Caffeine and cannabis: an effective combination?

Drinking coffee while smoking joints is a common ritual for many users. Combining cannabis with other substances, especially with alcohol, isn't really a good idea. But what happens if you mix caffeine with cannabis?

The famous wake and bake (smoking at breakfast) has widely prevalent in the United States. And some companies have really gotten the message. In Seattle, Washington, the store Uncle Ike, sells « Catapult »cannabis-infused coffee.". “I compare it to a mix of vodka and Red Bull—it gives you energy while still providing the relaxing effects of cannabis” says the store manager.

Others brands such as Legal They’ve also got it right and offer a variety of coffee- and cannabis-based products, with different dosages depending on the desired effect.

Caffeine may enhance the effects of THC

A study produced by the Journal of Neuroscience shows the interactions between caffeine and cannabis. This research was conducted on monkeys. The monkeys were conditioned to receive tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) via an intravenous infusion pump. Following this, the researchers administered varying amounts of MSX-3, a substance chemically identical to caffeine in both composition and effect. The scientists observed that as the dose of MSX-3 increased, the monkeys significantly reduced their use of the THC delivery lever.

Thus, the result is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, small doses of caffeine appear to enhance the effects of THC (a result similar to that of a mango), as the monkeys showed that they needed less of it. This experiment suggests that cannabis users who smoke a joint while enjoying coffee would experience the same effects of cannabis while reducing their THC intake. On the other hand, too high a dose of caffeine increases cannabis consumption and reduces its effect, which can cause a THC dependence, caffeine, or a combination of both.

Like everything else, in moderation!

Mehdi Bautier