system. The lower the concentration of THC in the kind of cannabis you consume, the lower the total concentration of it will be in your body. Your body, therefore, absorbs it more slowly, leading to lower blood alcohol levels. This could increase the severity of the alcohol interaction or mean that the interaction occurs when you don’t expect it to.