Alcohol and Marijuana: Combined Effects and Risks

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. You may put yourself in risky or dangerous situations if you’re drinking or using marijuana, and an alcohol and marijuana combination makes this even more likely. While people might use a combination of alcohol and marijuana to experience a more intense high, this can be dangerous. People may use a combination of these substances to get more of an effect for both or combat the side effects of one or the other, but it can be risky and unsafe. Because more alcohol is usually consumed when using alcohol and marijuana at the same time, users are at risk for alcohol poisoning and should pay close attention to how much they are consuming.

Increasingly, studies exploring marijuana and alcohol demonstrate they can be harmful when used together.
More extreme symptoms can include shakiness, flu-like symptoms, and abdominal pain.
The combination also significantly impairs judgment, coordination, and reaction time far more than either substance alone.
When users start seeking more extreme effects, the potential for alcohol poisoning and addiction rise precipitously.

This is the case even if you use medical marijuana, since THC and alcohol have been found to interact. The exact risks of mixing marijuana and alcohol, or other cannabinoids and alcohol, are not well studied. The potency of either substance combining alcohol and marijuana produces can also impact the level of alcohol and weed concentration in your blood. However, the use of edibles with alcohol could be unpredictable, as many people do not feel the effects of the THC for a long period.

Taking cannabis (marijuana) and alcohol can result in undesirable short-term and long-term effects. While several states have legalized or decriminalized weed (marijuana or cannabis), using it is not without risk. Ramaekers JG, Theunissen EL, de Brouwer M, Toennes SW, Moeller MR, Kauert G. Tolerance and cross-tolerance to neurocognitive effects of THC and alcohol in heavy cannabis users.

Risks of Mixing Cannabis and Alcohol

The Recovery Village Columbus offers comprehensive addiction treatment for drug and alcohol addictions and co-occurring mental health conditions. It is always recommended to consult with a healthcare provider before consuming alcohol and cannabis together. Patients with certain medical conditions, such as liver disease or mental health disorders, should also exercise caution when consuming both substances. Still, this is a pretty common combination that people try in an attempt to enhance the effects of both substances. Another risk of an alcohol and marijuana combination is that you may take too much of either substance.

Legal

While there is some evidence for marijuana’s anti-tumor properties, the science is far from complete. Medical marijuana patients use the plant for a wide number of ailments. The cannabis flowers are dried and smoked to release a range of cannabinoids which produce a psychoactive and/or therapeutic effect. Contact a Recovery Advocate today to take the first step toward living a healthier life. However, some strategies can minimize your risk if you do take them together. “Greening out” or getting “cross-faded” refer to being drunk and high at the same time.

When you drink alcohol before consuming weed –– whether smoking, vaping, or taking edibles –– this increases THC levels in your blood, Lyter says. This may be partially due to the fact that both substances act on the body’s endocannabinoid system. “Weed and alcohol have a synergistic relationship, consuming them together amplifies and intensifies the effects of both,” says Sarah Lyter, LCPC, MA, a Clinical Supervisor at Charlie Health.

According to recent research, around 75% of young people who use cannabis also drink 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. The impact on liver function can be more severe than with alcohol alone, as both substances require liver processing. If you’ve been drinking heavily, it’s best to avoid cannabis altogether, as alcohol expands your blood vessels and can dramatically increase THC absorption.

Alcohol Poisoning and Marijuana Overdose

So if you’re planning to detox from marijuana, drinking alcohol is not advised. Further, if you try to cut back on either alcohol or cannabis, your reliance on the other substance is likely to increase. You can absorb THC more quickly when there’s alcohol in your blood, which can increase the risk of experiencing uncomfortable side effects. When people drink and smoke marijuana together, alcohol increases the amount of THC that is absorbed into the body.

These include monitoring the number of drinks consumed, pacing consumption over time, and using tools like breathalyzers or blood tests to measure alcohol levels.
The cannabis flowers are dried and smoked to release a range of cannabinoids which produce a psychoactive and/or therapeutic effect.
Certain conditions make individuals more likely to consume more than one drug at a time, such as alcohol and cannabis.
It may be a one-time occurrence, or the effects could linger.
Addiction Center does not endorse any treatment facility or guarantee the quality of care provided, or the results to be achieved, by any treatment facility.

Higher risk of dependence

The sooner that you start treatment, the lower the chances of your misuse worsening over time. These signs of overdose or THC toxicity are a medical emergency. For instance, a beer has lower alcohol per volume, and people tend to drink it more slowly than a shot.

Drinking alcohol after smoking weed

There’s also the potential for developing cannabis use disorder, where someone becomes dependent on the drug in their daily life. More significant side effects can include memory problems, difficulty concentrating, and impacts on motivation, particularly with regular, heavy use. Physical coordination and reaction time can be impaired, which is why driving under the influence is both dangerous and illegal. These effects largely depend on the balance of compounds present in the particular strain and the individual’s own body chemistry and tolerance levels. Cannabis has a complex substance interaction with the human body’s endocannabinoid system, a network of receptors that plays a role in mood, memory, appetite, and pain sensation. Before deciding to use both together, it’s worth knowing how they interact and what risks you might be taking.

Impaired driving

A 2013 study found that those who combined weed and alcohol showed consistently impaired driving performance during driving simulations. Weed and alcohol together can also impair reaction times and other cognitive functions necessary for safe driving. Both drugs have similar effects on the body and mind, including drowsiness, slowed reflexes, and changes in judgment and time perception. Keep in mind that combining the two may be linked to a decline in cognitive function and an increased risk of dependence. It might seem harmless to mix alcohol and weed, but doing so can be a slippery slope toward getting overly intoxicated. Both weed and alcohol, together and on their own, are also potentially addictive and can lead to dependence and misuse.

However, younger and inexperienced drinkers are also known to overdose on alcohol when they fail to understand their own limits or succumb to peer pressure to drink far more than is prudent. An alcoholic overdose can be fatal or leave lasting damage, while a marijuana overdose might be very unpleasant but has almost never been found to be fatal on its own. Use also increases when users experience a difficult time in their lives, such as the loss of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or even mental illness. When a drinker introduces cannabis to the mix, the effects of the both substance are enhanced. If you or a loved one are struggling with marijuana, alcohol or polysubstance abuse, The Recovery Village Columbus can help. However, alcohol overdose is well documented and often requires medical attention.

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

This means starting with small amounts of both substances and gradually increasing the dosage as needed. Therefore, you should be especially cautious about combining liquor and weed. This can increase the risk of adverse outcomes, such as impaired judgment, slowed reaction times, and decreased motor control. Beer, for example, typically contains a lower percentage of alcohol, or ABV, making it less likely to result in severe impairment when consumed alongside cannabis.

How to handle a bad reaction

Although weed can relax some people, it may cause heightened anxiety and panic attacks in others. The risk is higher for those who started using cannabis earlier in life and use it frequently. “If too much alcohol is consumed with this combination, it can lead to alcohol poisoning,” she adds. As for how cannabis consumption impacts alcohol consumption, there’s some old research suggesting that cannabis slows down the rise in blood alcohol levels if you smoke before you drink. This higher level of THC may result in “greening out,” which is essentially a marijuana overdose.

Those who used alcohol and marijuana were more likely to drive unsafely than those who used alcohol and marijuana separately. 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. Depending on the method in which marijuana is consumed, the user can start feeling effects within minutes. Sunnyside Med offers access to compounded naltrexone (50mg + B6 5mg), paired with behavioral tools to help you reduce your drinking over time. Used alone and in moderation, these substances can be consumed safely and legally in certain states.