Can You Mix CBD Oil and Alcohol? Everything You Need To Know

Now that CBD is legal on a federal level, it is becoming more and more popular in everyday life. And why not? The list of CBD’s potential health benefits seems to grow by the day, and most people take CBD with little to no issues.

Naturally, some people who socially consume alcohol are starting to wonder whether or not you can mix CBD and alcohol safely. It is first important to clarify that this is different from asking if it is safe to mix marijuana and alcohol. While CBD can sometimes be found in marijuana, CBD oil does not have the same intoxicating effects on the body and will therefore not interact with alcohol in the same way.

Here, we will explain how CBD and alcohol affect the body separately, and then illustrate what may happen (research / anecdotal evidence is still sparse) if you consumed both together. Finally, we will contrast that with how marijuana and alcohol interact, and offer advice on the best CBD oil for you. 

For everything you need to know about CBD and alcohol, read on!

What Does CBD Oil Do To The Body?

CBD, or cannabidiol, is derived from the hemp plant. CBD oil is made by extracting CBD from hemp and then combining it with a carrier oil. Common carrier oils include MCT oil, olive oil, and hemp seed oil. 

While cannabidiol is present in marijuana in low amounts it is mostly found in hemp and does not cause the high that is commonly associated with marijuana. Rather, a component called tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is responsible for the intoxicating effects of marijuana. 

You can consume CBD oil through tinctures, soft gel capsules, snacks, and topical products. There are even CBD products available for dogs! 

CBD affects the endocannabinoid system in the body. The endocannabinoid system and its influence span across your entire body from connective tissues to your nervous system to your digestive tract. When you consume CBD, it works by interacting with your endocannabinoid system to provide its health benefits.

As a result of CBD’s relationship with the body’s endocannabinoid system, CBD can help soothe the body, support a good night’s rest, promote emotional balance and wellness, and overall balance. 

What Does Alcohol Do To The Body? 

Alcohol is one of the most popular and widely used drugs in the world, mainly because of its accessibility, almost universal legality, and for the most part its lack of negative stigma. For many people, alcohol is a regular component of their social life. However, millions of Americans struggle with alcohol abuse, and the long term effects of which can be particularly devastating, so it’s important to be cognizant of your consumption and seek help if it’s gotten out of control. 

With that said, even in small amounts, alcohol’s effects that many people seek can be felt. 

Alcohol falls under a class of drugs called depressants. Depressants slow down how the central nervous system functions and calm the body overall. Depressants like alcohol are most likely to “depress” a person when they are frequently used in excess and/or when a person develops a dependence to it. 

When you have your first drink of alcohol, you will likely start to feel a relaxing feeling come over you. Alcohol is well known to reduce inhibitions, so you may also feel less reserved. 

However, (and not to be a Debbie Downer) once you move past this initial “buzz” many people love by drinking more alcohol, there are a number of different symptoms you may experience, such as: 

• Flushed skin
• Poor judgement
• Reduced perception
• Slurred speech
• Poor coordination/reaction times
• Changes in mood
• Poor concentration
• Memory loss
• Confusion
• High blood pressure
• Dehydration
• The dreaded next day hangovers

If you significantly overindulge, you may experience vomiting and you may even lose consciousness. Not to mention the painful hangovers the next day... 

It is important to note that unlike CBD or THC, you can overdose on alcohol, so be careful to not over consume. 

The amount of alcohol your body is able to handle depends on a number of things. 

The smaller you are, the lower your starting tolerance will be. Gender and age also affect your tolerance. If you are someone that drinks alcohol often, you are likely to have a greater tolerance than someone who rarely drinks. Finally, liver function is absolutely crucial to how your body processes alcohol. A poorly-functioning liver can increase and lengthen the effects of alcohol on your system, compared to a healthy liver. 

What Happens When You Combine CBD Oil and Alcohol? 

Now that you know how CBD oil and alcohol affect the body separately, let’s take a look at how CBD oil and alcohol may interact when consumed together. 

Many people are experimenting with all the different ways you can use CBD oil--and rightly so! CBD oil is versatile and works just as well on its own as it does in food/baked goods. Some of these experiments have led people to even try combining CBD oil and alcohol to make unique mixed drinks. Before we dive in it’s important to note that there isn’t definitive research on this.

Some doctors are wary, however, that mixing the two together will enhance the effects of both. See, if alcohol slows down your reactions, and CBD oil mellows you out, then some people think that taking the two together may multiply these effects. Depending on how much you take of either one, this has the potential to cause unwanted results due to its compounding effects, such as loss of control, or sedation. 

Combining CBD oil and alcohol does not mean that you have to consume them in one drink, either. 

On the other hand, some studies are showing that CBD may be able to lessen alcohol’s effects on the body, at least internally. For example, a study performed on humans discovered that people who combined alcohol and CBD had lower blood alcohol levels than the control group. The group that took alcohol and CBD oil did still experience common side effects of consuming alcohol, however, even with the lower blood alcohol levels. 

In general, if you do decide to combine the two, ease into it and see how it impacts you (potentially over multiple occasions). It’s important to note that given the very little research that’s been done on this topic, we don’t want to advise you definitively in either direction, and recommend the slow introduction to see how it impacts you like we mentioned above. 

What Happens When You Combine THC and Alcohol?

Though the jury is still out on CBD oil and alcohol, mixing THC and alcohol has clearly proven magnifying effects. As mentioned earlier, THC is the intoxicating component of marijuana which provides its signature high. 

Being” cross-faded,” i.e. high and drunk at the same time, can cause some more serious consequences in some cases, such as: 

• Slower metabolization of THC, meaning it stays in the system longer and will have longer-lasting effects (some people may see this as a positive)
• If consuming alcohol before weed, you may experience a stronger high (welcomed by some, feared by others)
• Risk of overdose
• Difficulty throwing up, which can be life-threatening
• Dehydration
• Lack of good judgement/poor decision-making

The Right CBD Oil For You

With all the different CBD oils on the market, how do you know which one is best for you? 

Here at Leafwell Botanicals, we are committed to providing you with the highest quality, clean label functional & delicious products so we can help you thrive in life.

We offer both broad spectrum (nondetectable levels of THC) and full spectrum (less than 0.3% THC) CBD in our hemp extract droppers. 

If you are worried about how alcohol and CBD may interact, for example, you can stick to a low dose of the broad spectrum CBD oil. Even full spectrum CBD oil has so little THC that it will not cause any intoxicating effects. 

We offer three different concentrations of tinctures, in both full spectrum and broad spectrum: 

• 16 mg CBD / 1 mL, for people that are curious about introducing CBD oil into their daily routine and want to start with a low potency (we recommend at least the 33 mg CBD / 1 mL);
• 33 mg CBD / 1 mL, our bestseller, for people who want to take their daily routine to the next level; and 
• 83 mg CBD / 1 mL, for experienced CBD users or even those new to CBD who want to take a smaller amount allowing for the same 1oz bottle to last much longer.

You can also get these tinctures in peppermint, orange, or lemon, lime & turmeric flavors in full spectrum and lemon, lime & turmeric in broad spectrum! If you are unsure which concentration is right for you, consulting with your doctor or wellness expert before ordering may help. 

In Conclusion  

Cannabidiol (CBD) interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system, and can soothe the body, support better mental health, and support more restful sleep. Alcohol, on the other hand, is a depressant, meaning it slows the central nervous system and decreases inhibitions. Alcohol has also been shown to reduce the quality of sleep.

When you combine CBD and alcohol, you may experience adverse side effects, such as drowsiness. However, some studies show that CBD may actually counteract alcohol’s effect on the body. As we wait for more research on how the two interact, you should only consume moderate amounts of either CBD and alcohol. 

On the other hand, you should be much more careful if you’re considering combining alcohol and THC and aware of the potential side effects. THC is the component in marijuana that gets you high, and alcohol enhances its effect. 

For high quality CBD oil products, you can try our broad spectrum tinctures or soft gels. You have the choice of either nondetectable levels of THC to less than 0.3% THC in our CBD products, and can get anywhere from 16 mg/mL of CBD to 83 mg/mL with our CBD tinctures, depending on your needs. 

These CBD oil tinctures can help you take your daily self-care routine to the next level and redefine your wellness standards, so come explore how CBD combined with other botanical ingredients can benefit you at Leafwell Botanicals.

Sources

What Happens If You Mix CBD and Alcohol? (healthline.com)

This Is What Happens When You Mix Alcohol and CBD (vice.com)

Effects of Alcohol on the Body & Mind | Short & Long-Term

Weed and Alcohol: Is It Safe to Mix?