Cannabis and mushrooms are becoming increasingly accessible after several votes for the legislation. In 2020, just in time for the tallying of the votes for the presidential elections, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) had approved the use of cannabis in some states. These states included South Dakota, Mississippi, Arizona, Montana, and New Jersey.
Around the same time, Oregon approved the use of psilocybin-producing mushrooms for therapeutic settings. Now that these drugs are more accessible, it is essential to understand their effects and potential risks, especially when used together.
What Happens When You Mix Shrooms and Weed?
The effects of mixing these two drugs may vary depending on the type of cannabis you are taking and the timing of your dosage. If the cannabis strain you are getting is CBD-rich, you may experience reduced feelings of nausea and anxiety that shrooms usually cause. If the strain you are getting is THC-rich, it can increase the intensity of your trip. This can be uncomfortable, especially if you have no experience with mushrooms before.
Here are some effects depending on the timing:
- Smoking before the Trip: Smoking before you take mushrooms may help with the nausea and anxiety you get from shrooms.
- Smoking during the Trip: If you smoke cannabis around 2 hours after taking shrooms, this may intensify and prolong the experience.
Mixing the two drugs doesn’t usually cause serious health risks, but the interaction of the two has not been studied much either.
While you may not experience debilitating effects, you may have an uncomfortable time, especially if you have little experience with both substances. It is best to know how your mind and body react to each substance on its own before trying them together.
What Is Cannabis?
Cannabis is a green, brown, or gray mixture of dried, shredded flowers and leaves of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica. When smoked, the dried plant is burned, and the active ingredient, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is released. This is what gives the “high” feeling.
Depending on the person, they may feel more focused or productive after taking cannabis, while others may feel more relaxed. The effects of this drug can vary depending on the strain, dose, method of consumption, and how often you use the drug. If smoked or vaporized, the effect can kick in within minutes of use and dissipate within two hours. If ingested through edibles, it can take 30 to 60 minutes to take effect.
When taking this drug, one may experience any of the following effects:
- Rapid heart rate
- Anxiety and paranoia
- Euphoria
- Intense sensory perception such as colors, sounds, flavors, and touch
- Increased appetite
- Dry mouth
What Are Hallucinogenic Mushrooms?
The psilocybin mushroom or shrooms is the dried and uncooked fruiting body of the fungus Psilocybe. These mushrooms contain various amounts of psilocybin, an alkaloid that causes hallucinations. While the effect of this drug is similar to the sensory perception in cannabis, the impact of this drug is more striking.
Shrooms are usually dried and eaten, steeped as tea, or ground into powder to add to chocolates or capsules. They can take effect within an hour or more and last for 4 to 6 hours. When taking shrooms, your perception of the world shifts as it alters an area in your brain. You may perceive the following:
- Objects appear to be moving or melting
- Humans appear distorted
- An altered perception of time
- Your perception of your physical body may change
- Discomfort or fear
- Philosophical breakthroughs and spiritual epiphanies
The altered perception of reality and the philosophical breakthroughs is a common reason people may take the drug, especially in music festivals. However, this substance is highly addictive, and you can quickly develop an addiction.
However, physically, you may experience the following:
- Changes in body temperature
- Increased heart rate
- Numbness, especially in the face
- Muscle twitches
Some people may also have nausea or vomiting 30 to 60 minutes after taking this drug.
Risks of Smoking Shrooms
Some people may think of crushing shrooms into a powder and mixing them with smoked tobacco or cannabis. Some people may also try to smoke purified psilocybin crystals through pipes. These are both terrible ideas.
You may either get no effect or only get a mild high. However, you would still get nausea. This is because, when subjected to high temperatures, psilocybin breaks down. This kills the main ingredient that causes the trippy effects of shrooms.
Other than having little effect, you risk the following when trying to smoke shrooms:
- Typical Smoking Risks: Smoking, in general, can cause harmful toxins to damage your lungs and blood vessels. This puts you at risk of developing lung cancer.
- Inhaling Mold Spores: Shrooms may contain mold spores that you can inhale. This puts you at risk of lung inflammation and infections.
- Frightening Hallucinations: If you do get psychoactive effects after smoking shrooms, you may experience disturbing hallucinations and panic.
- Physical Side Effects: You may experience muscle weakness, increased heart rate and blood pressure, increased body temperature, uncoordinated movements, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea.
- Altered Perception of Reality: When taking higher doses, you may have an altered perception of reality. You may not be able to distinguish between fantasy and reality.
What to Do When You Get a Bad Reaction
The more you take shrooms, the more you will crave the substance. You may develop a drug addiction and become dependent on this substance for the trips it provides. However, “good trips” are not always guaranteed.
There is always a possibility of getting a bad reaction when taking shrooms. You may get a bad reaction to experience intense anxiety, paranoia, or hallucinations. It is best to have a sober friend around to help you manage the effects of this bad reaction.
It helps to have a quiet space with soothing colors, music, and aromas. You may want to avoid mirrors as they increase the likelihood of alarming hallucinations. You may also want to eat and drink a little to help reduce the effects of the substances.
Signs You Should Call For Help
You should call for help or get someone to take you to the doctor when you start to experience the following:
- Continuous vomiting
- Fever
- Losing consciousness
- Acting out and posing a threat to yourself and others
If you are concerned about law enforcement getting involved when you call for help, keep in mind that it is fine not to mention the substances used over the phone. You will only need to be specific with the symptoms you or the person you are with is experiencing so they can send an appropriate response. Have the person experiencing the bad reaction lie slightly on their side as you wait. Have their top knee bent inward and keep their airways open if they vomit.
Conclusion
The effects of using shrooms and cannabis may not be as dangerous, but with the increasing accessibility of both substances, it may be tempting to mix them. The effects of mixing shrooms and cannabis can be unpredictable.
You may get a bad reaction or get uncomfortable, especially if you have little experience with both substances. These two substances can also be addictive, which means that you will need to get professional help. If you develop an addiction to cannabis or mushrooms, you can still get help.
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