Is It Safe to Mix THC and Alcohol?

Table of Contents

• Can You Mix THC and Alcohol?
• Mixing Alcohol and Marijuana: Safety Concerns
• Mixing Alcohol and Marijuana: Why Order of Consumption Matters
• Other Considerations
• Signs of a Negative Reaction
• The Takeaway
  

Alcohol may pair nicely in certain scenarios—think beer and wings, wine and cheese, or gin and olives. But what about drinking alcohol and using marijuana, and more specifically, alcohol and THC? Tetrahydrocannabinol is the psychoactive compound that gives cannabis its signature "high," while alcohol has its own intoxicating effects that affect your central nervous system.

Considering that alcohol and marijuana are among the most commonly used substances in the country, combining them might seem like it could enhance a good time. But there can be serious health risks, and it's important to understand how using these two substances together can create dangerous situations. If you're wondering whether it's safe to mix THC and alcohol, the straightforward answer is no. Let's break down why.

Can You Mix Alcohol and Marijuana?

While you can technically mix alcohol and cannabis—no one's going to physically stop you—it's not a wise choice. Known colloquially as "crossfading," mixing alcohol and marijuana once or twice is unlikely to cause serious long-term health issues. But if you're drinking alcohol while consuming, say, THC gummies in hopes of having a better time, you might be setting yourself up for the opposite experience.

That's because, like everything related to cannabis, personal variables play a significant role in how these substances affect you. Different folks can experience very different reactions when they mix alcohol and weed. The most likely outcome of combining alcohol and THC is unpleasant side effects that ruin what was supposed to be a fun evening. But you're also putting yourself at higher risk of serious problems, including alcohol poisoning.

Even if you initially find the combined effects favorable, mixing these two drugs can set you up for potential health issues in the long run and immediate safety concerns in the short term.

Mixing THC and Marijuana: Safety Concerns

At this point, there isn't an extensive library of research into the health risks of mixing alcohol and cannabis. But the evidence we do have is concerning, to put it mildly.

One 2017 clinical review examining the concurrent use of alcohol and marijuana found that people who regularly combine both substances are more likely to consume more frequently and in higher doses. They also showed an increased risk of making poor decisions, such as drunk driving. Additionally, they had a greater likelihood of developing substance use disorders and mental health problems.

Potential Side Effects and Risks

Both alcohol and marijuana affect your central nervous system, but in different ways. When you mix alcohol and THC, it often amplifies their individual effects, creating a wildly unpredictable experience. The combined effects of mixing alcohol and cannabis can include:

• Greater level of impairment: You already know that both alcohol and THC cause impairment, meaning you shouldn't drive or do anything requiring coordination when under the influence. This becomes even more critical when you mix alcohol and weed, because your level of impairment increases dramatically. As that happens, so does your risk of accidents and injuries.
• Greater likelihood of overconsumption: It becomes much harder to gauge how intoxicated you are when you mix alcohol and THC, which can lead to consuming more of both substances before you realize how impaired you've become. Since proper dosing is crucial with THC, and alcohol poisoning is a real danger if you drink too much, this creates serious health risks.
• Increased chance of dehydration: You might think you're staying hydrated by drinking steadily, but alcohol is incredibly dehydrating. Cannabis use can also contribute to dehydration. Combining alcohol and THC can worsen dehydration, leading to unpleasant side effects like headaches, dizziness, and nausea.
• Long-term health risks: According to the Mental Health Services Administration, people who make a habit of mixing alcohol and cannabis face a greater risk of long-term health conditions affecting their mental health and cognitive function. It also increases the risk of developing alcohol use disorder or other substance abuse issues.

Mixing Alcohol and THC: Why Order of Consumption Matters

By now, you've probably recognized that mixing alcohol and marijuana creates more problems than benefits. But let's say you're determined to proceed anyway—though we'd much rather recommend skipping the alcohol altogether in favor of a federally legal, lab-tested THC gummy like those we make here at Cornbread Hemp.

If you're insistent on drinking alcohol and using cannabis at the same time, understand that the order of consumption matters significantly. And be very clear that you should only consider this in a completely safe environment where you don't need to drive, work, or do anything requiring a clear head.

Drinking Alcohol Before Consuming THC

You've been drinking, and someone offers you a THC gummy. Before you accept, you need to understand exactly what happens when you drink alcohol before consuming cannabis. The short version is that alcohol generally intensifies THC's effects because ethanol, alcohol's active ingredient, increases cannabinoid absorption by dilating blood vessels. In other words, you're much more likely to experience an intense high.

That might sound appealing, but very often the experience crosses into "too high" territory, with a much greater likelihood of adverse side effects. This is known as a "green out," which occurs when cannabinoid receptors in your brain become overstimulated. This leads to unpleasant physical symptoms like sweating, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and the panicked feeling that you're way too intoxicated.

The method of THC consumption also matters. With ingested THC like gummies, you're already set up for a more intense experience even before factoring in the alcohol. That's because your body metabolizes ingested THC differently from smoked marijuana. Effects take longer to appear since the THC must move through your digestive system before being processed in your liver, but the result is more potent and longer-lasting. Combined with alcohol, you could be in for a lengthy, uncomfortable experience.

Remember, proper dosing is crucial when consuming THC, especially with edibles—it's a very different experience than smoking marijuana. The slow onset can tempt people to consume more too soon, and this scenario becomes much more likely when you've been drinking. Alcohol impairs your ability to judge how you're feeling, potentially leading to consuming more THC than intended.

Consuming THC Before Drinking Alcohol

What if the situation is reversed, and you start drinking after eating a THC gummy? Research is largely inconclusive, but some studies suggest cannabis might slow alcohol absorption by changing how it's metabolized, potentially delaying those obvious signs of impairment. This doesn't mean you're not intoxicated—it just means you might not feel like you are.

Other research indicates that marijuana users who mix alcohol and THC are two to three times more likely to engage in binge drinking—consuming five or more drinks in a single session. This puts you at risk of making poor decisions and can lead to alcohol poisoning, which is a medical emergency.

Other Considerations

It's not just the order of consumption you need to consider when mixing alcohol and THC. Cannabis use affects everyone differently, and numerous factors influence its effects. When combining THC with alcohol, you must consider how you typically respond to both substances, including:

• Your tolerance level for both THC and alcohol
• Your metabolism, body weight, body composition, and current hydration level
• The type of alcohol you’re drinking and how strong it is
• Method of consumption for the THC, along with its potency and dosage
• How much time has passed between your alcohol and THC consumption
• Any prescription medications you might be taking
• Whether you’ve also consumed other substances, like caffeine or tobacco

Clearly, there are many variables in this scenario, making it easier than you might think to overdo it. If you insist on proceeding with mixing alcohol and marijuana despite the risks, go extremely slowly, start with very low doses of both substances, and carefully track when and how much you consume.

Signs of a Negative Reaction

The truth is that the risk of a bad reaction is quite high when you mix alcohol and weed, precisely because combining these two drugs leads to such intense effects. The more alcohol you consume, the more impaired you become. At best, you avoid drinking so much that you vomit and wake up with a mild hangover. At worst, you consume enough to require emergency medical attention for alcohol poisoning.

Negative effects from THC are almost always related to overconsumption, which becomes much more likely when you combine alcohol and cannabis. Common signs of a negative reaction to mixing alcohol and THC include:

• Chills and shivering
• Sweating
• High heart rate
• Feeling lightheaded
• Gastrointestinal issues
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Anxiety
• Panic attacks
• Paranoia

If you're experiencing these symptoms, try to stay calm. You may feel more comfortable sitting or lying down with your feet firmly planted on the ground. Sip water slowly to rehydrate, and ask a trusted friend to stay with you while you recover.

In most cases, a bad reaction to mixing THC and alcohol will resolve within a few hours, though you may feel unwell the next day.

It's not always easy to distinguish between a green out and alcohol poisoning. Still, alcohol poisoning typically involves more severe symptoms, including extreme confusion, slow or irregular breathing, low body temperature, seizures, and bluish skin, especially if someone is losing consciousness. In such cases, seek medical attention immediately—this is a medical emergency.

The Takeaway

Mixing alcohol and THC might seem like it could enhance your evening, but the reality is often overwhelming and unpleasant. Research clearly shows that combining these substances has adverse effects in both the short and long term, making it a risky choice.

Recent studies have been very clear that alcohol consumption itself is a health hazard with no upsides. That’s why people are increasingly turning to cannabis consumption for social situations.

Cornbread Hemp THC Gummies—the only USDA organic THC gummy on the market—are designed to help folks feel relaxed, happy, and more engaged with life, minus the hangover and other adverse effects associated with drinking alcohol. Our gummies contain 10mg of THC balanced with 10mg of CBD for a mellow, controlled experience, and they meet all federal requirements for legal hemp products.

If your goal is to have a good time, don't mix alcohol and marijuana. You'll have far more control over your experience if you start with a low dose of THC and pay close attention to how you're feeling. Cannabis can provide the relaxation and social enhancement many people seek from alcohol, but without the dehydration, hangovers, and health risks that come with drinking.