At this point, a huge portion of the population has experimented liberally with CBD and has experienced some level of success. We know from various studies that cannabinoids are nontoxic to the human body and can therefore be taken even in fairly high doses on a regular basis.
But does this automatically mean that CBD can safely be mixed with anything? A lot of our customers ask us if they should put a pause on their daily routine if they’ve been drinking. It’s understandable to be concerned about a possible interaction between hemp and alcohol – after all, alcohol can be dangerous if mixed with a number of commonly prescribed medications. So, how does this apply to a combination of CBD and alcohol?
Cannabinoids and Alcohol: Safe to Mix?
First things first: there are currently no studies showing that a mix of CBD and alcohol is dangerous in any way. Therefore, if you’re looking for concrete evidence that this combination is either safe or harmful, unfortunately, you won’t find it, as those studies simply don’t exist.
What we can say is that there are a lot of people who both take CBD, and drink on a regular basis. About half of the population has at least one drink a month, with a good number of them consuming an alcoholic beverage several times a week. Then, there are about 15 percent of American adults who use cannabidiol in some form on a frequent basis.
This means is that statistically, it’s highly likely that there are a lot of people out there who drink when CBD is in their system. By now, we have yet to hear a single report from someone who experienced a serious negative reaction caused by a combination of the two substances. What this tells us is that in all likelihood, having a couple of drinks after taking CBD is fine.
There are a couple things to point out, however. One is that both alcohol and CBD may interact with certain medications, and so a combination of one of these medications, alcohol and cannabidiol may potentially be harmful. CBD inhibits an enzyme responsible for breaking down certain medications, while alcohol can greatly enhance certain negative side effects of specific drugs.
Another thing to note is that alcohol may raise THC levels in the blood. However, this is only worth thinking about if you’re using marijuana, not hemp. The level of THC that naturally occurs in hemp is simply too low for this effect to be noticeable in any way.
Note the Amounts You Take of Each
CBD and alcohol may work together in a synergistic nature to produce unique effects when taken at the same time. The extent and nature of these effects is more than likely dose-dependent. For instance, there’s a big difference between taking a high-potency CBD tincture two minutes before downing a few shots of vodka and having one beer after having taken an edible hours prior.
Everyone’s Body is Different
Another thing to bear in mind is that ultimately, our bodies are different, and we all process both alcohol and cannabinoids in our own unique way. This is why we do recommend that if you’re going to drink after taking CBD, that you start with a very small amount and wait twenty minutes before deciding to drink more.
You Might Feel Sleepy
Both alcohol and CBD may lead to feelings of drowsiness. Therefore, taking them together may maximize this effect. This is why we do recommend that you try this combination only when you are home and have nothing planned for the next couple of hours. We do not recommend combining these substances shortly before driving or operating heavy machinery.
The Bottom Line
If you plan to drink after taking CBD, you’re probably in the clear, based on all of the information that we know at the moment. In the future, there may be studies performed to show how CBD interacts with alcohol, but for the time being, we need to look at anecdotal evidence showing that there doesn’t seem to be a problem with a combination of these two substances.
If you are still concerned, you can speak to your doctor, who may take into account your unique medical circumstances in order to help you determine whether or not this type of combination is safe for you. And again, it’s best to start with lower amounts of each to see how your body reacts to this combination.
Good news is that there is no reason to believe that you’ll experience a serious negative reaction if you have a beer or a glass of wine after taking your daily dose of hemp.
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