And because of the way alcohol increases THC absorption, you’ll need less cannabis to get you on the road to stonerville. For the experienced cannabis user, a drink or two might seem like a wonderful shortcut to getting higher than a kite. It’s important to remember that moderation is key when it comes to substance use.
While awaiting medical attention, it is important to keep the person safe from harm. Thisincludespreventing injury and providing reassurance and emotional support. If you or someone you care about needs help with addiction treatment, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of American Addiction Centers admissions navigators at .
Chemically speaking, alcohol is a broad term that refers to a class of organic compounds that contain a hydroxyl (-OH) functional group. The most common type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages is ethanol, which is produced through the fermentation of sugars and starches found in various crops like grapes, grains, and potatoes. Meanwhile, as of 2023, medical cannabis is legal in 38 states, while recreational use is legal in 23 states and the District of Columbia.
Both drugs have similar effects on the body and mind, including drowsiness, slowed reflexes, and changes in judgment and time perception. This means you might be tipsier than you feel, increasing your risk for becoming overly intoxicated. 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. However, use of edibles with alcohol could be unpredictable as many people do not feel the effects of the THC for a long period of time. 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. During the early stages of drinking, the brain releases more of the “feel good” chemical dopamine.
This is consistent with research demonstrating the combined effect of cannabis and alcohol compared to either alone may have the biggest influence on driving tasks 41. High school seniors who used cannabis and alcohol together had the highest rates of unsafe driving compared to students who co-used the substances less frequently 15. Bramness et al. 42 conducted a retrospective cross-sectional forensic database study examining drivers apprehended by the police suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs.
If you take medication, talk to your doctor before using weed, alcohol, or both. They may weaken the effectiveness of your medication strongest vodka in the world or increase your risk for certain side effects. Remember, consuming weed and alcohol together can make you feel either more or less intoxicated than you would if you were using just one or the other. When mixing weed and alcohol, there are a lot of other variables to consider in addition to which one you use first. Those who consumed just alcohol had worse cognitive functioning than those who only consumed THC.
In a 2015 study, 19 participants drank either a placebo or small amount of alcohol. Ten minutes later, they used a vaporizer to inhale either a low or a high dose of THC. The analyses comport with other recent survey data that more broadly looked at American views on marijuana versus alcohol. For example, a Gallup survey found that respondents view cannabis as less harmful than alcohol, tobacco and nicotine vapes—and more adults now smoke cannabis than smoke cigarettes. Among New Zealand’s indigenous Māori population, respondents were more likely to report that marijuana use reduced intake of alcohol, tobacco, methamphetamine and LSD.
