CBD and Alcohol Interactions: Understanding the Risks and Rewards

Most weed users know this by experience: mixing it with alcohol is not the wisest decision. This practice is known as crossfading. It doesn’t lead to major health problems in most cases, but it does cause unpleasant temporary symptoms, such as vomiting, nausea, dizziness, and sweating. Why does this happen? Alcohol boosts the body’s ability to absorb THC. That’s why it’s not recommended mixing it with this chemical, even in the smallest doses.

But what happens with the combination of CBD and alcohol? Since cannabidiol doesn’t have any psychoactive properties, this combo shouldn’t cause such serious side effects. CBD is known for improving sleep, soothing anxiety and pain, and other beneficial properties. Can booze enhance them? Let’s explore the issue in detail.

Are There Any Effects of Mixing Alcohol and CBD?

There isn’t much research done on the interaction of CBD with alcohol. Based on the small number of studies that we do have, there are a few effects that we should be aware of. There is one particular study called the Interaction of cannabidiol and alcohol in humans. Here’s what the researchers found:

• CBD oil significantly reduced the level of alcohol in the consumer’s blood when the combo of CBD + alcohol was compared to booze use alone.

We found another significant study: The effect of cannabidiol, alone and in combination with ethanol, on human performance.

• Cannabidiol does not demonstrate a significant effect on human performance, either alone or when used in combination with ethanol. The blood ethanol levels weren’t significantly affected, and there wasn’t any measurable effect on the consumers’ pulse rate.

More research is needed, to say the least. For now, there is an assumption that the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of cannabidiol could provide benefits for drinkers, especially for those struggling with alcoholism.

This is the most significant finding: CBD has the potential to inhibit oxidative stress and protect the liver from excessive consumption of alcohol. The researchers found that the chemical can prevent acute liver steatosis caused by alcohol use. Although the experiment was conducted in mice, the findings are important.

Can CBD and Alcohol Be Taken Together?

Yes; they can be taken together safely. From what we know, cannabidiol does not make booze more dangerous. The growing interest in CBD-infused beer is justified from that perspective. If you’re about to have some beer or wine, combining it with this chemical may protect your liver from the damaging effects of ethanol.

Does this mean that we can justify drinking alcohol excessively just because a mix with CBD may make it a tiny bit safer? No! Having a beer or two is okay. Drinking excessively is never fine.

We’ll list a few of the dangers of excessive use, which we should all be aware of:

• The mix of CBD with alcohol may lead to higher consumption. You will believe that the negative effects of ethanol on your body are mitigated by the chemical, and that mindset will make you drink more. This can increase the risk of alcohol dependence and make the withdrawal process more difficult.
• Booze will still have an effect on your cognitive functions. It will impair your focus and driving abilities. That’s why it’s safer to have your can of CBD beer for the evening, before going to bed.

In moderation, CBD-infused alcoholic beverages are completely safe to consume. The beer tastes nice, and it does have some enjoyable effects. It will relax you, and the CBD contents will protect your liver to a certain extent. The difference is in moderation; that’s where we should draw the line.

So far, the studies show exactly that: the combo is safe when used in moderation.

Conclusion

The important thing to understand is that CBD will not offset the effects of alcohol. You will still get drunk by using it excessively. The chemical will mildly protect your liver because of its effect as an antioxidant. But that doesn’t mean that it will completely block the damaging effects of booze.

When mixing alcohol and CBD, control is the way to go. We still don’t know much about the combo. Users say that it feels good when CBD-infused drinks are consumed in moderation. It’s best to stay safe by keeping it that way.