You’ve probably found yourself out enjoying drinks with friends when somebody decides to start passing around a bowl. Whether or not you chose to partake, you are probably wondering what can happen if you combine cannabis with alcohol. If you are curious about “crossfading,” you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got some simple tips to help you make healthy choices and have a positive experience when enjoying these substances.
What Really Happens When You Combine Cannabis and Alcohol?
Alcohol can be bad for your health if not used in moderation. But let’s face it, a glass of wine or a cold beer is what many of us crave to take the edge off a long day. Cannabis is also used for its ability to promote relaxation and boost mood, and can even be used as an alternative to alcohol. What happens when you combine them? Well, it depends.
The bottom line is not everyone is going to respond the same way.
In a study that looked at how alcohol affects THC absorption, researchers found that consuming alcohol before smoking can intensify your high. This happens because alcohol opens the blood vessels, which helps to absorb THC. While this might sound fun, there are limits to its feel-good potential. If you drink too much before consuming cannabis, you run the risk of the sweaty, dizzy, nausea of being too high — otherwise known as “greening out.” No fun at all.
On the flip side, if you partake in cannabis consumption before drinking, it can affect the ability of your body to absorb alcohol. One study found that cannabis altered the motility of the GI tract in a way that caused blood alcohol levels to be lower than they would from consuming alcohol alone. While these findings sound promising, don’t take them as a free pass to get really high and then consume a lot of alcohol. We can’t emphasize it enough that there are dangers when mixing substances.
Dangers of Cannabis + Alcohol and How to Avoid Them
Even if the alcohol isn’t enhancing the effects of the THC you consumed, there are still potential dangers when mixing any substance with booze. Both cannabis and alcohol can lower your inhibitions and decrease your judgment. The combination can have a synergistic effect and influence your ability to reason and act normally. You know how it feels when you get too high? You know how silly you act when you have a few too many drinks? Both at the same time can be a recipe for disaster, so be careful and know your limits.
The good news is there aren’t too many other side effects of this combination that you wouldn’t get from using either substance alone. So just like with anything in life, don’t overdo it.
The successful combination of weed and alcohol can be a tricky undertaking. Stick with products you are familiar with so you can better gauge your limits. Things like vaping, dabbing, and edibles can have different effects than smoking, as can different types of alcohol, so be sure to keep that in mind.
If you are going to have a few drinks the next time you enjoy your favorite cannabis products, remember that drinking can affect how your body absorbs THC — for better or worse. The best thing you can do to assure a happy, healthy experience is to not to overdo it. Go with what you know, stay hydrated, and practice common sense.
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