You know that marijuana can be dangerous if consumed with alcohol.
It can cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.
Yup, it doesn’t sound like fun!
Is CBD oil the same thing as marijuana?
Although derived from the cannabis sativa plant, CBD oil is not the same thing as marijuana. That’s why when it comes to consuming it with alcohol, the effects are different.
Here’s everything you need to know about alcohol and CBD oil interactions. After all, you want to ensure that your CBD oil continues to have pleasant and healing effects on you.
Contents
CBD Oil Has No THC
One of the most important things to know about CBD oil is that it doesn’t contain THC – this is the part of the cannabis plant that makes you become high.
But, does that mean that consuming CBD oil before or during a night out in which you drink a lot of booze is safe?
No! Here’s why.
The Dangers Of Mixing Alcohol And CBD Oil
There are some important things to be aware of when it comes to mixing alcohol and CBD oil.
It Can Sedate You
One of the reasons why people take CBD oil is because of how it’s known to have a calming effect on them. This isn’t just anecdotal – science backs it up.
A study that was published in the Neuropsychopharmacology journal found that CBD can produce feelings of calm and even decrease feelings of anxiety for people who have to speak in public, therefore it’s a useful way to manage conditions such as social anxiety disorder.
As for alcohol, you know that it can do the same thing. You might feel relaxed after having a drink or two.
The danger of this is that taking two substances that both enhance feelings of calm can cause you to become too sedated.
This can be especially dangerous if you’re getting behind the wheel or feel sleepy in an unsafe place.
This is something to be even more concerned about if you’re taking a lot of alcohol, CBD oil, or both.
It Affects Your Brain
A study that was published in the same journal as the one previously mentioned found that when people took 200mg of CBD with one gram of alcohol for every 2.2 pounds of their body weight, they had severe impairments when it came to functions like motor performance, and their perception of time was also affected.
However, what’s most interesting about this study is that the participants didn’t experience those negative side effects when they only took CBD and gave the alcohol a miss.
So, there’s clearly something to be said for mixing CBD oil and alcohol. It’s probably best to give it a skip, especially if you’re taking both in large amounts.
It Enhances Your Usual Drunk Self
Of course, as with any substances, people can be affected by them in different ways.
Giordana told Vice that how a combination of alcohol and CBD will affect you will depend on how alcohol usually affects you.
So, if you’re usually the type of person who becomes really mellow when you’re drunk, CBD will just intensify this reaction – and potentially sedate you.
How Should You Take Alcohol And CBD?
You might think that avoiding taking alcohol and CBD oil simultaneously is enough to prevent unwanted side effects such as sedation, but you actually have to ensure you don’t take both of them over the period of a few hours.
According to James Giordano, neurology and biochemistry professor at Georgetown University Medical Center (via Vice), alcohol and CBD can interact if you take them within the time period of four to eight hours of each other!
If you don’t follow this guideline, it could cause the CBD you take to have a more powerful effect.
But What About The Interesting Studies On CBD And Alcohol?
It seems there’s quite a hot debate surrounding the issue of taking alcohol and CBD oil together, with some studies actually showing that there might be some benefits to doing so.
For example, in a study that was published in Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, rodents displayed less neurodegeneration from alcohol when they were given CBD via a topical gel.
Another study, this time published in Free Radical Biology & Medicine, found that rodents who were given CBD half an hour before alcohol were less likely to have oxidative damage in the liver, which is induced by alcohol.
Researchers say this is because alcohol can cause fat to build up in the liver, which causes inflammation.
CBD, however, does the opposite and this can actually counteract the negative effects caused by alcohol.
In spite of these studies, it’s still not a good idea to mix alcohol and CBD.
While your liver might be thankful for you giving it less oxidative damage, you won’t feel good when experiencing side effects such as intense sedation or reduced reaction time.
Besides, the above studies have only been animal-based and more studies are required to look at the effects of CBD and alcohol on the human body.
Could CBD Protect One Against Alcohol Addiction?
Although CBD oil and alcohol can potentially lead to unpleasant side effects or put you in a dangerous situation, there is some interesting research that shows CBD could actually offset withdrawal symptoms when it comes to people who are addicted to alcohol!
Some animal studies have been conducted on this topic, and they have shown that CBD can actually decrease symptoms of withdrawal and addiction, as Healthline explains.
However, more human-based studies are required to prove this.
Should You Take CBD To Treat A Nasty Hangover?
If you find that those hangover cures you get from your friends don’t help to make you feel better, you might be tempted to try CBD oil instead.
After all, if it can potentially help with alcohol withdrawal, surely it could help to treat hangover-related symptoms, such as nausea and headaches?
There’s no final decision on whether or not CBD oil can treat hangovers, but there are some promising reasons why you should try it the next time you’re feeling sick, as long as you take it several hours after having consumed alcohol.
It Resets Your Endocannabinoid System (ECS) System
Your body has a system that contains cannabinoid receptors, which work hard to keep your body functioning as they regulate things like appetite, pain, and sleep.
When you drink a lot of alcohol, this can affect how these receptors work. CBD can help to regulate these receptors and put them back on track, as Byrdie reports.
It Can Deal With Nausea
Nausea is a common hangover experience, but a study that was published in the British Journal of Pharmacology has found that CBD can help to send nausea packing.
In fact, animal studies have shown that CBD can treat the kinds of nausea that are difficult to quell.
It Eliminates Depression
When you feel down after a night out, it’s because alcohol boosts the stress hormones in your brain.
These can also make you more anxious. CBD is known for treating both depression and anxiety.
It does this by interacting with a serotonin receptor that regulates fear and anxiety, as Byrdie reports.
Serotonin is a chemical that regulates your mood, so you want it to be working well to keep depression and anxiety at bay.
Related Questions
Should you be careful with CBD oil if you’re on medication?
Mixing CBD, alcohol, and medication can be even more unpleasant so avoid the temptation.
Check with your doctor if you’re taking CBD oil for medical reasons to be sure the alcohol won’t affect you or make your symptoms worse.
What are CBD cocktails?
These are cocktails infused with CBD.
They usually contain five to 15mg of CBD for every drink.
Some people claim these give them a buzz that alcohol on its own doesn’t achieve, but it’s worth treading with caution.
Conclusion
You might think nothing of mixing alcohol and CBD, but this might not be such a good idea during your next night out on the town.
In this article, we’ve looked at why CBD and alcohol are best kept separate, but we’ve also touched on why the relationship between the two substances is an interesting one.
For example, it’s said that CBD could help to treat alcohol addiction.
