Weed / Marijuana / CBD

SPOTLIGHT WHY IS WEED SO POPULAR?

WOMEN & WEED

The idea that the cannabis industry is a maledriven market is going up in smoke (pun most definitely intended). Thanks to Miley Cyrus, Broad City’s Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson, and Rihanna, pot-smoking women are becoming more and more visible.

The stereotype that only men smoke cannabis is one that needs to be dismantled. It inaccurately reflects market reality and attempts to box women into sexist social roles, further perpetuating harmful myths about cannabis.

In the spirit of getting rid of these stereotypes and celebrating the increased visibility of pot-smoking women, here are the top reasons why marijuana could truly be useful for women:

1. Helps Treat Reproductive Health Issues

According to the Endocannabinoid Deficiency Foundation, cannabis can be an effective way to treat endometriosis and other female reproductive health issues.

2. Leads to Better Sex

Several studies have confirmed what potheads have already discovered: getting high tends to create more meaningful, more intimate, and a more all-around better experience.

3. Helps Women Through Menopause

Neuroscientist Michele Ross says that “cannabis is an optimal alternative for women who cannot take Estrogen Replacement Therapy due to the history of breast or ovarian cancer, heart disease, or lack of health insurance.”

4. Creates Longer, More Intense Orgasms

“Orgasms seem to last for 30 seconds and are incredibly intense,” said one women who was interviewed by Elite Daily. According to Dr. Mitch Earleywine, cannabis triggers receptors in the brain that are linked to “tactile sensations and general euphoria.”

5. Carve Out Time For Yourself

One of the benefits of marijuana use, in general, is that it helps you carve out a little bit of “me” time. This can be precious for women working hard to juggle numerous demands, responsibilities, and pressures.

6. Helps Create a Well-Balanced Life

Cannabis can help lead to a more balanced lifestyle, encouraging time away from the daily grind, making space for relaxation, and providing a variety of health and dietary benefits.

7. Long History Between Women and Weed

Despite what outdated stereotypes may say, women and weed go way back: Queen Victoria most likely smoked pot. The world’s oldest woman, Fulla Nayak, smoked pot regularly. And the female marijuana plant itself is the producer of the marijuana bud.

Now that you’ve finished reading all this feel free to get high in honor of the many connections between women and weed. lol

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The Food & Wine Guide to Culinary Cannabis

By Amanda M. Faison

In the last decade, marijuana has moved into the mainstream and onto the dinner table. As more chefs and entrepreneurs get in on the green rush, we're left to wonder: How do you eat and drink cannabis?

PHOTO CREDIT: STEFEN ROSS

On a recent Friday night, I got together with 180 strangers to get stoned. We convened at a swank event space at the invitation of 99th Floor, a cannabis dinner party pop-up company helmed by Jeepney chef Miguel Trinidad. "We want to destigmatize cannabis through the universal language of food," Trinidad said, before sending out a tour de force of cannabis cooking: Weed permeated the stock for the beef shank served in a gingery broth with spaetzle and fry bread; its flower was shaved over a carpaccio of charred, cannabis-infused octopus; terpenes, nonpsychoactive aromatic chemical compounds from the cannabis plant, provided floral notes to the roasted fennel that accompanied lamb chops that had been cooked, sous vide, in infused fat. (And my fears aside, nothing tasted like bong water. It was all delicious.)

As each course was served, Trinidad called attention to where THC (the compound responsible for marijuana's psychoactive effects) was incorporated—in a smoky eggplant puree with the carpaccio, in a Bordelaise sauce on the lamb—allowing us to moderate our intake somewhat. It was good that I'd talked to Trinidad about all of this ahead of time, because somewhere between the second and third courses, my eyeballs started feeling really weird, and my notes from the rest of the dinner were limited to: "Feeling great. Mirage burps. Womp womp."

Trinidad and his business partner, Doug Cohen, compare their approach to cannabis as analogous to a fine-dining meal with wine pairings.

"The goal is not to have you hammered," says Cohen. "It's a journey of the senses, an experience."

99th Floor is one of many new businesses working to meet the new cannabis consumer. Thanks to the growing social acceptance and legalization of cannabis, the number of adults trying it for the first time is skyrocketing. And an awful lot of people aren't smoking it—they are eating and drinking it.

According to studies by Arcview Market Research and BDS Analytics, which studies cannabis consumption, the top growth category is consumable cannabis. For the most part, that means edibles, which is a section of the cannabis market that has evolved far past the pot brownie; it also includes THC- and CBD-infused drinks, even ice cream. And across the nation, chefs and diners are exploring the versatility of the cannabis plant at the table in ways Jerry Garcia could never have imagined: infusing foods, pairing inhaled marijuana with food, and mining the spectrum of flavor profiles and distinct psychoactive effects of different cannabis strains.

At 99th Floor, I was lucky to be in the hands of a chef who was conservative with the dosing, so I left the evening pleasantly buzzed and not too high to find my way home. But

it's the wild west when it comes to culinary cannabis, and for every carefully dosed dinner party series, there's somebody eating too many THC-laced gummies and having a terrible night. Wondering how to navigate this new world?

CREDIT: SOURCES CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: 2018 GALLUP POLL; BDS ANALYTICS; ZENITH GLOBAL US CBD DRINKS REPORT PHOTO CREDIT: KRISTIN TEIG

The Basics

At the Original Cannabis Cafe in Los Angeles, guests can openly smoke pot and eat infused edibles while snacking on vegan nachos and sticky tamarind wings. Its opening represents the culmination of three-and-a-half years of legal hoop-jumping and bureaucratic negotiating. Guests order food and drinks from one menu, and pre-rolled joints, loose Put simply, marijuana and hemp are cousins in the cannabis family. The primary difference is that marijuana contains more tetra-hydrocannabinol, or THC, which has psychoactive effects on the human brain. Hemp, on the other hand, has extremely low levels of THC (0.3% or less) and is nonintoxicating. Both contain scores of cannabinoids (including cannabidiol, or CBD) and terpenes, which are aromatic chemical compounds that many believe can aid relaxation, cause changes in mood, and decrease inflammation. Most CBD on the market is derived from hemp and has no psychoactive effects. Without guidelines from the FDA (which is still exploring how to regulate CBD), it's critical that consumers do their homework before purchasing CBD products. Ashlae Warner of SuperGood, a CBD company based in Denver, recommends going to a company's website and looking for the Certificate of Analysis (COA), or third-party testing results that show the quantity of cannabinoids in the product. If the company won't share one, move on. When it comes to THC edibles, states where recreational marijuana is legal, including California, Colorado, Massachusetts, and Nevada, require testing for potency and contaminants by a third-party laboratory—but standards vary. A good sign that the product you're considering is legit. Prominent dosing marijuana flower, edibles, and cannabis concentrates from another. Bongs and glass pipes are available for rent. Due to California law, cannabis and alcohol are prohibited from being sold at the same venue, so all drinks are nonalcoholic, though some of them contain cannabis. Nothing on the food menu is infused, and guests can't take home any leftover cannabis. The idea is to enjoy imbibing before and during your meal, as you would with a glass of wine. That last point is particularly important to chef Andrea Drummer. The soft-spoken 47-year-old wants to destigmatize cannabis consumption in the U.S. "There's no better way to normalize [cannabis] than by combining it with something we do every day: eat," Drummer says. "It's two communal experiences at once." She hopes that the restaurant and other operations like it will help change both the cultural perception of cannabis and the legal status quo. Despite more states legalizing, cannabis arrests are rising, and according to the ACLU, black users are nearly four times more likely to be arrested than white, despite roughly equal usage. The cafe is attempting to counter some of that disparity by offering a Social Equity and Reparative Justice Program, which gives employment priority to recently pardoned nonviolent cannabis offenders reentering society. Drummer is outspoken on this point. "Why is it that I get to earn a living by doing something that's normal, while other people are doing life in prison?" she asks. information and testing by an accredited lab —Jamie Feldmar SOURCE: BDS ANALYTICS AND EAZE 2018 STATE OF CANNABIS REPORT right where you Edibles Grow Upcan see it: on the The most common edible purchased and consumed today is the label or on the gummy. "Far and away," says Greg Shoenfeld, vice president of website. operations at BDS Analytics, a cannabis analytics company based PHOTO CREDIT: in Boulder, Colorado. "And these are sophisticated STEFEN ROSS confectioneries." That, in a microcosm, is the forward motion of the ingestible market, the cannabis industry's fastest-growing sector, which pulled in $712 million from January 2019 to June 2019, an The First-Ever Legal Cannabis Restaurant increase of 27.5% from the previous year. GLOBALONEMAG.COM - 102 - SPRING 2021

The new face of edibles is beautiful packaging, refined flavors, and quality ingredients. The sugared gummy pearls of Portland, Oregon–based Grön are a shining example, as is Denver-based Coda Signature's coffee and doughnuts chocolate bar, dusted just so with cinnamon sugar. "There was an opening for wonderful flavors, quality ingredients, and bringing about nostalgia," says Lauren Gockley, director of edibles for Coda Signature, who spent two years working with chocolate and pastry under Thomas Keller at Per Se in New York City. In August 2019, Coda also launched a line of high-end fruit chews à la pâte de fruits in flavors such as strawberry rhubarb and, Gockley's favorite, coconut lime with makrut lime–infused sugar.

The high from an edible is very different (and has a delayed onset) than the one from inhaling marijuana. "Don't fear the edible; just start slow," says Laurie Wolf, founder of Laurie + MaryJane, an influential cannabis edibles company in Portland, Oregon.

PHOTO CREDIT: FRANK LAWLOR/KITCHEN TOKE

Start Low, Go Slow

Edibles often contain 5 to 10 milligrams of THC, but if you're new to cannabis, start by microdosing with 1 or 2 milligrams and work up from there. Unlike inhaled marijuana, it can take over an hour to feel an edible's effects—and the high lasts much longer. So, divide a 5-milligram gummy into quarters and eat one piece, or look for

smaller doses.

Store Them Safely

Edibles look just like regular treats. To avoid accidental intoxication (especially by children), store edibles in clearly marked bags (such as those from kushsupplyco.com) and way out of kids' reach.

PHOTO CREDIT: EVA KOLENKO/KITCHEN TOKE

8 Edibles to Look For

99th Floor

Chef Miguel Trinidad will soon launch a line of edibles in California and, once legalization takes hold, New York. Until then, dinner guests can take home a goody bag of THC-infused hard candies. facebook.com/99thfl

Coda Signature

These truffles and chocolate bars are some of the most popular in the Colorado market. "Some people only get half a square, so it better taste amazing," says Lauren Gockley, director of edibles. codasignature.com

Grön

Premium THC- and CBD-infused chocolate bars, sugar-coated pearls, and chocolate-covered coffee beans in gorgeous, modern packaging from Christine Smith, a Portland, Oregon–based former architect. gronchocolate.com

Laurie + Mary Jane

Cake bites, truffles, cheese crackers, and a potent fudge (called Fudge Yourself and dosed at 50 milligrams of THC apiece) show the range of this Portland, Oregon, company from cannabis advocate Laurie Wolf. laurieandmaryjane.com

Lord Jones

Made in Los Angeles, these dazzling gumdrops (in flavors like green apple) and chocolate confections (like the dark chocolate espresso chews) are infused with CBD and come in boxes suited for fine jewelry. lordjones.com

Mindy's Edibles

Chicago chef Mindy Segal, who won the James Beard Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef in 2012, has turned to creating cannabisinfused cookies, brittles, and more. And yes, there is a pot-infused brownie. mindysedibles.com

Numb Nuts

Adam Weiss, owner of Breckenridge Organic Therapy (a dispensary), and his wife, Carlin Karr, wine director at Frasca Food and Wine, roast nuts and pepitas with maple syrup, rosemary, red pepper flakes, and CBD. numbnutsco.com

Willie's Reserve

Musician Willie Nelson's edibles company was born out of the dedication his wife, Annie, had to creating high-end marijuanainfused chocolate. Today, the line includes fruity chews and hard candies. williesreserve.com

CREDIT: EVA KOLENKO/KITCHEN TOKE

Cannabis at the Table Pairings vs. Infusions

If an event mentions "pairings," that means inhaled marijuana will be matched up with courses throughout the meal. There may be a "budtender." At an infused dinner, THC is in the food.

How to "Taste" a Joint

There's a three-step tasting method for inhaled cannabis, says Rachel Burkons of Altered Plates. First, nose the unlit marijuana to take in the aroma of the terpenes. Then, do a "dry pull," or inhale without lighting, to get the flavor on your palate. Finally, once it's lit, notice the mouthfeel of the smoke. "It's like a wine tasting— nose, aroma, palate, and finish," Burkons says.

If You Overdo It

Drink water and take a walk outside. Some chefs recommend taking some CBD. "When people get too high, they get stressed, and CBD helps them relax and gain focus," says David Yusefzadeh.

Where the Weed Dinners Are 99th Floor (National)

Jeepney chef Miguel Trinidad and his business partner, Doug Cohen, host infused dinners around the U.S.: Think Szechuan noodles with rib eye and infused chile oil (facebook.com/99thfl).

Are cannabis-infused drinks the future of the beverage industry?

Drinks offer an easy pathway to cannabis consumption. "The experience is something that's familiar," says Niccolo Aieta, founder and chief technology officer of Colorado-based Spherex, which makes Phyx, a THC-infused sparkling water. "I have a drink [because] I want to celebrate or party or relax." The earliest adopters of cannabis drinks have been small companies, but big beverage isn't far behind: Last year, Constellation Brands (whose holdings include Modelo Negra and Corona) invested $4 billion in a Canadian marijuana company, and Heavenly Rx, a hemp- and CBD-focused wellness company, announced a substantial investment in Jones Soda in July 2019. Like alcohol, infused drinks are digested and absorbed into the bloodstream relatively quickly. The onset of the high can be faster than with edibles, and imbibers can more easily quantify how much they're drinking (e.g., a can of sparkling water) and pull back as needed.

Altered Plates (California)

The brother-sister team of chef Holden Jagger and Rachel Burkons specializes in curated cannabis pairings in and around Los Angeles (alteredplatesevents.com).

Eat Sacrilicious (Massachusetts)

Boston chef David Yusefzadeh offers a terpene cocktail with his CBD- and THC-infused dishes. Save room for the infused ice cream (eatsacrilicious.com).

Herbal Notes (Illinois)

At these fine-dining events in Chicago, chef Manuel Mendoza prepares infused fare like THC-cured salmon in a CBD-infused brown butter with a blood orange–koji glaze (herbalnotes.co).

Beer Buzz

Cannabis and hops have similar chemical properties, and in Portland, Oregon, Coalition Brewing celebrates their synergy with Two Flowers, a CBD-infused IPA (coalitionbrewing.com). In partnership with Canna Craft in Santa Rosa, California, Lagunitas Brewing Company makes Hi-Fi Hops, an IPA-inspired sparkling beverage infused with THC. (With 10 milligrams of THC or 5 milligrams each of THC and CBD; sold at dispensaries in California and Colorado.)

If You Like LaCroix

A bottle of Phyx sparkling water contains 2.5 milligrams each of THC and CBD. "You get the feeling of two glasses of wine—calm, relaxed," says marketing director Kelly Calvillo (wearespherex.com).

Mason Jar Event Group (Colorado)

Pairings like a joint or a shaving of THC chocolate over dessert allow guests at Kendal Norris' Denver dinners to set their pace (masonjareventgroup.com).

Michigan Cannabis Chefs (Michigan)

Lynette Marie and Nigel Douglas call their Grand Rapids, Michigan, dinners "field to fork first, cannabis-infused second" (micannabischefs.com).

Sinsemil. La (New York)

This underground New York City supper club focuses its attention on cannabis as part of haute cuisine (sinsemil.la).

Enhanced ice cream is one of the coolest trends in cannabis cuisine. Here are three to scoop now: 3JS Hice Cream

Launched in Denver on April 1, 2019 ("People thought we were joking," says cofounder Jonathan Schillace), this THC-infused "hice" cream can be found in flavors like caramel apple pie at dispensaries across Colorado (3jshicecream.com).

Cloud Creamery

In Boston, chef David Yusefzadeh builds his CBD- and THCinfused flavors around ingredients like fresh mint and vanilla beans. Look for them at dispensaries in Massachusetts; one day, he plans to open a scoop shop (cloudcreamery.co).

Prohibition Creamery

This Austin parlor's lineup includes Afternoon Delight, for which owner Laura Aidan infuses a red velvet ice cream base with hempderived CBD oil and swirls in cream cheese roosting (prohibitioncreamery.com).

Soda Pot

Seattle-based Olala's lemon-lime citrus cannabis-infused soda is reminiscent of Squirt. Pick your dose: from 10 milligrams of THC to an obliterative 100 (enjoyolala.com). Sprig's CBD-infused seltzer line ships nationwide and comes in citrus, tea, and melon flavors (drinksprig.com).

Cannabis Cocktails

Using nanotechnology that renders fat-soluble cannabinoids more water soluble, The Tinley Beverage Company out of Los Angeles created an amaretto-esque almond and apricot THC-infused "liqueur" called Almond Cask. Also look for their bottled takes on classic cocktails: the margarita-ish Stone Daisy and Moscow Mule–riffing High Horse (drinktinley.com).

Not Your Average Joe

Cascadia Coffee Roasters in Portland, Oregon, launched CBDinfused bottled cold brew in their cafés last August (cascadiaroasters.com). And Willie Nelson, the world's most famous stoner, slings Willie's Remedy CBD-infused coffee beans, available in medium, dark, and decaf with approximately 1 milligram of CBD per gram of beans (williesremedy.com).

A Cup of Tea +

Each compostable Keurig pod of BrewbudzGarden of Eden black tea serves up 10 to 50 milligrams of THC (leafly.com). Joy Tea in San Francisco offers bottled iced tea infused with 25 milligrams of CBD (getjoytea.com). In Portland, Oregon, try Camellia Grove Kombucha Co's CBD-infused kombucha (camelliagrovekombucha.com).

THC "Wine"

Napa's House of Saka takes wine, removes the alcohol, and adds THC and CBD to make Saka White, Saka Red,and the rosé-like Saka Pink (houseofsaka.com). In Sonoma, Rebel Coast's Sauvignon Blanc serves up 0.5% alcohol and 40 milligrams of THC per bottle (rebelcoast.com).

SOURCE: BDS ANALYTICS

On the Horizon

The Whole Plant

Lumen makes cold-pressed hemp shots from a minimally processed source. It's the closest you can get to eating raw hemp Leaves (drinklumen.com).

Weed Somms

The Trichome Institute teaches weed somms, or entrepreneurs, to identify terpenes, pinpointing each plant's psychoactive and medicinal properties (trichomeinstitute.com).

Better Classification

Marijuana was once categorized two ways: indica, broad leaf, was thought to be sedating; sativa, narrow leaf, stimulating. The industry now sees it on a spectrum, emphasizing a strain's effects, like "happy" or "calm." And expect more nuanced labeling: There's talk of mapping the plant's taxonomy and its strains to help determine which terpenes and cannabinoids work best for each individual.

Weed Vs. Wine

"Wine country is weed country," says Jamie Evans, founder of The Herb Somm, a cannabis lifestyle brand in the San Francisco Bay Area and author of the forthcoming book The Ultimate Guide to CBD. With a similar agricultural focus and emphasis on terroir, Evans says, "It makes sense for both industries to come together to collaborate." There are those who agree, as the rise of cannatourism and wine-and-weed tours cropping up in destinations like Sonoma County attest. But there are just as many wine growers and vintners who see the cannabis industry as a danger to their livelihood. Because cannabis and wine are farmed in many of the same places, the new crop has been the source of some tension in both industries, which compete for laborers, real estate, and customers.

Pairing Weed & Wine

It's common knowledge that marijuana and food go well together. What may not be as commonly understood is the way premium marijuana strains can complement fine wines, too. You don't have to be a wine sommelier or cannabis aficionado to find the perfect strain of cannabis to compliment your glass of vino. In fact, finding the perfect weed-to-wine pairing might be as simple as consulting your local dispensary or liquor store to discover the taste or flavor profile of your selection.

Pairing marijuana and wine based on taste

Taste is one of our five senses, perceived by sensors on the tongue called taste buds. Taste buds are able to distinguish between six different taste profiles including sweet, salty, sour, bitter, umami (meaty) and fatty (like butter or cream). If you can figure out which of these are most prominent in either your wine choice or bud choice, you can pick the other based on complementary (often opposite) taste profiles. Chances are you'll be pleased with the results! People seem to prefer pairing things that balance taste and texture. This explains why red wine common pair for steak is. The astringent (sharp and bitter) taste of the dry wine counteracts the greasy texture of the meat. Taking this into account, if you'd like to find the perfect wine and weed pairing based on taste profile, consider which taste is most prominent in either your wine or your weed and find the opposing taste profile in the other. For example, if you prefer bold, red wines which tend to be very dry (because most of the sugar has been fermented), the perfect pair would be something sweet like the Jellybean or Strawberry Cough strains. Conversely, sweet wines like Rieslings or Moscato’s pair well with earthy strains like White Rhino or Headband.

Pairing wine and weed based on flavor

Flavor, on the other hand, is much more complex. Unlike taste, which is a basic sensory perception, flavor encompasses multiple senses. It is a combination of taste, texture, sight, smell and (sometimes) sound, to create a unique (highly subjective) experience. Pairing wine and weed based on flavor will therefore be very subjective, too, but the process can be made simpler by matching the most prominent flavors in each. For example, when pairing cannabis with Shiraz (which commonly features the flavors of black pepper and other spices), a good pair might include either a strain of White Widow or Super Lemon Haze which will complement the pepper notes of the wine.

Other examples of wine and weed pairings based on flavor include the following:

Red wine pairings

• Zinfandel + Strawberry Haze or Blueberry: Strawberry Haze feature berry flavors that work well with Zinfandel's sweet, almost "jelly-like" flavor. Hints of spice from this potent wine will counteract the hard-hitting punch of these energetic strains nicely. • Sangiovese + Church OG or Himalayan Gold: Church OG features a distinct tobacco flavor which is also characteristic of a Sangiovese wine from Tuscany. Other common flavors associated with this bold red wine include black cherry and tea which complement the sweet yet spicy flavors of these strains as well. • Amarone + Sensi Star or Alien Dog: Sensi Star and Alien Dawg are very bitter strains that complement the slightly nutty taste of an Amarone wine. Hailed as one of the best wines in Italy, Amarone features a full body and prominent "tears" or "legs" which are characteristic of its high alcohol content. Its smoky, bitter chocolate flavor complements the earthy flavor of these strains quite well. • Cabernet Sauvignon + Golden Goat or Berry OG: These strains feature oak flavors that work well against the sweet, peppery flavor of Cabernet Sauvignon. The sweet flavor of these hybrid strains may also help bring out hints of vanilla or mint in your Cab.

White wine pairings

• Chardonnay + Lemon Haze or Agent Orange: These strains are both good choices for pairing with a Chardonnay because they feature a sweet flavor with a sour aftertaste. Both strains are very uplifting (though the Lemon Haze is more so) which will work well with Chardonnay's thick body and high alcohol content. • Sauvignon Blanc + Mango or Amnesia Haze: Sauvignon Blanc often features a very sweet, almost tropical flavor which makes it a good choice to pair with either Mango or Amnesia Haze. Together, these substances will create an uplifting effect to go with their sweet flavors and strong acidic finish. • Moscato + Grapefruit or Girl Scout Cookies: Moscato wines always feature a prominent fruity flavor with a slight musky aroma. Grapefruit or Girl Scout Cookies would therefore pair nicely with this dessert wine because of their complementary flavors, light body, and nice buzz. • Riesling + Hollywood OG or Rocklock: These strains compliment a Riesling wine because of the characteristic sweet apple flavors in each. Like the wine, the sweet (and often sour) flavor of these strains (coupled with a relaxing body buzz) can make for the perfect end to a lovely dinner party.

Learn to pair wine and marijuana like a pro

As you experiment and refine your ability to distinguish different flavors and consistencies in products, your knowledge about wine and weed pairings will grow. To help you hone your skills more quickly, you can also attend a wine and weed pairing course. You will learn how to pair wine with weed (and amazing food) from experienced chefs, sommeliers, and cannabis connoisseurs. Cultivating Spirits also hosts private parties and custom events to fit your needs and guest list.

Because of marijuana legalization, people are finally able to enjoy the finer things in life which includes the ability to pair quality wine with premium marijuana strains. By carefully pairing wine and weed, you can truly learn to appreciate the finer aspects of both -- flavor, texture, sensation -and you can do so thanks to our new-found freedom to consume. Have you ever tried to pair wine and marijuana?

WELLNESS

What Happens When Alcohol and Weed Mix?

When it comes to drugs, alcohol and weed are among the most commonly used substances. But what really happens when they team up? Occasionally mixing alcohol and weed — also known as crossfading — likely won’t lead to major health problems. But there are a lot of variables to consider, including which one you use first and how you consume them. If you aren’t careful, the duo can lead to a case of the spins or a green out, two reactions that can turn a fun night out into a nauseated night in.

It’s also important to remember that people can have very different reactions to the same mix of alcohol and weed. If you’re out in a group, one person’s reaction might be very different than yours.

If you drink alcohol before using weed?

Drinking before using weed can intensify weed’s effects. This is because alcohol increases the absorption of weed’s main psychoactive ingredient, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This generally results in a stronger high. While this might be nice for some folks, it can cause others to green out. This refers to a range of unpleasant physical symptoms that can result from a strong high. Symptoms of a green out include: • sweating • dizziness • nausea • vomiting

Alcohol before weed: Proceed with caution

Drinking alcohol before using weed can ramp up the effects of THC. If you’re a seasoned pro, this might not be a huge deal. But if you’re sensitive to weed or don’t have much experience using it, it’s best to avoid mixing the two. If you do, move slowly and be sure to listen to your body.

Breaking down the research

Turns out, you might not need much alcohol to change the way your body absorbs THC. In a 2015 study, 19 participants drank either a placebo or small amount of alcohol. Ten minutes later, they used a vaporizer to inhale either a low or a high dose of THC. The researchers found significantly higher peak THC levels among participants who had alcohol versus those who had a placebo. This was true for both low and high doses of THC. However, this study was pretty small, making it hard to draw any firm conclusions. Plus, a similar (but equally small) 2010 study Trusted Source found that alcohol consumption didn’t have much of an effect on THC concentrations.

What happens when you use weed before drinking?

While there’s some research around the effects of drinking alcohol before using weed, there isn’t much about the opposite approach. The studies that do exist are old and mostly inconclusive. For

example, a 1992 study Trusted Source had 15 participants smoke a placebo, a high dose of THC, or a low dose of THC on three occasions. On each occasion, they’d rank a different dose of alcohol, including a placebo, as a low dose or a high dose.

Weed appeared to slow down the rise of blood alcohol levels after consuming a high dose of alcohol. But a 1993 letter to the editor Trusted Source questioned this result. If using weed does indeed slow the absorption of alcohol, it might also delay feelings of drunkenness. This might seem like a good thing, but it makes it harder to know how impaired you really are.

For example, you might feel like you’re good to drive, but your blood alcohol level may be well over the legal limit.

Weed before alcohol: If you had an extra drink or two

Using weed before drinking alcohol may minimize the effects of alcohol. This means you might be tipsier than you feel, increasing your risk for becoming overly intoxicated. If you use weed before drinking, pay extra attention to how much you’ve had to drink. To err on the side of caution, assume you’ve had a bit more to drink than you actually have, or aim to drink less than you usually would without using weed.

So, there aren’t any major risks?

It’s hard to say. There’s isn’t a ton of high-quality research on the topic. Still, there’s some evidence to suggest that regularly combining alcohol and weed may have some concerning effects over time.

Higher risk of dependence

A 2017 review of existing studies notes that people who use alcohol and weed together tend to consume more of both.

This can increase your risk for developing a dependence on alcohol, weed, or both.

Decreased cognitive function

A study from 2011Trusted Source evaluated performance on cognitive tasks among 21 heavy weed users who had consumed alcohol. Those who consumed just alcohol had worse cognitive functioning than those who only consumed THC. Those who combined the two had reduced cognitive performance than those who only consumed alcohol. Over the long term, combining alcohol and weed may be associated with decreased cognitive function and changes in brain structures, such as the hippocampus.

Impaired driving

• A number of recent studies also focus on how combining weed and alcohol affects your driving. In a 2013 study

Trusted Source, 80 people participated in six testing sessions. In each session, participants consumed a different combination of placebo, low, and moderate doses of THC and alcohol. Then they completed a driving simulation. • The researchers reported that combining THC and alcohol consistently impaired driving performance, with worse performance during nighttime simulations. • Adding alcohol to a low dose of THC impaired driving simulator scores by 21 percent. Adding alcohol to a high dose of THC impaired driving simulator scores by 17 percent. • The big takeaway? Don’t drive after using marijuana or drinking alcohol. Period.

Other things to consider

When mixing weed and alcohol, there are a lot of other variables to consider in addition to which one you use first. These include: • your tolerance to either substance • the type and strength of the alcohol • whether you smoke, vape, or take edibles • the time interval between taking each substance • whether you also use other substances, including tobacco or caffeine • whether you take medication

The safest bet is to avoid using weed and alcohol together. But if you do decide to mix the two, start slow and keep track of how much you’re consuming of each. Keep a running tab in your phone if you have to.

Remember, consuming weed and alcohol together can make you feel either more or less intoxicated than you would if you were using just one or the other.

If you take medication, talk to your doctor before using weed, alcohol, or both. They may weaken the effectiveness of your medication or increase your risk for certain side effects.

How to handle a bad reaction

If you’ve mixed weed and alcohol and are having a bad reaction, it’s probably because alcohol seems to make the high from using weed stronger. The resulting unpleasantness is casually known as a green out. This can happen any time you’ve consumed to much weed — with or without alcohol.

Signs of a green out can include: • shivering • chills • sweating • rapid heart rate • lightheadedness • stomach problems • nausea and vomiting • paranoia • anxiety

Handling a green out

Whether you’re trying to keep still in a spinning room or breaking out in a clammy sweat, these tips can help you make it through: • Stay calm. When it comes to bad reactions, patience is key. Your feelings will go away in time. If possible, find something, such as music, to focus on other than your discomfort. • Sit or lie down. If you feel dizzy, find a quiet place to rest until you feel better. If possible, ask a friend to help you get home. • Eat or drink to boost your blood sugar. A bit of food or a sugary drink can help relieve dizziness. Try something hearty, like soup broth. If you don’t have any on hand, juice will do. • Stay hydrated. Both alcohol and weed can leave you feeling dehydrated. That can lead to dry mouth, headaches, and dizziness. Drink water to put your body back on track. • Squeeze a lemon. Lemons contain a chemical compound that may decrease Trusted Source the effects of THC in the brain.

Adding lemon juice or zest to some water might help when you’re feeling too high. • Smell crushed peppercorns. Similarly, peppercorns contain a compound that some say helps when you’re greening out. To take advantage, crush or grind a handful of peppercorns, then take a long inhale. Just don’t get too close. You don’t want to actually get the pepper in your nose. • Talk to someone. If you can, get a trusted friend to keep you company. They can help you stay calm and pass the time.

When to get help: Usually, a bad reaction to mixing weed and alcohol will pass within a few hours. You may even wake up with some lingering effects the next day.

But if you’ve been drinking a lot, it might be hard to tell the difference between a green out and alcohol poisoning, which can be life-threatening if not treated.

Note: Many women are being presribed medical majiauanna.