This could lead to severe impairments to functioning and a higher risk of overdose. Overdose is a medical emergency that can lead to brain damage from loss of oxygen, coma, or death. There is little research on what happens if you drink alcohol first and then use cannabis, and vice versa.

Cannabis use and other illicit drug use: Testing the cannabis gateway hypothesis

Before getting into comparing alcohol and weed, it’s important to understand some of the factors that make the comparison tricky. THC can change how alcohol is metabolized in the body by pulling alcohol more slowly out of your GI tract. Alcohol can also affect the brain, making it harder to discern whether you had too much to drink. When it comes to health and safety, are you setting yourself up for double trouble or enhancing your drug experience when mixing the two? Science shows that the answer boils down to how often you crossfade and which drug you use first. If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol or marijuana addiction, help is available.

They also found that negative consequences were not more likely to occur when multiple types of cannabis products were used with one type of alcohol and that using concentrates with alcohol was not more dangerous than flower. Drinking alcohol and getting high at the same time – sometimes known as “crossfading” – can enhance the effects of both and potentially lead to some real side effects. In the United States, the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit for driving is 0.08% in nearly every state. It is never advised to operate a vehicle or machinery while under the influence of either alcohol or cannabis.

1. Participants drank alcohol (placebo or low dose) and inhaled 500 mg vaporized cannabis (placebo, 2.9%, or 6.7% THC) ad libitum for 10 min before completing a driving simulation.
2. The study authors found that people who felt “stressed, angry, tired, and/or out of control” were more likely to use both substances at the same time.
3. Here’s where Floridians will and won’t be allowed to smoke if the amendment passes and how it compares to laws around alcohol consumption.
4. Any type of alcohol — whether it’s wine, beer, or a shot — increases the absorption of THC in cannabis products by priming liver enzymes.
5. Research indicates that people who mix alcohol and cannabis are more likely than those who only drink alcohol to engage in sensation seeking behavior.

Epidemiology, Comorbidity, and Associated Problems of Cannabis and Alcohol Use Disorders

Consequently, THC may either dampen ethanol’s effects or replace desire for more. More laboratory work is needed to examine how cannabis affects motivation to use alcohol and vice versa. An alternative consideration may be that adolescents in most states are unable to toosie colombian drug obtain a medical cannabis card until age 18, which complicates the ability to disentangle potential complementary effects from age-related restrictions to accessing cannabis. Findings from preclinical research support the existence of potential cross-tolerance between cannabis and alcohol that may have important translational implications for clinical research. Although clinical studies consistently demonstrate increased cognitive and behavioral impairment from co-use at varying doses, interpretation of blood THC levels is complex due to rapidly decreasing concentrations immediately following smoking. With driving under the influence for example, blood THC concentrations obtained from drivers may be lower than set limits despite greatly exceeding them while driving.

While some may see crossfading as a way to enhance their experience, it’s important to understand the risks involved in mixing substances. While alcohol and cannabis affect the brain differently, they share a similar target called the dopamine reward system. The release of dopamine helps achieve a pleasurable drug experience and increases reinforcement behavior to do it again in the future, explains Joseph R. Volpicelli, medical director of the Volpicelli Center, an addiction treatment facility in Pennsylvania. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that drinking and smoking simultaneously, otherwise known as crossfading, is a common practice. Estimating intoxication can be challenging when combining alcohol and cannabis, but several tips and tricks can help. 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-Faded: When You Are Drunk and High at the Same Time

Daily marijuana use raises the risk of stroke by 42% and heart attack by 25%, even if there is no prior history of heart disease and the person has never smoked or vaped tobacco, according to a February 2024 study. By using cannabis before the age of 25, young people can permanently damage their brains, wreaking havoc with their ability to learn, remember, solve problems and pay attention, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Binge drinking, defined as consuming four or more drinks in two hours for women (five or more for men) was on the rise during the pandemic.

The exact risks of mixing marijuana and alcohol, or other cannabinoids and alcohol, are not well studied. However, you can avoid and identify health emergencies to protect yourself and those around you if you choose to use either of these substances recreationally or you have a prescription for medical marijuana. The combination of alcohol and weed can make existing mental health issues like anxiety, depression, or psychosis worse.

Potential for misuse

They were also more likely to use the substances in a bar or party context, making it more likely that they would have to drive somewhere afterwards. The study authors found that people who felt “stressed, angry, tired, and/or out of control” were more likely to use both substances at the same time. Alcohol and marijuana are two of the most commonly used substances in the United States, with 17% of Americans stating that they smoke marijuana and 62% of American adults saying that they currently drink alcohol.