At each RDS survey following endorsement of cannabis use, participants were asked, “In what form was the marijuana you used between X and Y? ” Options included ‘dry leaf’ (no/yes), ‘concentrate’ (no/yes) and ‘edible’ (no/yes). In the United States, the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit for driving is 0.08% in nearly every state. It is never advised to operate a vehicle or machinery while under the influence of either alcohol or cannabis.
Liquor + 2 Cannabis Products
Even so, it provides important insight into how an individual’s body may react when they combine the two substances. Researchers gave some participants low-dose alcohol and other participants were given a placebo. Those who had alcohol prior to inhaling THC had higher peak THC levels than participants who had a placebo instead of alcohol. Amanda Stevens is a highly respected figure in the field of medical content writing, with a specific focus on eating disorders and addiction treatment.
While this means that people who use an alcohol and marijuana combination may report a “higher high,” the lows can also become amplified. Even if you’ve only had one or two drinks your driving can be significantly impaired, a problem that is worsened by the fact that alcohol tends to make people more confident about their ability to drive. Cannabis on the other hand, can often make people more cautious or anxious about their driving, and can slow down reaction time and situational awareness.
Common effects of combining the two include increased dizziness, nausea, and disorientation. Some people experience a severe form of dizziness that can lead to vomiting and extreme discomfort. The combination also significantly impairs judgment, coordination, and reaction time far more than either substance alone.
- Our team of specialists helps individuals navigate the recovery process and stay motivated.
- The adverse health effects of alcohol are well-documented; excessive drinking can lead to liver damage or failure, heart strain or damage and various other issues, including a heightened risk of cancer.
- Both weed and alcohol, together and on their own, are also potentially addictive and can lead to dependence and misuse.
- A non-trivial proportion of SAM days involved consuming two cannabis products alongside multiple alcohol products on the same day, which we hypothesized would be the most problematic combination.
Weed and Alcohol: What Happens When You Combine Them?
Simply put, neither substance should be consumed if you plan on driving, so make sure to have a designated driver take the keys if you’re going to mix the two and get a cross fade going. Finally, it’s important to remember that combining weed and alcohol can be unpredictable, so it’s important to be aware of the potential risks before using this combination. If you decide to use this combination, it’s important to pay attention to how your body reacts and be aware of any signs of distress. As the research indicates, people who use both alcohol and weed together tend to consume more of both.
Even experienced consumers of both substances can be caught off guard by their combined effects. Physical tolerance to one substance doesn’t mean you’re protected from the enhanced effects of combining alcohol and marijuana produces their interaction. Additionally, trying to build tolerance to the combination could increase your risk of developing substance use disorders and other health problems. Estimating intoxication can be challenging when combining alcohol and cannabis, but several tips and tricks can help.
Both substances have different effects on the body and when combined, they can increase the risk of alcohol poisoning. Alcohol can also increase the effects of marijuana, making people more vulnerable to potential harm. It is best to avoid mixing weed and alcohol altogether and to seek medical attention if you experience any of the above symptoms.
Using Cannabis While Drinking May Lead to Riskier Behavior
This could lead to severe impairments to functioning and a higher risk of overdose. Overdose is a medical emergency that can lead to brain damage from loss of oxygen, coma, or death. Combining the two substances also leads to a greater degree of impairment than taking either one on its own.
Denying Our Mental Health: Why We Do It and How To Move Past It
If alcohol or marijuana is negatively impacting your life and you seem unable to quit on your own, help is available. Contact a treatment provider today to learn more about available treatment options. An addiction to alcohol is something that should be taken seriously, and it is important to know the signs of alcohol addiction to determine if you or your loved one is struggling.
It’s also important to note that different methods of taking THC affect the body differently. When weed is inhaled, THC is released into the bloodstream very quickly, but if it’s ingested in food or drink, it can take longer to feel its effects. Those who are sensitive to weed or who don’t have much experience using it may want to avoid mixing weed and alcohol, as they’re more likely to experience unpleasant side effects.
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. Remember, consuming weed after drinking alcohol might make you feel less intoxicated, which can lead you to drink more than you usually would. 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. A 2017 review of existing studies notes that people who use alcohol and weed together tend to consume more of both.
- A side effect of smoking marijuana, called “greening out,” is more likely to occur if a person drinks alcohol before smoking.
- A shortage of fluids makes a severe hangover the next morning more likely, and dehydration can require medical treatment in severe cases.
- But while beer and weed may seem like a match made in heaven, combining the two can lead to unpredictable effects, including increased impairment and heightened risks of dangerous behavior.
- Alcohol and marijuana are both depressants, which work by slowing down the central nervous system.
Adding alcohol to a high dose of THC impaired driving simulator scores by 17 percent. Those who consumed just alcohol had worse cognitive functioning than those who only consumed THC. Those who combined the two had reduced cognitive performance than those who only consumed alcohol. If using weed does indeed slow the absorption of alcohol, it might also delay feelings of drunkenness.
What Happens When Someone Smokes Weed and Then Drink Alcohol?
However, this finding comes from older research, and some people have questioned this study. 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. There is limited research available on the long-term effects of consuming alcohol alongside weed, which people also call marijuana or cannabis. 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. Both drugs have similar effects on the body and mind, including drowsiness, slowed reflexes, and changes in judgment and time perception.
Contact us to speak with an intake coordinator who can answer your questions and help you understand what options may be available to you. If you’re using an alcohol and marijuana combination, you can be more likely to get alcohol poisoning, which can be fatal. Using alcohol and marijuana together can produce uncomfortable side effects such as dizziness, sweating, and nausea. A 2019 study supports this, finding that those who use alcohol and weed simultaneously are likely to drink more alcohol more frequently.
