In October of 2018, The Cannabis Act (the full title of which is “An Act respecting cannabis and to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Criminal Code and other Acts”), also known as Bill C-45, will go into effect in Canada. It will legalize recreational use of cannabis nationwide, allowing for use by individuals 18 and over and possession of 30 grams.
Most of the act’s provisions have to do with what you’d expect – sales locations, delivery, marketing, packaging, growth for personal use – but in the back pages of the bill is a rule that has eyebrows raising. It lists caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine as substances that cannot be combined with cannabis in commercial products. No specific explanations have been provided, nor any scientific research that might clarify, but the task force on cannabis legalization and regulation stated a goal to “maintain and improve the health of Canadians by minimizing the harms associated with cannabis use.”
What exactly is the harm of using caffeine with cannabis, you might ask. You wouldn’t be alone. People frequently mix uppers (such as cocaine or MDMA) and downers (usually alcohol), which can be dangerous if the stimulants mask the effects of the depressants, leading you to use more than you intended. The mixture can also cause damage to the heart.
When it comes to caffeine, however, there is no proof that there’s any danger of combining it with cannabis. Both can boost the brain’s reward systems by causing the release of dopamine, and many people say that combining the two leads to feelings of exceptional well-being. It’s actually possible that some people might use less marijuana while consuming caffeine, because the heightened feeling of euphoria could be achieved with less cannabis.
On the other hand, using caffeine with any psychostimulant drug (meaning one that has mood-enhancing properties) and increasing the effects of the drug’s high can make the drug much addictive. A 2014 study in The Journal of Neuroscience tested the effects of combining THC with a compound called MSX-3, which mimics some of the effects of caffeine. Experiments on squirrel monkeys that were addicted to THC showed that the caffeine-like compound enhanced the effects of THC at every dose.
Another study in 2012, this time conducted on rats, showed that combining caffeine with marijuana worsened memory problems, particularly in teens whose brains are still developing.
Still, very little research has been done, and it’s hard to say what the effects might be from person to person. Some people will swear that drinking coffee while smoking marijuana improves their high, while others see no difference at all. If you’re tempted to try it (somewhere where it’s legal, that is), start out small and take note of how much you’re consuming and what effects the combination has.
If you or a loved one need help with quitting drugs or alcohol, consider Asana Recovery. We offer medical detox, along with both residential and outpatient programs, and you’ll be supervised by a highly trained staff of medical professionals, counselors, and therapists. Call us any time at (949) 438-4504.
