#RdRMixing: cannabis (THC) + alcohol
The psicoactive menu of each person is a formula depending on a lot of factors and more flexible for some than for others, just like food regimes. In the same way there exist many food diets (Mediterranean, vegan, vegetarian, detox, alkaline, etc.), there is also a variety of diets for the spirit. From the most exacting proposals (abstinent or abstemious) to the more flexible ones (policonsumption) there is a wide fan of possibilities and modulations. In this post we analyse one of the most common mixes, that of cannabis and alcohol, with a focus on the risks and the pleasures it provides.
In the 4th century before our era, the Greeks rose a temple in honour to Apollo in Delphi. Until the Christians brought it downs entirely to erase all traces of heathenism, up on the temple's entry there was an inscription that read «know thyself». This proverbial mandate, updated by our particular zeitgeist and risk management policies when it comes to cannabis consumption (RdRCannabis) into «know your dose», carries in a few words a big part of the wisdom to bequeath to those who will come next. As all witticisms, it contains in itself more than meets the eye.
Without virtues like moderation or self-knowledge, the chance to encounter (or repeat) a bad experience when treating your conscience with drugs is high –that is, your way of relating with your surroundings and with those you cohabit with. Yet then, most often than not, the standard way to meet your own limits is through trial and error: overdose or support somebody close who overdosed. As RdRCannabis has claimed somewhere, we learn through imitation: the youngest in front of drug-use.
It is in this context that objective, treasured information on how cannabis mixes interact in our organism with other drugs may mark a difference and save us unwanted experiences. Definitely, the most classical mix in our context is that of cannabis and alcohol. We make an assumption that a majority of persons that consume cannabis mix it with tobacco. The issue is that the mixing of alcohol and cannabis, which in English is called crossfading, has a final effect that none of the two can have if used separately. Let’s see why.
First of all, we must account for why different persons using the same amount of alcohol or cannabis may have very distinct effects: due to tolerance. So much for alcohol as well as for cannabis, effects will diverge if the person is a regular user or not. And when we say diverge we mean -especially- that, for those who do not have previous experience with drugs, effects will be far stronger and unpredictable.
Everybody knows that alcohol is a depressor of the nervous system which, at low doses, has desinhibiting and euphoric effects. Also, that cannabis produces some relaxing effects, although depending on its variety or power, these may vary.
The fact is that a survey proofed that the use of cannabis has effects on the small bowel, as it alters the gastrointestinal tract by making blood alcohol results lower than if only alcohol had been consumed. That is why, if cannabis is smoked before drinking, you are under the risk to go on drinking without realising you were drunk before it was too late.
A complementary survey found that alcohol had the opposite effect to THC, that is to say, if you first drink and next smoke, plasma THC levels shoot and you are the more stoned. This is due to the fact that alcohol acts on the digestive system blood vessels, aiding the body’s takeover of THC. Therefore, drinking alcohol abundantly and next smoking cannabis may take you straight to pull a whitey. Supposedly, if the type of cannabis you use is powerful, depending on its concentration (dab) and whether it is edible, the mixing may result explosive indeed. Another key factor to have in mind is the site you pick for the experience: whether it is your home sofa, a bar, the park or a disco will have a bearing on the intensity of the moment and on the margin of manoeuvre once the dizziness, the cold sweat, the vomit or even the paranoia start to set in. In the same way, if you have drunk you must try to moderate cannabis use and not go beyond the subtle divide between connectedness and disconnectedness with your surroundings. Another factor that will make a difference is the power of the alcohol intake: it is always less risky to drink low strength alcohol (beer / wine) than liqueurs or distillates if you are using cannabis simultaneously.
A situation demanding special caution is driving under the effects of alcohol and cannabis mixes. Any combination of the two is absolutely banned if driving is planned afterwards, as reaction ability is highly dwarfed and thus driving hazards rocket exponentially.
