What Happens When You Mix Coffee with THC?

If there are two natural substances that millions of people enjoy daily, it’s coffee and cannabis.  Their key active compounds, caffeine and THC respectively, each have distinctive effects on the nervous system of the body, enacting a series of processes that change the way our brains function.  While caffeine is strictly a stimulant, THC is a little more complex, as it can do anything from give you energy to make you lethargic according to the user’s unique body chemistry as well as the strain that it’s found in.

So, what happens when you mix these two substances together?  Actually, the results are more interesting than we tend to give credit for.

TO BUY THC PRODUCTS CLICK HERE

Is it Safe to Drink Coffee After Taking THC?

We need to get one thing out of the way here, which is, there’s no reason whatsoever to be worried about a negative interaction between THC products and coffee.  Coffee is generally safe, and people around the world take them both daily, sometimes multiple times a day at the same time.  If there was a serious consequence to mixing the two, we’d have heard about it plenty at this point.

How Do Coffee and THC Interact with One Another?

Now, here’s where things get interesting.  Overall, there’s very limited research on interactions between coffee and THC, but one study does give us some very telling information.  In the study, monkeys were given THC, followed by doses of a synthesized form of caffeine.  They were offered more THC, and when they were given low doses of caffeine, they reached for very little.  But, when they were given high doses of caffeine, they reached for a lot more. 

This gives us some idea that the two can enhance one another if the caffeine is consumed in a low dose, but if the caffeine dosage is high, it can negate the THC experience.  This tells us that if you want to have a positive interaction between the two, keep the caffeine to a low dosage – no more than a cup of coffee, give or take.

Are There Benefits to Mixing THC with Caffeine?

Like we said, there’s very little research out there on this combination, which is disappointing.  But, we do know some things from studies over the years.  Based on what we know about both THC and caffeine, we can conclude that combining the two can increase dopamine levels, allowing for an increase in feelings of pleasure, happiness and satisfaction.  That’s because caffeine allows dopamine levels to attach more efficiently to brain receptors, while THC regulates dopamine production and increases its uptake.  So, basically, the combo can make you feel happier, which is never a bad thing.

Another thing to keep in mind is that mixing the two together can cause a temporary case of minor short-term memory loss.  Why?  Because of a unique chemical reaction that occurs in the brain, in which the caffeine can amplify THC’s impact on memory.  This may surprise you since we always associate caffeine with its cognitive-boosting properties.

And, people do often mention that when they have the two together, the coffee brings out the more stimulating side of cannabis.  This means you may feel more focused, alert and motivated than you would from THC alone.

Things to Keep in Mind When Testing This Combo 

Now that you know that combining caffeine with THC might be ok with the body, let’s talk about the things you should keep in mind.

1. Your Anxiety Risk Can Increase: Both caffeine and THC can increase anxiety in more sensitive individuals, and those with a low tolerance.  So, consuming them together could potentially make you feel uneasy.  
2. Dosage Matters: Of course, how much of each substance you consume impacts how they interact with one another and produce effects in your system.  We already touched upon the difference between low caffeine dosages and high ones when interacting with THC.
3. It’s Probably Best for a Morning Session: Because of caffeine’s stimulating effects, which can still occur even if you take THC, you’ll probably want to reserve this combination for the morning or early afternoon, when you have little risk of caffeine preventing you from getting a good night’s sleep later on.
4. The Strain Has an Impact: Keep in mind that the strain of the THC product can play a huge role in how you feel when consuming coffee along with your favorite cannabis product.  Naturally, combining caffeine with a sativa strain will feel quite different from combining it with an indica strain, so consider your strain wisely.
5. Product Type: Say for instance you’re having a vape with coffee, the effects of the vape with hit quickly, within minutes, and last for up to a few hours at max.  This means you will feel the buzz quite rapidly and then a possible crash.  Now, if you had a gummy and then the coffee, the effects usually take up to an hour to take effect but can last for up to 8 hours on average.  This in turn, allows you do still experience that THC high, along with your morning coffee for a more balanced experience.
6. Other Cannabinoids: Taking Numbers 4 and 5, the cannabinoid type you choose will have the most impact. THC cannabinoids such as delta 8, hemp-derived delta 9, delta 10, THC-P, THCV, THC-H, and so on, each have their own effects, so when combined with a strain (indica sativa, or hybrid), and depending on the product type you’re going with, can all have a huge influence on drinking coffee before or after taking in that said cannabinoid.  The effects can either perk you up or send you crashing back down to earth pretty quickly.
7. Medications: If you’re currently on any medication say for high blood pressure, diabetes, anxiety (like we just mentioned), etc., it’s best to speak with your doctor first, since cannabinoids in general could impact the CYP3A4 enzyme responsible for metabolizing have the medications we take.  Plus, your physician has access to your medical history, and can therefore give you better guidance as it pertains to attempting this.

Get the Boost You’re Looking for with Some Coffee and THC

There really is nothing quite like a little bit of coffee to bring out the more cognitive-boosting effects that THC has to offer.  And, fortunately, overall, assuming you get the okay from your doctor, there’s no reason to avoid this combination, as coffee and THC aren’t known to interact with each other in any dramatic manner*.  In fact, you might be surprised by what this combo can do for your daily routine, so give it a try!

TO BUY THC PRODUCTS CLICK HERE