It’s no secret that cannabis and alcohol are among the most used substances worldwide. Some people use them separately, others one after the other, but what happens when people use cannabis and alcohol immediately or simultaneously?
Mixing cannabis and alcohol is known as crossfading. It is not known to lead to any major health issues, but this depends on whether several variables are considered.
Among these variables is which of these two is used first or how much of each is consumed. It is also important to note that the effects of crossfading can vary from person to person depending on factors like sex, the type of weed or alcohol consumed, and body tolerance of any of the drugs.
The effects of cannabis on the human body are still being researched extensively. This means that they can be unpredictable and combining cannabis and alcohol might give you a more intense high and be dangerous.
The body absorbs THC faster when the active ingredient in alcohol, ethanol, is present in the body, inducing a more intense high but with dire side effects.
Crossfading is also known to lead to more impairment of body senses compared to when each is consumed on its own.
Impairment puts users at risk of accidents and fatal injury. It is also associated with nausea, dizziness, and excessive sweating.
Regular users of cannabis and alcohol are at risk of suffering from or developing issues with dependence on one or both. It is also difficult to take breaks or cut back on either.
The effects, as stated earlier, are also dependent on which is consumed first. Below we look at these specific effects in detail.
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Consuming cannabis before alcohol.
When weed is consumed before drinking alcohol, the compounds in cannabis will slow down the rise of alcohol levels in the blood.
This will, in turn, slow down the effects of alcohol on the body. Users will take longer to feel the drunk sensation brought about by the consumption of alcohol.
Sometimes they don’t even get drunk at all. This is tempting and might sound like a good thing, but it also means that users will lose track of how much they have had to drink since there is no drunk feeling.
Weed will therefore mask how impaired a user is. People who consume cannabis before alcohol drink more than usual, leading to alcohol poisoning.
Should you, therefore, decide to smoke first before drinking a beer, make sure you drink less than what you always do because of the delayed effects.
If it usually takes two beers to give you a light buzz and four to get you drunk, weed will alter this. Two beers won’t do anything, and the four will give you a mild or slight buzz.
However, it is essential to know that weed delays the effects of alcohol. You will not feel drunk, but the hangover will hit you. You can deal with hangovers using the 9-pound hammer strain.
Consuming cannabis after alcohol
When users light up and smoke a blunt, eat an edible, or vape marijuana after taking alcohol, they will experience a more intense but unpleasant high.
We have seen earlier that if ethanol is absorbed into the bloodstream after THC is absorbed, THC will slow down the rise of ethanol levels in the blood.
However, if alcohol is consumed first before ingesting or smoking marijuana, the effects are the reverse. The body will absorb THC faster and in larger amounts if there’s alcohol or ethanol present in the blood. This will lead to a more intense high, no doubt, but research shows that it is usually unpleasant.
Therefore, it is right to say consuming alcohol before marijuana will intensify the effects of weed. Sometimes it is a nice feeling, defined by a relaxed and calm sensation. Other times it isn’t good and can cause what is referred to as a green out.
Effects of alcohol after weed
- Weed delays and minimizes feelings of drunkenness
- Alcohol poisoning since users is less aware of how much they have had to drink.
Effects of weed after alcohol
- A more intense high since THC is absorbed faster and in larger quantities
- A green out characterized by: nausea, dizziness, anxiety, paranoia, panic, sweating, and hallucinations
Greenout
A green-out is a substance-induced psychological or physiological panic attack. Its symptoms vary from person to person, but some general ones include nausea, sweating, palpitations of the heart, paranoia, and sometimes the fear of death.
A green out is initially caused by the ingestion of too much marijuana instantly. The presence of ethanol in the blood when consuming marijuana will result in almost similar effects due to the increased absorption of the THC compound.
Greening out happens because the brain receptors will be flooded with a lot of THC. This causes a light toxicity effect and system overload.
A green out is not life-threatening but isn’t a fun experience. The body affected will keep switching between the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems bringing about paranoia, chills, dizziness, anxiety, a racing mind, and nausea.
Consumers ought to know that cannabis and alcohol can be safe to consume together if appropriate measures mitigate the risks involved.
One of the major risks is alcohol poisoning caused by overdrinking. Consuming marijuana in excess has not been associated with any major health issues.
However, if smoked, it puts a user at risk of suffering throat irritation caused by prolonged exposure to hot smoke and ash. Consuming alcohol in excess or alcohol poisoning is dangerous.
Signs of alcohol poisoning
- Dull reflexes
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Seizures
- Slow pulse or heartbeat
- Repeated loss of consciousness
- Slow and irregular breathing
- Pale skin
Note that alcohol poisoning is fatal. If you suspect someone to be experiencing this, call for help immediately.
Limiting each intake is essential if you decide to mix cannabis and alcohol. Talk to a doctor about prescribed marijuana to get a dose and strain best suited for your needs.