What happens when you mix cannabis and alcohol?

Have you ever heard of polyconsumption? It may sound like a complex medical term, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a pretty simple definition: Polyconsumption is “the use of more than one drug, also known as polysubstance use. This happens when two or more intoxicating substances are taken together, either intentionally or unintentionally.” Essentially, every time you drink a beer and consume cannabis, you are poly-consuming.

With polysubstance use on the rise, we want to ensure everyone is aware of the physiological and behavioral impacts of combining the two drugs. Using cannabis and alcohol together enhances the effects of each, causing increased side effects such as:

• Slowed reaction time.
• Loss of coordination and problem-solving skills.
• Impaired decision-making skills.
• Distorted perception and peripheral vision.

So, why does it matter? Why do CDOT and law enforcement believe this is an issue we need to address? While the use of both cannabis and alcohol is legal in Colorado, driving while intoxicated on any substance is not. Read the entire article on polyconsumption here.