Occasionally mixing alcohol and weed — also known as crossfading — likely won’t lead to major health problems. But there are a lot of variables to consider, including which one you use first and how you consume them. I’ve known people who have died of overdoses and who have lost loved ones to all forms of drug addictions, including legally obtained prescription drugs. I’ve never known, met or even heard of anyone dying of marijuana use or of a marijuana overdose.
Mixing weed and alcohol: the good, the bad and the ugly
It’s important to remember that the “addictiveness” of cannabis is more than a chemical reaction in the brain—social and environmental factors also play a part. For example, certain populations appear more likely to become addicted to weed than others, potentially teenagers, and those with another substance use disorder, or a mood how long does acid last or mental disorder, such as schizophrenia. These study conditions do not reflect real-life use of alcohol and psychedelics. In controlled studies, the risk of unsafe behaviors and side effects from illicit drugs is low. Combining alcohol and shrooms can cause unpredictable results, but experts consider it a high-risk combination.
Who Is at Risk of Severe Effects from Combining Alcohol and Cannabis?
“Between 2008 and 2022, the per capita rate of reporting past-year use increased by 120 percent, and days of use reported per capita increased by 218 percent.” “It is striking that high-frequency cannabis use is now more commonly reported than is high-frequency drinking.” Tishler points out that tolerance is cocaine addiction often touted as a badge of honor in cannabis circles. In reality, however, tolerance can lead to dependence and possibly addiction, so it may be beneficial to avoid developing a significant tolerance to cannabis. Similar to cannabis, dependence on alcohol is more common than addiction, according to Tishler.
What Happens When Someone Smokes Weed and Then Drink Alcohol?
Similar to drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana results in intoxication and users report feelings of happiness, confusion, relaxation, impulsiveness and hunger. So long as both substances are legal to possess and consume in your jurisdiction, then yes, they are legal to combine. However, the legality of both alcohol and cannabis varies by state and country.
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Usually, a bad reaction to mixing weed and alcohol will pass within a few hours. In each session, participants consumed a different combination of placebo, low, and moderate doses of THC and alcohol. Using weed before drinking alcohol may minimize the effects of alcohol.
Consumption Level Related to Co-use
Drinking alcohol is ingrained in so many social situations, but most methods of cannabis consumption don’t work well as a replacement. Cannabis beverages, though, present a real alternative to alcoholic beverages that can fit into many of the same social settings. Well, first off, keep in mind that using both substances together can produce unique effects on the human body, and it’s vital to use them in moderation and with caution.
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 drunk and make a person sick. Their combined use can cause blackouts, memory loss, and an increased likelihood of engaging in risky does alcohol thin your blood effects and impact behaviors. Combining weed and alcohol can increase the effects of both drugs and cause adverse reactions. The combination can also lead people to engage in unusual or risky behaviors. If you’ve mixed weed and alcohol and are having a bad reaction, it’s probably because alcohol seems to make the high from using weed stronger.
- In turn, this could increase risky behavior and the likelihood of alcohol poisoning.
- Both CUD and alcoholism are predicated on the idea that users have developed an attachment or addiction to the way their substance of choice makes them feel and have transitioned from recreational to disordered use.
- A 2019 study supports this, finding that those who use alcohol and weed simultaneously are likely to drink more alcohol more frequently.
- Low to moderate doses can produce feelings of relaxation and euphoria, lower inhibitions, and make social situations more enjoyable (hence the term “liquid confidence”).
The order in which people take the two substances may affect the experience and, if not taken responsibly, could also increase the risk of overconsumption. While smoking weed and then drinking alcohol may slow down alcohol’s effects, drinking alcohol and then smoking weed can cause the opposite reaction—alcohol can intensify weed’s effect and lead to a stronger high. Particularly among those who don’t use marijuana on a regular basis, drinking and then smoking weed can cause intense symptoms such as nausea, sweating and dizziness. In some cases, the individual may experience even more disruptive symptoms such as panic attacks, anxiety or paranoia.
Cannabis, on the other hand, can be classified as both a depressant and a stimulant. As such, mixing weed and alcohol can produce both synergistic and antagonistic effects. As the cannabis industry continues to grow, there has been a rise in the popularity of infused beverages, which offer a unique and potentially safer way to consume both weed and alcohol. Combining weed and alcohol can cause violent physical reactions consistent with a marijuana overdose. 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”).
Get professional help from an online addiction and mental health counselor from BetterHelp. If you want to mix the two, pay careful attention to how much of each you’re consuming, especially if you’ve never mixed them before. 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.
Anyone who’s had a little too much weed or alcohol can likely attest to slurred speech, passing out early, maybe stumbling over, and the like. People experiencing a bad trip, or a psychologically challenging drug experience, may want to contact a doctor. A bad trip can feel like a sudden and long-lasting side effect of a drug. With years of evidence from people’s reported use and modern scientific studies, experts confirm that shrooms have low toxicity.
Marijuana and alcohol are the two most commonly used drugs in the nation, and people often use the substances together. Effectively, researchers think that marijuana can cause changes to the way alcohol impacts you. Because alcohol and weed are both depressants that act on the brain’s cannabinoid system, taking them at the same time may have a dramatic effect on your brain chemistry. While some states have legalized marijuana for medicinal and/or recreational use, marijuana is still classified as a Schedule I drug at the federal level.