Is It Bad to Mix Weed and Alcohol?

“More research is needed to determine the extent of potential positive and negative effects of cannabis, but further research should also focus on understanding the psychological processes that reinforce simultaneous use,” Wycoff said. 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. CBD does not have the psychotropic effects of THC, so consuming it with alcohol does not include the risk that you will experience heightened levels of intoxication from the alcohol.

Similar harm-reduction strategies exist for manner of cannabis use, including avoiding mixing with alcohol and avoiding cannabis concentrates (Pedersen et al., 2017). Thus, some manners of SAM use may lead to more negative outcomes than others, and this may depend on the use of a specific product (e.g., liquor vs. beer) and/or the use of multiple products. Mixing weed and alcohol can have serious consequences, including nausea, dehydration, difficulty breathing, increased risk of injury and death, and in extreme cases, coma.

Likewise, to advance our findings, future research should examine the day-level effects of these specific product combinations on negative consequences that are more specific to cannabis and/or SAM use. We also recommend that future studies with greater endorsement of individual consequences examine possible specificity between certain product combinations and specific consequences to further inform harm-reduction approaches. Future research may consider alcohol and cannabis motives, contexts, and availability as precursors to various manners of drinking, including product combinations, which could provide further nuance for interventions targeting reasons for use. Despite the fact that alcohol is legal for people over the age of 21, it can be dangerous and deadly in both the short and the long term. Typically, 1 or 2 drinks will produce feelings of relaxation and reduced inhibitions; more drinks can lead to negative side effects. The effects of alcohol are influenced by the height, weight, gender, and tolerance of the person drinking as well as factors like if they have eaten or not before drinking.

For Loved Ones: How to Support a Loved One’s Mental Health

Research also shows that users are more likely to drive — or take other risks — after using both substances than after consuming marijuana alone. 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.

Cannabis cultivation checklist: all you need to know to make your plants thrive

New information indicates combining alcohol and marijuana produces that combining the two may cause individuals to overuse both substances, which in some cases can result in death. If you’re concerned about your alcohol or cannabis use – whether separately or in combination – there are many confidential resources and professional support options available. The first step is often speaking with a healthcare provider or calling a substance use helpline, where trained professionals can help you assess your situation and discuss potential next steps.

While alcohol has long been a familiar presence at parties, restaurants, and gatherings, marijuana is increasingly becoming as common. 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. Before deciding to use both together, it’s worth knowing how they interact and what risks you might be taking. 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. However, regardless of your experience level, starting low and going slow is recommended.

Some studies indicate that using weed may slow the absorption of alcohol, but the results are debatable. When someone drinks an excessive amount of alcohol, their brain function is impaired. Their blood vessels dilate, making them feel warm even as their body is losing heat.

This may lead to eating more of the edibles or drinking more alcohol—which could increase the severity of the alcohol interaction—or mean that the interaction occurs when you don’t expect it to. Various factors could determine the severity of the effects you experience from mixing marijuana and alcohol. Using real-time surveys via smartphones, researchers gathered thousands of data points reflecting participants’ substance use and emotions during daily life.

Know what you’re taking

• A related term, “greening out,” specifically refers to the negative reaction that can occur when someone consumes too much marijuana—often in combination with alcohol or other substances.
• CBD does not have the psychotropic effects of THC, so consuming it with alcohol does not include the risk that you will experience heightened levels of intoxication from the alcohol.
• The combination may have lasting effects on memory, cognitive function, and mental health, particularly in young adults whose brains are still developing.

The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.

• Other common effects include heightened sensory perception (brighter colors, louder noises, etc.), an altered perception of time and an increased appetite.
• 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 combo can lead to the most severe impairment and the highest risk of accidents and injuries.
• As a result, it is important to exercise caution and understand the potential risks before engaging in this activity.

While marijuana and alcohol can be enjoyed safely when used responsibly, it is important to remember that mixing them can have serious consequences. Co-use of alcohol and cannabis is common (Metrik et al., 2018; Subbaraman and Kerr, 2020, 2015; Terry-McElrath and Patrick, 2018; Yurasek et al., 2017), particularly among college students (O’Hara, Armeli, & Tennen, 2016; White et al., 2019). Indeed, decades of research have shown that simultaneous use is particularly risky, relative to co-use and mono-substance use (Bailey et al., 2019; Earleywine and Newcomb, 1997; Li et al., 2013; Martin, 2008). Additive and/or synergistic effects have also been supported by self-report data from SAM users (Lee et al., 2017). See Yurasek et al. (2017), for a review of effects of combining alcohol and cannabis. In particular, SAM users were shown to be more likely to endorse nine types of consequences, relative to alcohol-only users, with the strongest effects observed for more acute consequences (e.g., blackouts; Jackson et al., 2020).

Links to NCBI Databases

A craving for alcohol, wanting to cut back but being unable to, having your professional or personal life affected by alcohol, and developing a tolerance to alcohol are all signs of an alcohol use disorder. If you are concerned about your drinking habits, take our free alcohol assessment to determine if you’d benefit from alcohol addiction treatment. Depending on the individual and the amount consumed, users may experience altered senses (such as seeing brighter colors and have an altered sense of time) as well as have issues with cognition. There have been reports of delusions and hallucinations when taken in high doses. Although it is possible to experience negative side effects from marijuana, such as anxiety and paranoia, the drug is considered generally safe and non-life threatening. Used together, alcohol and marijuana can also create paranoia, causing people to make flawed or even fatal choices.

However, as more and more states continue to legalize cannabis, combining these two substances has become more common. 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. Further, if you try to cut back on either alcohol or cannabis, your reliance on the other substance is likely to increase. When people drink and smoke marijuana together, alcohol increases the amount of THC that is absorbed into the body.

Even in states where both substances are legal, using them together can lead to serious legal troubles, especially if you attempt to drive or engage in other potentially dangerous activities while under the influence. 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. In the short term, cannabis can cause dry mouth, red eyes, increased appetite, and changes in time perception.4 Some people might experience anxiety or paranoia, especially with higher doses or potent strains. Physical coordination and reaction time can be impaired, which is why driving under the influence is both dangerous and illegal.

Cannabis News, Product Reviews, Recipes, Discounts, Prizes and More 🙂

Both weed and alcohol, together and on their own, are also potentially addictive and can lead to dependence and misuse. But if you’ve been drinking a lot, it might be hard to tell the difference between a green out and alcohol poisoning, which can be life-threatening if not treated. If you take medication, talk to your doctor before using weed, alcohol, or both. They may weaken the effectiveness of your medication or increase your risk for certain side effects.

While many states have legalized both recreational and medicinal marijuana, some have not. Possession of cannabis in such jurisdictions still carries hefty legal penalties. Therefore, it is important to research and understand the laws and regulations in your area before consuming alcohol and weed together.

Someone drinking alcohol may experience slurred speech, distorted vision and hearing, drowsiness, and nausea and vomiting. There are many long-term health risks of alcohol abuse such as heart-related diseases, liver disease, and unintentional injuries. The risk of injuries can be increased when someone chooses to mix alcohol and marijuana. For cannabis consumption, use of two cannabis products and most concentrate combinations each resulted in greater cannabis consumption on that day, especially when compared to consuming leaf + beer. Notably, this is counter to the parallel comparisons with alcohol, where evidence shows that consuming multiple alcohol products on a given day (vs. liquor only) is linked to significantly more consumption. Extant research has shown that the ways in which alcohol is consumed can influence use and consequences, and this notion is currently reflected in protective behavioral strategies for alcohol use (Martens et al., 2007, 2005).

These include monitoring the number of drinks consumed, pacing consumption over time, and using tools like breathalyzers or blood tests to measure alcohol levels. 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. Many young adults drink alcohol and use cannabis together, at the same time, as a coping mechanism or to relieve stress. A recent study from the University of Missouri School of Medicine found that people may perceive fewer negative effects of alcohol if they are also using cannabis at the same time, potentially leading to alcohol use disorder, alcohol-related harms and drunk driving.