As cannabis has grown in popularity, you may have started noticing new, more unique products pop up on dispensary shelves. Today, products like cannabis-infused coffee and teas are gaining rapid popularity, as canna-lovers everywhere are discovering the relationship between caffeine and cannabis.
But, is it safe to combine caffeine and cannabis? What are the benefits and what are the risks? Here, we’re covering the ins ad outs of cannabis and caffeine — and whether or not you should add a little bit of weed to your coffee this morning. Let’s get started.
Establishing the Link Between Caffeine and Cannabis
In the U.S, caffeine is classified as a “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) substance. But caffeine is categorically classified as a drug in other places like the U.K. and Australia.
Drug agencies worldwide recognize caffeine as the most commonly used stimulant drug, which explains why many individuals are irritable or groggy until they have their morning coffee.
On the other hand, there is a general consensus across the globe that cannabis is a drug capable of altering an individual’s mood.
In the U.S., the FDA classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
Therefore, caffeine and cannabis are psychoactive stimulants. Individually, they stimulate the body in different ways.
How Does Caffeine Affect the Body?
As a stimulant, caffeine boosts activity in the nervous system and the brain by increasing the circulation of adrenaline and cortisol in the body. It also blocks the effects of sleep-inducing adenosine. Consequently, you may feel more alert, energetic, and focused.
Additionally, experts in the medical community suggest that in the right amounts, caffeine consumption might significantly reduce your risk of diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, liver diseases, colon cancer, and heart failure.
Due to the effects of caffeine, energy drink manufacturers often use it as an active ingredient. However, some energy drinks contain caffeine in more doses than the body might require at a time. And as with all drugs and stimulating substances, having a little more than your body can bear could cause some side effects.
Some side effects of too much caffeine consumption include:
- Sleeping disorder
- Irritability
- Anxiety and restlessness
- Palpitations (increase in heart rate)
- Overwhelming fatigue
- Dehydration
- Headaches
Interestingly, when most people think of caffeine, they think of coffee. However, you can find caffeine in other natural sources, including in tea leaves and cocoa.
There are also pure and highly concentrated caffeine products. However, the FDA warns against them, as consuming highly concentrated caffeine could lead to death.
How Does Cannabis Affect the Body?
As a psychoactive substance for recreational or medicinal purposes, cannabis affects the body in a whole lot of ways by working with your body’s endocannabinoid system.
The main compounds responsible for the varying marijuana effects in the body are cannabinoids (especially THC and CBD).
Individuals who consume marijuana for recreational purposes may find that it helps them relax better. It may also boost moods and reduce stress levels.
But as a patient consuming medical marijuana, the effects could help you manage an array of diseases and medical conditions, including cancer, glaucoma, depression, Parkinson’s disease, PTSD, muscle spasms, and intractable migraines or pains.
Can You Mix Marijuana and Caffeine?
Yes, you can mix caffeine and marijuana. However, it is important to know why you are mixing both and if mixing them has any additional benefits.
From an assumptive perspective, one might think that mixing both would boost their effects since they are both stimulant substances.
When mixing, do you expect the marijuana to boost the effects of the caffeine and make you more alert? Do you expect the caffeine to boost the effects of the marijuana and help numb your pain/headache or help you have a more exciting high?
While pondering the question: can you mix marijuana and caffeine? It helps to know the potential implications.
Potential Benefits of Mixing Caffeine and Weed
Before we dive in, you should know that as far as science and research go, there is not enough evidence to show that cannabis-infused coffee offers a very special benefit to the body or the brain. There is no conclusive evidence on the true impacts of such blends on health.
However, a few studies indicate the potential benefits of a caffeine and marijuana blend.
Independent research on caffeine’s effects on health produced mixed results on how caffeine could affect the endocannabinoid system — pointing to probable positive and negative links between metabolites in the endocannabinoid system and caffeine.
On the bright side, while the study calls for more research, it provides a hint on a connection between caffeine and cannabis. By working on the same endocannabinoid system, the effects of mixing caffeine and weed might be potentially beneficial.
This likelihood is backed by an earlier study that researchers conducted in 2013, which indicated that caffeine and THC mainly target the adenosine A1 receptor and the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) to impart cognitive effects.
Also, the study suggested that caffeine has therapeutic potential to reduce CB1 side effects, further hinting at the potential of caffeine to lessen the side effects of THC.
Following the results of a previous study, a research group conducted another study on animals with a mix of caffeine and cannabis. Here, they took into account doses that are relative to what humans could consume. The study found that both substances significantly boosted dopamine levels, suggesting a significant increase in happiness, alertness, and high mental performance.
Potential Side Effects of Mixing Caffeine And Marijuana
Just as there is not enough research to prove the benefits of cannabis-infused coffee, there are not enough conclusive studies to indicate the risks. Still, some experts suggest that combining two psychostimulants is never a good idea. The effects might not be as impressive as the consumers might expect.
On the anecdotal side, some people who mix caffeine and weed find that it opens the windows to more anxiety and jitters.
Some others who combine both stimulants with hopes that caffeine could lessen the memory deficits caused by THC might get disappointed when they do not attain the desired effect.
The results of a study exploring the combined effects of caffeine and THC on memory suggested that combining 1 mg of THC and 10 mg of caffeine significantly impaired memory performance.
Medical experts also note that underlying conditions could affect how a mix of coffee and cannabis interacts in an individual’s body.
Taking Cannabis-Infused Coffee: Should You Mix Caffeine and Weed?
Now that you know the potential implications of mixing both stimulants, the question “can you mix marijuana and caffeine?” begs even more questions. Should you combine both? If you decide to, how?
Bearing that there is no conclusive evidence on the risks and benefits of mixing caffeine and weed, many recreational and medical cannabis users are taking individual steps to find out how the mix works for them.
Unsurprisingly, the effects vary across individuals. For some, the blend helps them reach a more acceptable or happy state of mind and body. On the flip side, other individuals who have tried both stimulants may discover the effects to be unpleasant. It simply depends.
At Elevate Holistics, we care about our patients, and we think it is important that people find what works best for them.
If you have atrial fibrillation or any other form of heart arrhythmia, avoiding mixing caffeine and marijuana might be best. Both substances can significantly exacerbate the condition.
Also, if you have trouble sleeping, the tongue-whetting aroma wafting from a cup of cannabis-infused coffee might not be the sort of temptation you want to deal with.
How to Mix Caffeine and Marijuana
Let’s say you have decided that you should give it a try. So, how do you go about it?
Below, we have highlighted some cannabis-coffee blends/recipes and cannabis-infused coffee products you can give a try.
As always, with anything cannabis, we recommend starting with small doses to help your body find its comfort zone.
Cannabis-Infused Coffee Brands to Try Out
Some weed coffee products can help with your exploration. More importantly, they can help you measure your daily doses.
These cannabis coffee products to give a try include:
- Jane’s Brew Gourmet Cannabis-infused coffee
- Buckeye Blend and The Guru’s Wake-up Call from FlowerPower Coffee
- Pure CBD Dark Chocolate Espresso Chews from Lord Jones
- Vanilla Caramel Cannabis Coffee from Therapy Tonics
LEARN MORE: What is Drinkable Weed?
How to Make Cannabis Coffee at Home
Simple ways of making cannabis coffee at home include:
- Mix your coffee with THC oil or CBD oil
- If you are one for bulletproof coffee, you can add cannabis-infused coconut oil or MCT oil to your cup of coffee.
- Make your coffee with cannabis milk or cannabis sugar
- Add cannabutter to your cup of coffee
- Some persons boil their coffee with bits of cannabis buds, flowers, or cannabis pulps.
For mixtures involving oils, you will notice that the oils won’t exactly mix with the coffee. If that is a problem for you, try blending the mix with a handheld milk frother.
Also, consider adding the oils with a dropper to make dosing easier and trackable.
Elevate Holistics: Cannabis Coffee for Medical Marijuana Patients
Despite the individual benefits that cannabis and coffee offer, it is always crucial to note that they are both psychoactive substances, and there are limited studies to prove their actual effects on the body.
Also, mixing caffeine and cannabis can worsen underlying conditions. Therefore, you should approach the world of caffeine and cannabis mixing with caution.
Is the lack of an MMJ card stopping you from enjoying cannabis coffee in your state? You can get a state-issued MMJ card in a quick, three-part process at an affordable rate.
Book an appointment with a certified medical marijuana doctor in your state today.
Soon, you’ll be sipping on the canna-drinks of your dreams.
Wait! Before you go…
Do you know someone who could benefit from medical cannabis? Here at Elevate, we make the MMJ card process effortless. Simply send them our way and we’ll help them get a medical card at an affordable price — right from home. Plus, we have various services beyond just getting you your MMJ card.
Do you live somewhere where recreational cannabis is legal? Believe it or not, you could probably benefit from a medical card more than you think. MMJ cards help you save serious money, you get priority at your local shops, and you likely can buy (and maybe even grow) more weed than before. Click here to read about the benefits of getting an MMJ card; or, click here to book an appointment today.
