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What Happens When You Mix Weed with Tobacco?

Most people will mix weed with tobacco at least once, but what does it really do to your experience?

By Skunk UzekiPublished 6 years ago 5 min read
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One of the oldest ways to smoke weed in public is to mix weed with tobacco as a way to mask the smell around cops. There's even a term for weed-tobacco hybrid joints: spliffs.

Even in the historic sense, people used to mix weed with tobacco before there was even a legal reason to do so. It was a religious act for Native Americans, and there's plenty of reason to believe that America's first settlers enjoyed ye olde spliffy as well.

So, what happens when you mix weed with tobacco, anyway? Is it really a religious experience? We decided to take a look at it.

Let's talk about what happens when you mix weed with tobacco.

Both weed and tobacco have effects on a person's mind and body. When you're mixing the two together, you end up getting a little bit of both. This can be both a good thing and a bad thing, depending on the effect.

To understand what you should expect when you mix weed with tobacco, you need to understand what each drug does...

Here's what tobacco's effects are.

Nicotine makes you more relaxed, alert, and less likely to be hungry. Studies also show that tobacco tends to improve memory better than cannabis use does. This means that tobacco smokers are not going to get the "goofy, giddy" high that heavy cannabis use does.

However, that sounds great until you realize that tobacco is a seriously dangerous carcinogen with addictive properties. That, combined with the increased risk of stroke, makes tobacco wacko.

Here's what happens when you smoke cannabis.

Yes, we all know cannabis is a miracle plant. Cannabis is known for helping ease pain, relax patients, and also get a "giddy but sedated" kind of high. Cannabis is known for being an anxiety reliever, an appetite enhancer, and for also having the added perk of helping alleviate muscle issues.

But, there are some downsides to the effects of cannabis. Cannabis can affect mental health, with some unlucky people experiencing psychosis after a puff. Moreover, there's a memory loss issue that most smokers will have experienced after a while.

Some say that choosing to mix weed with tobacco negates the good parts, but it's not quite that simple...

It's also worth noting that the cannabis strains you mix with tobacco can have an effect.

If you smoke weed on the regular, then you already know that cannabis strains can and will act differently in your body. For example, when you sample Maui Wowie, you will probably feel a little giddy and hungry.

On the other hand, trying seriously CBD-rich strains like Gorilla Glue will probably just have you sitting on the couch staring into space. So, to a point, it's hard to nail down a single effect when you mix weed with tobacco.

After all, when every herb is different, it's hard to come up with a generalized way you can expect to react.

Mixing two different kinds of drugs is medically known as polydrug use. And, the thing about polydrug use is that it's notoriously unpredictable, even when it's something as simple as choosing to mix weed with cannabis.

The reason why is because every body metabolizes substances differently. Some people feel the weed hit immediately, while others will have a more tobacco-like effect.

Additionally, it's virtually impossible to tell how much cannabis is mixed with tobacco when you're looking at polydrug use effects. Smoking weed-majority spliffs will obviously give you a different buzz than what would happen if you just tucked a roach into a giant cigar.

That being said, most people who mix weed with tobacco claim it enhances the effect of cannabis.

The majority of people claim that having the right balance of tobacco and marijuana can enhance the effects they feel from cannabis smoke—or just lighten them to the point that they feel them to be enjoyable.

So, depending on what kind of experience you're trying to get, giving the classic spliff combo a shot may be a good way to try to get the buzz you're looking to enjoy.

If you want to try mixing weed with your cigarettes, it's a good idea to experiment with various strains.

Different cannabis strains will have a different effect on your smoking experience, and different percentages of tobacco blended in will change the way that you experience the buzz.

Choosing the right strain means using a little bit of common sense and knowledge about weed strains to make a good selection. For example, if you're looking for a clear-headed relaxation joint, then your best bet is to go for cannabis strains that are good for sleep.

Generally speaking, the more tobacco you have in a spliff, the less of the "heady" effects you will have in your experience.

However, because you can never tell how tobacco and weed will work, the only way for you to know how it works on you is to find out firsthand.

Once again, it's the issue of polydrug use—and realistically, combining weed with anything will greatly alter the way you enjoy it. A lot of people like it, but some find it to be a decrease in smoking quality. It all depends on your own body chemistry.

Though the buzz may be great, it's a good idea to keep in mind health effects.

Sorry to be a buzzkill, but I have to say this.

Weed is not as addictive as tobacco, and the truth is, tobacco's a lot more dangerous. It's got high addiction rates, high stroke risk, and has been linked to plenty of cancers. If you choose to smoke tobacco—even in a spliff—it's something you have to keep in mind. Just remember the best thing you can do for yourself is stick to vaping.

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About the Creator

Skunk Uzeki

Skunk Uzeki is an androgynous pothead and a hard partier. When they aren't drinking and causing trouble, they're writing articles about the fun times they have.

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