Mixing Weed and Alcohol: Effects and Risks

Smoking and vaping cannabis cause your body to absorb THC more quickly compared to using edibles. Overdose is a medical emergency that can lead to brain damage from loss of oxygen, coma, or death. Developing a tolerance to a substance means that your body has gotten used to the presence of it.

How Can I Get Help for Alcohol or Cannabis Use?

It isn’t safe to drive under the influence of alcohol or weed –– or both. Lyter recommends avoiding other substances, even caffeine and nicotine. If you must consume both substances, knowing your limits and consuming slowly is important.

Some studies suggest impacts on brain development in young users, which is why most medical professionals recommend waiting until adulthood to try cannabis. Some people may experience dizziness, nausea, or headaches, especially if they’re new to cannabis or consume too much. While many people use cannabis without significant issues, it can cause both short-term and long-term side effects that vary from person to person. This combination – also known as crossfading – might seem like a natural pairing to some, but mixing these two substances can affect your body and mind in ways that are important to understand. Need additional mental health or substance use support?

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Drinking alcohol and using weed at the same time can be detrimental to your health. Cannabis may also magnify alcohol’s effects on your central nervous system, increasing the depressant effects and heightening the risk of overdose. The combination may have lasting effects on memory, cognitive function, and mental health, particularly combining alcohol and marijuana produces in young adults whose brains are still developing. Regular combined use of alcohol and cannabis can lead to several long-term health concerns.

What Are the Risks and Dangers of Mixing Weed and Alcohol?

This way, you only need to deal with the physiological effects of either one rather than the two combined. Consider the following harm-reduction strategies next time you consume. This can be a result of intoxication, withdrawal, or chronic alcoholism.

In a 2013 study, 80 people participated in six testing sessions. Those who combined the two had reduced cognitive performance than those who only consumed alcohol. Those who consumed just alcohol had worse cognitive functioning than those who only consumed THC. This means you might be tipsier than you feel, increasing your risk for becoming overly intoxicated. For example, you might feel like you’re good to drive, but your blood alcohol level may be well over the legal limit.

What Happens When Weed and Alcohol Are Consumed Together?

Combining weed and alcohol can increase the effects of both drugs and cause adverse reactions. Remember, consuming weed after drinking alcohol might make you feel less intoxicated, which can lead you to drink more than you usually would. This can happen any time you’ve consumed to much weed — with or without alcohol. The researchers reported that combining THC and alcohol consistently impaired driving performance, with worse performance during nighttime simulations. A number of recent studies also focus on how combining weed and alcohol affects your driving. A study from 2011 evaluated performance on cognitive tasks among 21 heavy weed users who had consumed alcohol.

It’s also important to note that if you regularly use an alcohol and marijuana combination, you’re at a higher risk of developing a dependence on one or both of the substances. Often referred to as “greening out,” alcohol and marijuana users can have an undesirable reaction when combining the two substances. If you are concerned about your level of alcohol or cannabis use, seek treatment from a mental health provider who works with substance use issues. There is limited research available on the long-term effects of consuming alcohol alongside weed, which people also call marijuana or cannabis. Since alcohol and marijuana are the two most-used psychoactive substances in the nation, if not world, they are bound to cross paths from time to time.

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Whether you are struggling with addiction, mental health or both, our expert team is here to guide you every step of the way. Therefore, it is suggested that using these substances together is riskier than either alone. For example, marijuana and alcohol are one of the most common combinations implicated in car accidents. Additionally, combining the two can increase the risk of potentially harmful or distressing side effects, such as dizziness, nausea, and impaired judgment. There is no specific limit to how much alcohol and weed can be consumed together, as it varies depending on factors such as individual tolerance and the concentration of each substance.

Mixing Alcohol And Marijuana

Additionally, trying to build tolerance to the combination could increase your risk of developing substance use disorders and other health problems. Even experienced consumers of both substances can be caught off guard by their combined effects. While regular users may develop some tolerance to either cannabis or alcohol individually, the substance interaction between these two is unpredictable.

• This higher intake may increase the risk of dependence on alcohol, weed, or both.
• While this means that people who use an alcohol and marijuana combination may report a “higher high,” the lows can also become amplified.
• Mental effects can include heightened anxiety, confusion, or feeling significantly more intoxicated than your consumption would typically cause.
• However, regardless of your experience level, starting low and going slow is recommended.

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For example, in 2021, 13,384 people died in alcohol-impaired driving traffic accidents— a 14% increase from 2020, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Long-term effects can include liver damage, brain damage, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of certain cancers. Meanwhile, as of 2023, medical cannabis is legal in 38 states, while recreational use is legal in 23 states and the District of Columbia. Despite its popularity and social ubiquity, drinking alcohol comes at a cost. In fact, according to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, over 85% of adults aged 18 or older reported having consumed alcohol in their lifetime. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.

THC is the primary cannabinoid that users seek for its psychoactive effects. However, many states are ending their marijuana restrictions, some for medical reasons and some for medical or recreational purposes. At The Recovery Village Columbus, our Joint Commission-accredited facility offers a full continuum of care, including inpatient, outpatient and telehealth treatment. At our physician-led addiction treatment facility, we can help you get your life back. It is crucial to call for help as soon as an alcohol overdose is suspected because someone in and out of consciousness or passing out can die.

If they are paranoid and fearful that they are dying or that aliens laced their stash, knowledge that cannabis often has this effect can be helpful. More extreme cases may need to remain under medical care while they undergo a full detoxification process. More extreme symptoms can include shakiness, flu-like symptoms, and abdominal pain. More advanced, and dangerous, withdrawal symptoms include delusions, shakes, tremor, seizures, and high blood pressure that can lead to heart attack and/or death. Drinkers may first experience depression, anxiety, and deep cravings for drink or even sugar.

However, the legality of both alcohol and cannabis varies by state and country. No, the symptoms of a cannabis hangover may resemble that of an alcohol hangover, but they are not quite the same. Starting low and going slow is important in avoiding any adverse effects of mixing weed and alcohol. 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.

• Heavy users report contracting a wheeze and will often experience coughing fits upon inhaling the smoke.
• Therefore, you should be especially cautious about combining liquor and weed.
• This can increase your risk for accidents and injury.
• As such, mixing weed and alcohol can produce both synergistic and antagonistic effects.
• Those who consumed just alcohol had worse cognitive functioning than those who only consumed THC.

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If you take medication, talk to your doctor before using weed, alcohol, or both. Remember, consuming weed and alcohol together can make you feel either more or less intoxicated than you would if you were using just one or the other. The safest bet is to avoid using weed and alcohol together. When mixing weed and alcohol, there are a lot of other variables to consider in addition to which one you use first. In each session, participants consumed a different combination of placebo, low, and moderate doses of THC and alcohol. If you use weed before drinking, pay extra attention to how much you’ve had to drink.

We may be paid a fee for marketing or advertising by organizations that can assist with treating addictions. “Calls to our general hotline may be answered by our treatment providers. Co-occurring use of any two drugs can create unexpected symptoms or intensify those you know are coming. The withdrawal symptoms are not life-threatening, and detoxification can proceed at home. When smoking, eating, or vaporizing cannabis becomes a source of trouble in one’s life, it is recommended that they undergo a period of withdrawal.

Marijuana works on cannabinoid receptors, while alcohol enhances GABA. The Sesh Newsletter from NuggMD is your weekly source to everything cannabis. If you have any concerns or questions about laws, regulations, or your health, you should always consult with an attorney, physician or other licensed professional. However, regardless of your experience level, starting low and going slow is recommended. In the United States, the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit for driving is 0.08% in nearly every state. The legal alcohol limit varies by country and state.

And many consumers are unaware of the potential risks of mixing the two. Alcohol has long been a staple of social gatherings and celebrations, with millions of people consuming it regularly. Thousands find freedom from alcohol every year — and so can you. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. If you suspect someone is experiencing alcohol poisoning, call 911 immediately.