A number of recent studies also focus on how combining weed and alcohol affects your driving. For example, you might feel like you’re good to drive, but your blood alcohol level may be well over the legal limit. Drinking alcohol before using weed can ramp up the effects of THC. But if you’re sensitive to weed or don’t have much experience using it, it’s best to avoid mixing the two. Hangovers and an increasing sense of anxiety on the mornings after affected her work performance and her ability to exercise, an enjoyable part of her life. High doses of marijuana can also cause temporary psychotic reactions, such as hallucinations and paranoia in some people.
- There’s a delay in when you feel edibles because it can take time for the THC to be absorbed into your bloodstream.
- Drinking can lead to alcoholic liver disease, which can progress to fibrosis of the liver, which in turn can potentially lead to liver cancer, Murray said.
- The way you consume weed can have a big impact on its short- and long-term effects.
- Because some people are stoned a lot of the time, while others may use marijuana only on weekends, the health effects become difficult to generalize.
- The study included the brain images of 853 adults who were aged between 18 and 55 years and 439 teenagers between the ages of 14 and 18.
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. If a person chooses to buy weed or hemp online or at a smoke shop, be sure to choose a product with a label that shows they have paid an independent outside company to assure the purity of their products, he said. “First, I want to commend her for giving up alcohol,” said Grinspoon, who is on the board of the advocacy group Doctors for Drug Policy Reform, which addresses cannabis, psychedelic and drug regulation in general. After a few months of total sobriety, however, B began to experiment with cannabis gummies and found them easy to incorporate with a nonalcoholic drink or two.
Alcohol is strongly linked with several types of cancer; marijuana is not.
A couple of studies found that men who use marijuana regularly had more problems with erectile dysfunction and needed medication to counteract that side effect. There are no similar studies that look at women’s sexual satisfaction under the influence of pot. Yet some studies on whether alcohol or marijuana really cause weight gain have been contradictory. Why is alcohol more socially accepted, despite all the evidence stacking up against it? Carroll thinks that’s an accident of history — because it’s been around and legal for a longer period of time.
Alcohol vs Weed: How Similar Are Their Effects on the Body?
The most severe long-term effects are seen in heavy, chronic, or binge users who begin using in their teens. Our clinicians have all been hand-selected and personally trained by Dr. Amen, whose mission is to end mental illness by creating a revolution in brain health. Over the last 30-plus years, ACI has built the world’s largest database of functional brain scans—over 250,000 SPECT scans on patients from 155 countries—related to how people think, feel, and behave. Young adults and older folks who use cannabis regularly are also vulnerable to these mental health problems because of the effects of marijuana on the brain—even in those who might not have cannabis use disorder.
Varieties of cannabis that contain low levels of THC (less than 0.3%) are classified as hemp, while those with more than 0.3% THC are considered cannabis. However, the type and amount of cannabinoids that different cannabis-based products claim to contain vary widely — and the labels aren’t necessarily accurate, says Dr. Gruber. “Researchers are working around the clock to try to identify the ingredients in marijuana that have potential,” to benefit human health, Baler said. “You’re cumulatively impairing your cognitive function. What’s going to be the ultimate result, nobody can say.” Drug experts broadly agree that individuals and society would arguably be better off if marijuana became the most accepted recreational intoxicant of choice instead of alcohol. There’s also some divergence within the specific categories of harm.
That study has drawn widespread media attention, appearing in outlets like what does being an enabler mean the Washington Post, the Guardian, the New Republic, and here at Vox. The short-term effects of weed and alcohol differ from person to person. The way you consume weed can have a big impact on its short- and long-term effects. For example, smoking is rough on your lungs, but this risk doesn’t apply to edibles. However, dosing with edibles can be imperfect and take time to ascertain so when using edibles it’s best to pace yourself and examine how you feel.
What happens when you use weed before drinking?
Many cannabis-infused drinks list THC as an ingredient, and while there is no standard dose, 5 milligrams (mg) is typically used in research studies of the drug. Some “low-dose” beverages contain 2 to 4 mg of THC in an 8-ounce container. The drinks may also contain caffeine, alcohol, or other substances. This means that for people taking drugs or medications while drinking, the alcohol can increase or decrease levels of the active drug in the body. It’s possible to develop an emotional and/or physical dependence on both substances. Green Health Docs’ mission is to combat the nation’s opioid epidemic.
Alcohol ‘more damaging to brain health than marijuana’
While one person might feel relaxed while drunk, another might feel restless. Alcohol can contribute to social and behavioral issues, including aggression, mood swings, outbursts, relationship issues, and legal troubles. Alcohol can cause cognitive impairment which can lead to poor judgment, decreased coordination, and memory loss and in some cases blackouts. Cannabis on the other hand can make you feel relaxed as well decrease your depression or anxiety. However, excessive use can actually cause paranoia or nervousness. It’s important to note that when cannabis gets legalized many people may use cannabis semi-legally by consuming illegally purchased cannabis which can lead to them consuming more than standard dosages.
