Can I Mix CBD and Alcohol?

You have had a long day. You pour a glass of wine to unwind. Then, you remember the CBD (Cannabidiol) tincture sitting on your counter. Can I mix these? Maybe you have seen people casually toss a CBD drop into their drink at a party. Or maybe you have heard the hype about CBD helping to mellow out the beer buzz.

But what sounds good in theory doesn’t always match reality. Combining cannabis and spirits isn’t as simple as blending two ingredients into a cocktail. The results can be unpredictable.

👉Also Read: Can Delta 8 THC Boost Your Focus and Mental Clarity? Here’s What You Need to Know

What Happens When You Infuse CBD into Alcoholic Drinks?

It depends. We all know that alcohol has a powerful effect on the body. It is a depressant. It slows down your brain activity, lowers inhibitions, and makes everything feel a little lighter and calmer. You can say that CBD has a similar effect. After all, people use it to relieve anxiety and stress and fall asleep.

So, when you blend the chemical structure of the two, your body gets hit with a double dose of that feel-good state. In some cases, this can help you unwind and take the edge off much more than alcohol alone. Some people report feeling more “buzzed” than usual after just one drink mixed with CBD because it enhances alcohol’s sedative properties. It might make you feel the alcohol stronger, faster, and for longer.

On the other hand, some find that CBD cancels out the alcohol to some degree and keeps them from getting too drunk, too fast.

There’s a remarkable chance that mixing the two could make you more prone to fatigue or impaired coordination. Not the ideal situation if you are planning on going anywhere or doing anything active. Not enough research has been done on this, but if you think about it: alcohol is not healthy for your liver. And CBD is metabolized by the liver. If you consume both at once, and you do this frequently, it’s going to put a lot of strain on your liver.

FDA Warns Against It

The US Food and Drug Administration has issued warnings about taking cannabis products and any form of alcohol together. While CBD might sound like a chill addition to your routine, when paired with alcohol, it could amplify that drowsiness.

Alcohol already slows down your central nervous system. It dulls your reflexes and makes you feel way more sluggish than is good for you. After taking CBD and having a drink, you might notice that your balance is off or that you’re slower to respond to things. You might struggle with simple tasks, like walking in a straight line or even texting without typing errors. This could be especially dangerous if you plan to drive or handle delicate tasks.

As we said earlier, mixing it with CBD might either make it extremely hard for you to stay awake or it might only make you slightly more tipsy. It’s hard to know how your body will react. You might feel fine, while your friend could be at risk of losing control of their motor skills, or worse, falling asleep mid-drink.

What Does Science Say?

Some studies suggest CBD from cannabis sativa plant lowers blood alcohol levels (like the one where 200 mg of CBD was taken alongside alcohol), but it doesn’t reduce the effects of alcohol in terms of impairment. In one trial, the participants still experienced the same level of drunkenness, even though their blood alcohol levels were lower. In another case, CBD was taken an hour before alcohol, and it did not impact the blood alcohol at all. So, the idea that CBD could act as a “sober-up” aid or counteract alcohol’s effects is not supported by clear evidence.

More research is needed to draw any firm conclusions. This combo might not seem inherently dangerous, but it isn’t something to take lightly. You should always listen to your body and if in doubt, consult with your physician before experimenting.

How Long Should You Wait Before Drinking Alcohol After Taking CBD?

Since there is no definitive research on the exact timing, the hemp industry pros recommend giving yourself at least 1–2 hours between taking CBD from cannabis plants and drinking alcohol. This allows your body time to process the CBD and helps avoid any adverse events.

Normally, if you have a drink or two, you can tell when you are reaching your limit, i.e., when you start to feel lightheaded. With that said, with CBD or other cannabinoids in your system, it might be harder to judge how drunk or intoxicated you are, since it could mask some of the effects of alcohol. This could lead you to drink more than you should or not realize that you are getting too impaired to drive or make decisions.

Space out your Delta-8 THC CBD intake and alcohol by 1-2 hours, especially if you have a low tolerance to either. Start with small amounts of both. It’s always better to go slow and see how your body responds.

👉Also Read: The Ultimate Comparison: Hemp vs Marijuana

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A quick reminder: Delta-8 THC may cause you to fail a drug test. Even though it’s not Delta-9 THC, most drug tests are designed to detect any THC metabolites. This includes the breakdown products from both Delta-8 and Delta-9. If passing a drug test is important to you, it is worth thinking twice before using any cannabis plant products. Better safe than sorry!