Mixing cannabis and alcohol is a popular choice for those experimenting with drugs, but it comes with risks that we will explore in this article.
Fermented fruit such as grapes have been used to make ethanol for thousands of years. Fermented fruits and honey were used as early as the Egyptian civilisation and in 7000BC China.
In 2700 BC, the ‘wine goddesses’ of the Babylonians was worshiped. Towards the 16th Century, spirits were used in medical professions, which was swiftly followed by a passing in British parliament, allowing cheap spirits to saturate the market.
With the widespread and common occurrence of drinking in the 21st century, there have been alcohol units prohibited for certain exercises and activities. Both men and women are heavily advised not to drink more that 14 units every week, not all in a single day.
On average, it takes the body over an hour to process one unit of alcohol. In England and Wales, this has meant that the driving limit for alcohol is around 80milligrams per 100milligrams of blood.
This is also called the ‘blood limit. Two pints of beer is enough to put you over the limit to drive, or if you consumed a glass of wine worth 2 units, you would have to wait an average of 2 hours before it is safe to drive.
Moderate alcohol consumption is casual due to its social enhancement. People tend to drink to relax and feel a sense of euphoria, added to ‘drinking cultures’ where many social events include alcohol. However, it is easy to slip into alcoholism due to its euphoric effects, much alike cannabis.
Also known as marijuana or weed, cannabis is the most common illegal drug in the UK. The effects vary person to person, depending on how much you use and how often.
Side effects of Cannabis:
This latter side effect is a common negative side effect. Regular use of cannabis increases the risk of negative psychotic illness. Hallucinations and delusions can make it difficult to distinguish the effects of cannabis from reality, leading to disassociation.
Cannabis takes these forms:
Cannabis can be rolled up with tobacco like a cigarette and smoked as a joint, or a blunt (without tobacco). You can also smoke marijuana using a bong, pipe or vaporiser.
Many users don’t like the taste or don’t smoke, so use it through edibles. For example, it is commonly eaten in brownies or cakes.
The effects of smoking are usually the fastest, but edibles can take longer than 30 minutes to feel the desired effects. Weed also stays in your system for a long time, for as long as 90 days on your hair and 40 hours in your blood.
The range of effects can vary depending on height, age, and dosage.
Not everyone enjoys cannabis; for many, it’s a relaxed feeling of carefree euphoria, but for some it can induce immediate panic attacks and severe anxiety for days after the use. Always be aware what you’re putting in your body and how you might react to drugs, if you do try it, try a very small dose first and be very wary.
Mixing cannabis and alcohol is known as crossfading. Both weed and alcohol are depressants, used together they negatively affect the user’s brain. Drinking alcohol and smoking weed can increase the effects of cannabis, effecting:
These impairments are amplified, possibly leaving you to ‘whitey’ or ‘green out’, which is where an intense sick feeling is experienced. When someone used both marijuana and alcohol together, they will feel the effects of both very quickly and more pronounced.
As they both impact the central nervous system, the most heavily impaired systems are:
Whiteying is a drug slang term regarding when a drug user starts to feel faint, sick or vomits. This term derives from the term ‘whiteout’, the snowy weather condition that causes a loss of vision and disorientation.
A user’s skin will start to go very pale and feel faint due to a drop in blood pressure from the drugs and alcohol mixed together.
It can merely happen because you are tired or hungry, but normally because you have smoked too much or mixed with too much alcohol.
Whiteying is perceived by the ‘stoner’ culture as a result of too much cannabis in a small and short period of time. These episodes last about 15 minutes minimum, followed by the usual drug comedown afterwards.
Smokers can experience a dramatic and intense drop in blood pressure, where the body then responds with an increased heart rate. These can lead to:
If you do start to feel sick or faint, then make sure to eat a portion of food with substances such as high sugar, and drink lots of fluids.
If alcohol is mixed with marijuana, the results can be life-threatening. If used in moderation, a whitey could be the least of your worries. If you are experimenting with drugs or alcohol, do so in small amounts, and do not mix them together.
Combining the two can increase the risks of depression and anxiety and cause severe issues with sense of time and perception. The level of unpredictability is high, which is why you must be careful when drinking and using cannabis.
Mixing alcohol and cannabis is harmless for many, but if you are the small percentage that suffers the negative consequences, you need to be careful. Get help now if you feel you are at risk, it’s never too late.
Boris is our editor-in-chief at Rehab 4 Addiction. Boris is an addiction expert with more than 20 years in the field. His expertise covers a broad of topics relating to addiction, rehab and recovery. Boris is an addiction therapist and assists in the alcohol detox and rehab process. Boris has been featured on a variety of websites, including the BBC, Verywell Mind and Healthline. You can connect with Boris online at LinkedIn or X.com.
