What Happens When You Mix CBD and Alcohol?
Key takeaways:
The science isn’t clear on what exactly happens when CBD and alcohol are used together.
The FDA warns that mixing cannabidiol (CBD) and alcohol can cause increased sedation. But other small studies show no change in effects when the two were combined.
There’s some evidence that CBD could help treat alcohol use disorder by reducing inflammation, liver damage, and alcohol cravings.
Cannabidiol, often referred to as CBD, is gaining popularity in America. More and more people are turning to this cannabis compound for its potential health benefits, like improving sleep or reducing anxiety.
Although CBD is showing up in more Americans’ medicine cabinets, there’s still a lot researchers don’t know about it. This includes what other substances you may or may not be able to mix CBD with. And alcohol is no exception.
If you’ve started using CBD, is it OK to have a few beers with friends? Or a glass of wine after work? And what happens if you do?
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What is CBD?
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of the active compounds of the cannabis plant. CBD has many potential health benefits. There’s growing evidence that CBD may reduce anxiety, fight inflammation, and act as a pain reliever. CBD also lacks the intoxicating side effects of other cannabis compounds, like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
CBD is available over the counter (OTC) in many different forms. Some of the most common are:
Capsules or gummies
Sublingual (under the tongue) liquids
Topical lotions or cosmetics
Dried flower that can be vaped or smoked
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Keep in mind that CBD sold OTC can only legally contain less than 0.3% THC, as instructed by the FDA. These products will affect you differently depending on how they’re used. For example, CBD cosmetics applied to your skin are unlikely to be absorbed into the body. They only work on the area of the skin to which they’re applied. However, eating or inhaling CBD will affect your brain as well as your body. Inhaled CBD will also usually work faster than CBD products you swallow.
What happens when you mix CBD and alcohol?
Honestly, we’re still not sure what happens when you mix alcohol and CBD. It’s true that the recent legal change that allowed CBD to be sold OTC has made it much more accessible to people — but that doesn’t change the fact that there’s still a lot we don’t know about it.
When it comes to alcohol and CBD, there’s currently some disagreement about how these two substances mix. The FDA warns that you can become dangerously drowsy if you drink alcohol white taking CBD. This can lead to accidents, especially when driving, operating machinery, or taking part in water-based activities.
But other scientists claim that we don’t currently know how these two drugs interact. There are only two human studies looking at the interaction between CBD and alcohol. They were both conducted in 1979 on very small groups of people (10 to 15 people). Both showed no change in effects when people were given a combination of CBD and alcohol versus alcohol alone.
CBD’s effects on alcohol
Scientists do not know exactly how CBD affects alcohol when humans consume both substances. One clinical trial found that when 200 mg of CBD was taken at the same time as alcohol, it reduced blood alcohol levels. This did not happen when a different dose of CBD was given 1 hour before alcohol in another study. It’s important to note that the level of impairment remained the same in both studies. CBD did not appear to lessen alcohol’s effects when they were given together. So no clear conclusion can be drawn from this information.
Alcohol’s effects on CBD
As mentioned, the FDA warns that alcohol may worsen sedation and drowsiness when combined with CBD. The makers of Epidiolex (cannabidiol), the only FDA-approved prescription CBD medication, also warn that mixing CBD with alcohol can cause increased sleepiness.
There’s also some evidence that excessive alcohol use affects our body's endocannabinoid system (ECS). This biological system is found in all of our organs and helps balance our body functions. CBD works in our body by interacting with the ECS. Alcohol may reduce the amount of ECS receptors in our brains, which can limit CBD’s effect on your body.
What side effects can you expect when you mix CBD and alcohol?
CBD and alcohol share many similar side effects. Both substances can cause drowsiness, diarrhea, and liver abnormalities. Consuming both of these substances together may increase the risk of these side effects.
How long should I wait after taking CBD to drink alcohol?
There’s no scientific consensus on how long you should wait to drink alcohol after taking CBD. Until we know more, it might be best to avoid combining them altogether. Keep in mind that inhaled CBD only stays in your system for a couple of hours, but oral forms of CBD can last for 6 hours or more.
If you choose to consume alcohol and CBD together, it’s best to do so cautiously. Don’t drive or participate in activities that may be dangerous if you’re feeling drowsy, like cooking or water sports.
What about CBD and alcohol use disorder?
CBD is actively being researched as a possible treatment for people with alcohol use disorder. In this case, CBD is used to help people reduce and eventually stop consuming alcohol.
There’s some evidence that CBD may:
Reduce harm to the brain and liver (as well as overall inflammation) caused by alcohol
A lot of conversation around CBD and alcohol use centers around the idea of harm reduction. This is the idea that even though CBD may still have risks, it may be less harmful to the body than alcohol.
Keep in mind that you shouldn't try to replace alcohol with CBD on your own. This is something you should talk to a healthcare provider about first.
The bottom line
We don’t fully understand how mixing CBD and alcohol affects our bodies. It’s best to avoid the combination when possible. If you do take them together, do so with caution. They can both cause drowsiness and have a possibility of liver damage at high doses. There’s emerging evidence that CBD may help protect against the physical effects of alcohol use disorder. It may also reduce alcohol cravings and withdrawal symptoms, but more research is needed in this area.
Why trust our experts?
References
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Chung, T., et al. (2019). Cannabis and alcohol: from basic science to public policy. Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research.
Consroe, P., et al. (1979). Interaction of cannabidiol and alcohol in humans. Psychopharmacology.
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Jazz Pharmaceuticals. (2020). Epidiolex [package insert].
Lowe, H., et al. (2021). The endocannabinoid system: A potential target for the treatment of various diseases. International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
Lucas, C. J., et al. (2018). The pharmacokinetics and the pharmacodynamics of cannabinoids. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
National Harm Reduction Coalition. (n.d.). Principles of harm reduction.
Nona, C. N., et al. (2019). Effects of cannabidiol on alcohol-related outcomes: A review of preclinical and human research. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology.
Patel, P. M., et al. (2021). Safety and sourcing of topical cannabinoids: Many questions, few answers. Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology.
Ternay, J. D., et al. (2019). Therapeutic prospects of cannabidiol for alcohol use disorder and alcohol-related damages on the liver and brain. Frontiers in Pharmacology.
Turna, J., et al. (2019). Cannabidiol as a novel candidate alcohol use disorder pharmacotherapy: A systematic review. Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research.
United Kingdom National Health Service. (2022). Risks-Alcohol misuse.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2020). What you need to know (and what we’re working to find out) about products containing cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds, including CBD.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2021). Better data for a better understanding of the use and safety profile of cannabidiol (CBD) products.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2021). FDA regulation of cannabis and cannabis-derived products, including cannabidiol (CBD).
Wolfe, S. A., et al. (2022). The synaptic interactions of alcohol and the endogenous cannabinoid System. Alcohol Reviews.
Keep in mind that cannabis is legal in some states for personal and/or medicinal use, but not in others. Cannabis is still illegal under federal law.
