Coffee and weed have long been two psychoactive substances enjoyed by many.

It’s no surprise that some think of mixing the two.

Mixing your cup of joe with a few puffs is bound to intensify the effects of both caffeine and compounds like THC in cannabis. Let’s learn what these effects look like, why users blend the two, and the potential risks of the combination.

Around 85% of people in the United States drink at least one caffeinated drink daily. 

Caffeine is a stimulant that can make you feel alert and awake. It’s primarily found in coffee, tea, and various energy drinks. 

Some common effects of caffeine consumption include:

• Increased alertness and cognitive function – Caffeine blocks the sleep-promoting neurotransmitter adenosine, which helps you stay awake and increase alertness. It also helps many of us feel better focused and concentrated. 
• Better mood – A good cup of coffee can hold a lot of power over our moods. It’s common to feel uplifted following a coffee session thanks to the release of feel-good chemicals like dopamine and serotonin in the brain. Coffee also increases endorphins, the body’s natural mood lifters. 
• May boost physical performance – Adrenaline levels are increased after consuming caffeine, which helps some perform more intense physical exertion. 

And for those of us who go overboard with our caffeine intake, it’s typical to experience: 

• Shaking and jitters 
• Insomnia
• Digestive issues
• Increased heart rate 

Around 12.3%, or 20 million people, of the United States population use cannabis. Cannabis is currently legalized in 24 states.

There are many substances inside the cannabis plant – cannabinoids like THC or CBD, terpenes, flavonoids, and more. Each compound plays a role in cannabis’ effects and can impact each body differently.

Weed can act as either a stimulant or a depressant, depending on the strain and individual reactions. Sativa-dominant strains are more stimulating, while indica-dominant strains are generally more sedative.

Typically, consuming weed with THC (the compound that gets you ‘high’) will lead to various effects, including:

• Euphoria, relaxation

• Altered time perception

• Impaired memory, concentration, and decision-making

• Anxiety, panic, paranoia (especially at higher doses)

• Increased heart rate

• Red and dry eyes

• Dry mouth or ‘cotton mouth’

• Impaired motor skills and reaction time

• Increased appetite

• Potential risk of psychotic symptoms (rare)

• Risk of addiction or cannabis use disorder (if frequently consumed)

• Increased risk of bronchitis if smoking

• Risk of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome

• Possible temporary cooling sensation

Many THC-infused coffees exist, whether that be pre-made versions of DIY recipes using cannabis products like tinctures. 

If you choose to combine your caffeine with cannabis products, the effects you can feel can vary depending on how much of either you consume, the cannabis strain used, and the amount of THC levels present. 

When blending caffeine and THC-containing weed, you may experience:

• Amplified alertness 
• Increased feeling of energy 
• Increased anxiety or paranoia
• Enhanced focus or scattered thoughts 
• Mood elevation or potential mood swings

The effects of combining these two substances on humans aren’t widely studied, so we must rely on animal studies. 

A 2012 study demonstrated that combining THC and caffeine affected rats’ working memories. Surprisingly, a lower dose of THC was found to make this memory impairment worse than a higher dose of THC combined with caffeine. 

Other studies shed light on how mixing the two might result in the desire to get higher. In a later squirrel monkey study, researchers found that monkeys gave themselves more THC after they got a high dose of a substance similar to caffeine called MSX-3. 

If you decide to explore the effects of caffeine and cannabis, consider starting with smaller doses of each to see how they’ll impact your body and mind. 

While there aren’t widespread reports of severe side effects from mixing caffeine and cannabis, that doesn’t mean the combination is risk-free.

Blending these two can heighten anxiety and paranoia, as well as speed up your heart rate and elevate blood pressure, putting stress on the cardiovascular system. The duo may also disrupt sleep patterns and impair cognitive functions like memory and focus.

Plus, there’s a chance caffeine could intensify THC’s effects, possibly leading you to use more of both, which might increase the risk of dependency.

Subculture’s cold brew drinks offer an expertly crafted mix of THC and caffeine. Available in classic black or smooth oat milk brew, these drinks pack 5mg of THC per 12 oz drink.

These beverages, priced at $36 for a four-pack, feature specialty-grade, high-grown Ethiopian Arabica beans expertly roasted to unlock a rich, complex flavor.

With Subculture, you can enjoy ethical sipping with Fair Trade-certified coffee that supports sustainable farming. You can explore customer reviews to see how others enjoy their cold brews.

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