If weed use does slow down the increase in blood alcohol levels, this may cause people to drink more than usual. In turn, this could increase risky behavior and the likelihood of alcohol poisoning. Forest plot of product combination effects relative to using 2 cannabis + ≥ 2 alcohol products. Full model effects with covariate estimates are presented in Supplemental Tables S1–S4. Without covariates, product combinations explained 28% of the variance in the consequence outcome, 35% of the alcohol consumption outcome, and 55% of the cannabis consumption outcome.
In other words, it makes it a lot easier to start “greening out” (feeling light-headed or nauseous after getting too intoxicated too quickly. Meanwhile, as of 2023, medical cannabis is legal in 38 states, while recreational use is legal in 23 states and the District of Columbia. 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. A recent study has also shown that those who consumed alcohol had much higher levels of THC in their bloodstream compared to a placebo group.
- Weed use before alcohol may slow down the rise in blood alcohol levels, which can reduce or delay the sensation of being drunk.
- This becomes particularly important with cannabis edibles, which can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours to reach full effect.
- Plus, a similar (but equally small) 2010 study found that alcohol consumption didn’t have much of an effect on THC concentrations.
- Alcohol and marijuana/cannabis are frequently used simultaneously (i.e., SAM use).
- Patients with certain medical conditions, such as liver disease or mental health disorders, should also exercise caution when consuming both substances.
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This can increase your risk for developing a dependence on alcohol, weed, or both. Weed appeared to slow down the rise of blood alcohol levels after consuming a high dose of alcohol. “Affective reinforcement of simultaneous versus single use of alcohol and cannabis” was published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
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.
How Do Alcohol and Cannabis Interact?
Still, there’s some evidence to suggest that regularly combining alcohol and weed may have some concerning effects over time. For example, you might feel like you’re good to drive, but your blood alcohol level may be well over the legal limit. While there’s some research around the effects of drinking alcohol before using weed, there isn’t much about the opposite approach. Effectively, researchers think that marijuana can cause changes to the way alcohol impacts you. At each momentary survey, participants reported alcohol and cannabis use, affect, momentary coping and enhancement motives, and subjective appraisals of use. Our state-specific resource guides offer a comprehensive overview of drug and alcohol addiction treatment options available in your area.
- However, it is helpful to understand the possible outcomes of mixing these drugs.
- However, when you mix alcohol and marijuana, they can lead to unpleasant or even dangerous side effects.
- There have been reports of delusions and hallucinations when taken in high doses.
- However, as more and more states continue to legalize cannabis, combining these two substances has become more common.
Dangers Of Mixing Alcohol And Marijuana
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.
THC-Infused Alcoholic Drinks
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.
In addition to Wycoff, MU study author included Timothy Trull, Curators’ Distinguished Professor and Byler Distinguished Professor of Psychological Sciences. Participants were prompted to fill out multiple surveys per day via a notification on their phone that asked about their substance use. If they recently drank or used cannabis, they would complete follow-up surveys asking how they felt.
It’s important to understand what happens when you mix weed and alcohol, in order to make an informed decision about whether or not to use the combination. It is commonly known that alcohol is addictive, but there is debate over whether marijuana can be considered addictive. It is possible to experience marijuana withdrawal, where a person experiences cravings, restlessness, mood and sleep disturbances, and irritability when they don’t use the drug.
The manner of SAM use on a given day may confer greater (or fewer) risks for use and consequences and understanding these differences could inform harm-reduction approaches. It’s important to remember that the effects of combining alcohol and cannabis can vary from person to person. Different users may experience different effects, depending on their tolerance levels and the amount of each substance consumed.
This is the case even if you use medical marijuana since THC and alcohol have been found to interact.1 It is not currently known if there is any completely safe level of alcohol and THC in the brain’s cannabinoid system. The exact risks of mixing marijuana and alcohol, or other cannabinoids and alcohol, are not well studied. However, you can avoid and identify health emergencies to protect yourself and those around you if you choose to use either of these substances recreationally or you have a prescription for medical marijuana. Not everyone experiences green outs, and the symptoms an individual experiences depends entirely on their unique physiology, how experienced they are with using weed and how potent their weed was. In most cases, greening out after consuming weed by itself is unpleasant but not necessarily dangerous, and no deaths have ever been recorded. However, individuals who green out after consuming alcohol and weed may want to seek medical attention, especially if they have respiratory or cardiovascular conditions.
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.
This disaggregation of within- and between-person effects provides useful information about the day-level effects of each combination relative to the four tested reference group combinations. When it comes to mixing weed and alcohol, it is important to be aware of the potential risks. Combining these two substances can lead to an increased risk of developing health problems or even addiction. Additionally, it can also lead to impaired judgment, motor coordination, and memory. As a result, it is important to exercise caution and understand the potential risks before engaging in this activity.
All leaf combinations had lower rates of cannabis use, relative to using concentrate and multiple alcohol products on that day, after adjusting for covariates (see Figure 3C). Though we found greater cannabis consumption on days where two cannabis products were used, we did not find that using concentrate and leaf on a given day, compared to using only concentrate, led a greater chance of experiencing a negative consequence. No combination was significantly different from using liquor + 2 cannabis products on a given day for negative consequences after adjusting for covariates (see Figure 4A). Leaf + ≥ 2 alcohol products, concentrate + beer, concentrate + ≥ 2 alcohol products, and using dual cannabis products and multiple alcohol products were significantly different from using liquor + 2 cannabis products on a given day for rate of drinking. Aside from concentrate + beer, these combinations resulted in significantly greater rates of drinking after adjusting for covariates.
What Happens When You Mix Weed and Alcohol?
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.
Even experienced consumers of both substances can be caught combining alcohol and marijuana produces off guard by their combined effects. Physical tolerance to one substance doesn’t mean you’re protected from the enhanced effects of 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.