Alcohol and Weed: The Risks and Dangers of Mixing

These include monitoring the number of drinks consumed, pacing consumption over time, and using tools like breathalyzers or blood tests to measure alcohol levels. The effects of combining alcohol and cannabis can lead to a higher risk of accidents and injuries, as well as increase the likelihood of adverse outcomes, such as vomiting, panic attacks, and paranoia. In other words, it makes it a lot easier to start “greening out” (feeling light-headed or nauseous after getting too intoxicated too quickly. Cross-fading is a term used to describe the simultaneous use of alcohol and cannabis. Specifically, when a person is both drunk and high at the same time, they’re “cross-faded.” This is because the combination of weed and alcohol produces a unique experience more pronounced than consuming either on its own.

Cannabis can also leave you with a dry mouth (“cottonmouth”) and make you feel parched. Taken together, alcohol and cannabis can compound these side effects of one another, so it is imperative that you stay hydrated if you are consuming alcohol or cannabis – together or on their own. Cannabis has an antiemetic effect, which means that it will prevent the user from vomiting. Since vomiting is the body’s way of riding itself from excess ethanol and dangerous toxins, marijuana will prevent that. The main risks here are the user either chokes on their vomit or gets alcohol poisoning. Unfortunately, more people are driving under the influence of weed and alcohol.

Keep in mind that combining the two may be linked to a decline in cognitive function and an increased risk of dependence. But if you do decide to mix the two, start slow and keep track of how much you’re consuming of each. A number of recent studies also focus on how combining weed and alcohol affects your driving. Still, there’s some evidence to suggest that regularly combining alcohol and weed may have some concerning effects over time.

If you’re struggling with substance use, Confidant Health is here to help. We understand what you’re going through, and we offer treatments like pre-addiction treatment and alcohol rehab programs tailored to support you on your journey to recovery. With our virtual services, you can easily access care from the comfort of your home. Mixing alcohol and marijuana can be risky for your health, leading to reckless behavior and physical health issues.

Because cannabis affects cannabinoid receptors in the olfactory bulb in the brain, food can smell and taste more intense. THC also increases the release of dopamine (which makes eating more enjoyable) and the hormone ghrelin, which how to smoke moonrocks stimulates hunger. Generally speaking, weed tends to come with fewer risks than alcohol, but there are a lot of factors to consider.

The cannabis market is constantly evolving, but as of 2023, THC-infused alcoholic beverages are still hard to find in most markets. That may change in the future, but for now, there are a growing number of THC-infused beverages without alcohol. Cannabis and alcohol intersect at countless get-togethers – and nights kicking back at home. If you are mixing the two, there are a number of considerations to keep in mind. At the same time, CBD can have a relaxing, sedative effect, which could potentially be heightened if taking a depressant like alcohol.

Marijuana Addiction

Findings from preclinical research support the existence of potential cross-tolerance between cannabis and alcohol that may have important translational implications for clinical research. With driving under the influence for example, blood THC concentrations obtained from drivers may be lower than set limits despite greatly exceeding them while driving. Further complicating interpretation, blood concentrations during driving cannot be back-extrapolated due to unknown time after cannabis use and individual variability in THC blood concentration trajectories 101. Therefore, more laboratory research is needed on pharmacokinetic interactions between cannabis and alcohol and performance impairments from co-use. 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.

Short-Term Effects

After cannabis is ingested, an observable increase in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) occurs in anterior brain regions — which are critical for semantic memory, according to a 2001 study in Neuropsychopharmacology. Euphoric effects generally kick in within the first 10 to 15 minutes and are correlated with transient changes in the brain’s electroencephalographic activity (EEG) activity. Essentially, as blood alcohol content (BAC) rises, marked changes can be seen in the electrical activity of the brain.

1. Symptoms of a cannabis hangover may include headache, fatigue, dry mouth, and brain fog.
2. Do NOT be afraid to seek help.If you do not have access to a phone contactWeb Poison Control Servicesfor online assistance.
3. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
4. Thisincludespreventing injury and providing reassurance and emotional support.
5. During separate sessions, participants were administered cannabis (0, 100, or 200 μg/kg) with and without alcohol administration (0.04 g/dl) and subsequently completed actual driving tasks.

What happens when you mix melatonin and cannabis?

Generally, higher levels of consumption or an increase in consumption of one substance is related to higher levels of or an increase in use of the other substance. For example, individuals using higher levels of cannabis reported higher levels of alcohol relative to those using lower amounts of cannabis. Among college-aged drinkers, lifetime and past year use of cannabis increased as level of alcohol consumption increased 24, 25. Using alcohol or marijuana may lead to side effects and risks for the user. Mixing alcohol and marijuana together can intensify certain effects of both, leading to increased health risk and dangers over using either alone.

Sure, research on the topic is ramping up a bit, but there’s still a lack of large, long-term studies. Before getting into comparing alcohol and weed, it’s important to understand some of the factors that make the comparison tricky. THC can change how alcohol is metabolized in the body by pulling alcohol more slowly out of your GI tract. Alcohol can also affect the brain, making it harder to discern whether you had too much to drink. Remember, healthcare professionals are ready to provide help and support in times of need. The feeling of being cross-faded can vary widely from person to person, with some describing a sense of euphoria and heightened effects.