Marijuana is a popular recreational drug. Even in the states that haven’t made marijuana legal see plenty of people using the drug for pleasure, as well as for medicinal purposes.
Though there are some that propose that marijuana is not an addictive drug, others disagree. In face, the Centers For Disease Control And Prevention states that 30% of users suffer from marijuana use disorder, which means they have become dependent on the drug.
Mixing Weed And Alcohol
There is a tendency to combine smoking weed and drinking alcohol. Though both substances provide similar effects, the experiences people have when using them can be enhanced if you use them together. That opens the way for alcohol and marijuana to be abused.
Why Do People Drink Before Smoking Weed?
Combining marijuana and alcohol produces a synergistic effect. This means that the way one feels is enhanced when they use both alcohol and weed together, rather than just using one substance. Alcohol helps in the absorption of the THC within the marijuana. This allows those smoking weed to enhance the high that they feel.
What Happens If You Have Marijuana Before Drinking?
Research is limited to what may happen if you smoke marijuana before drinking. There is the possibility that it can slow down the effects of alcohol. This means that you may not have a feeling of being intoxicated.
This can increase the possibility of drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. To avoid the risk, assume you have had too much to drink and stop.
The Effects Of Combining Alcohol And Marijuana
When mixing alcohol and marijuana, the results can be more than having a feeling of ecstasy.
Though both substances influence your central nervous system, they do so in two different ways. Marijuana acts on the brain’s cannabinoid receptors. The result is that thinking is impaired. Balance, posture, coordination, and reaction times are also affected as the THC from marijuana interacts with other regions of the brain.
Alcohol affects the neurotransmitters GABA and NMDA. Alcohol can mimic the activity of GABA by binding to GABA receptors. Though there is no short-term effect, prolonged abuse of alcohol can excite these receptors and the result is a sedated feeling. Also, the NMDA receptors are associated with learning and memory and alcohol can affect recollection of a memory.
When taken together, the effects of both alcohol and marijuana are enhanced. There is a heightened chance of impulsive behavior as well as impaired judgment calls. This can lead to personal harm as individuals decide to engage in risky activities.
Other issues that can occur when combing weed can be:
- Alcohol poisoning: We mentioned how marijuana can reduce feelings of intoxication. That can lead to people wanting to drink more at excessive levels. As a result, there is a possibility of developing alcohol poisoning, which can be fatal.
- You develop a long-term illness: Abusing any drug can have a long-lasting effect on your body. You have the risk of developing heart problems, suffering blood pressure issues, liver disease, or cancer.
- Side effects are enhanced: Typical side effects of marijuana use are time distortion, hallucinations, and delusions. For alcohol one may experience a change in mood (also a side effect shared with marijuana), nausea and vomiting, or a feeling of euphoria (again a similar experience as that provided by marijuana). These reactions are heightened when alcohol and marijuana are taken at the same time.
Alcohol And Weed Use: Be Careful
There can be legitimate circumstances around the need to use marijuana. One example is that in which it is taken for medicinal purposes. In this context, you need to pay careful attention to the effect alcohol may have when you drink while using marijuana.
Several factors come into consideration such as:
- Your tolerance level for either substance
- The strength of the alcohol and marijuana
- If you are taking other medication
Seek professional advice if you are wanting to have a drink while prescribed medical marijuana.
Conclusion
Both marijuana and alcohol are capable of providing one with a feeling of elation. This feeling may be enhanced when both substances are taken together. Marijuana can soften the sensation of being intoxicated which could lead to a person drinking more.
Other side effects, such as poor judgment and impaired thinking, are intensified by combining marijuana with alcohol.
If your situation requires you to have medical marijuana, then speak to your doctor or other medical professionals before deciding to drink.
