Regular use of alcohol and marijuana can have very harmful effects when consumed together.
Alcohol and marijuana are two of the most widely consumed psychoactive substances in the world. The initial effects of both drugs are associated with physical and psychological relaxation. For this reason, many people commonly take them simultaneously to facilitate a synergy. According to research conducted by Hartman’s team:
Controlled Vaporized Cannabis Administration: Blood and Plasma Cannabinoids with and without Alcohol (2015). When combining both drugs, alcohol potentiates the effects of marijuana by increasing the concentration of THC in the blood. This is the main psychoactive component of cannabis.
However, the study by Lukas’s group: Marijuana Attenuates the Rise in Plasma Ethanol Levels in Human Subjects (2015), states that consuming marijuana alters gastrointestinal motility. Alcohol is absorbed to a greater extent by the body, causing a decrease in alcohol’s effects.
Marijuana intoxication, like alcohol intoxication, decreases cognitive and behavioral performance (notably impairing working memory). It is not surprising that taking both substances produces even greater effects than consuming only one.
It is important to note that individuals experiencing physical and/or psychological dependence on one of these substances face a high risk of developing polysubstance abuse if they begin combining them, as they exert synergistic effects and can act as mutual substitutes.
Physiological and Psychological Effects of Mixing Alcohol and Marijuana
Consuming alcohol followed by marijuana increases THC concentration because alcohol facilitates its absorption in the digestive tract. When this combination is used recreationally, it can cause unpleasant physical and cognitive reactions, especially if the amount of alcohol is excessive.
The most common effects include pallor, sensations of dizziness and weakness, nausea, and vomiting. Additionally, mixing these two substances increases the likelihood of psychological symptoms such as anxiety (which can lead to panic attacks) or paranoid thoughts.
Combined consumption of alcohol and cannabis is one of the most common causes of traffic accidents worldwide. Mixing both substances significantly impairs the ability to concentrate and react quickly, two of the most critical skills in driving.
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