By guest contributor: Crystal Wilson

If you need a morning pick me up and a boost to start your day, then mixing cannabis with your morning coffee may do the trick.  Coffee contains caffeine, a stimulant that increases mood and alertness. Cannabis contains THC and CBD, which stimulate as well as relax the mind and body. On their own, coffee and cannabis serve different purposes and have different results. Most likely, you consume coffee in the morning to wake up or to fight the afternoon slump. In comparison, you may indulge in marijuana in the evening after a long workday and to unwind. Pairing coffee with cannabis may just be the exact recipe needed to have an alert, less anxious, and more energized day.  

1)   Science Shows Promise 

Scientists previously researched the effects of caffeine and THC, and CBD within the body separately, but there is limited research on combining cannabis and coffee. The early research shows promise that this is the perfect combination to get you going in the morning. A 2014 study conducted on monkeys showed that when they consumed less caffeine, they wanted less THC, and when the monkeys consumed more caffeine, they wanted more THC. The takeaway is that you can be satisfied with an equal amount of caffeine and coffee and, as a result, consume less and have a desired result. 

 Caffeine does not give you energy but blocks the receptors in your brain from receiving adenosine, the chemical that causes drowsiness. When you drink too much coffee, adenosine finally reaches the receptors causing the midday crash. Cannabis interacts with the endocannabinoid system, which balances the mood, memory, sleep, metabolism, and immune functions. Stress throws the mind and body off-balance, and the endocannabinoid system tries to rebalance your body.  

2)   Aids with Anxiety 

THC to CBD ratio in cannabis causes different reactions in individuals, and the same is true for the caffeine level in your favorite coffee beverage. It also depends on your intention, the feeling you are trying to achieve, and what works best for your needs and body, especially if you are dealing with anxiety. Cannabis helps with anxiety and even depression. The non-psychoactive ingredient CBD reduces stress and relaxes the mind and body.  However, if you enjoy coffee, but often feel anxious after a cup of joe, adding cannabis, more specifically CBD, may help reduce anxiety and boost energy.  

3)   Reduces Side Effects

A good cup of coffee wakes up in the morning, keeps you alert during the day, and helps fight fatigue to push through long days.  If mixing cannabis and coffee may be too intense for the weekday, adding CBD to your morning coffee may be a better alternative. CBD comes into a wide range of products, such as CBD oil, and you can add a few drops to your morning latte or sip your black coffee and enjoy edibles Canada alongside your drink. However, drinking too much coffee can cause unwanted side effects such as being jittery, anxious, and increased heartbeat. CBD counteracts the adverse side effects of caffeine consumption and lets the coffee do the work as intended.

4)   Increases Happiness

A recent study discovered that combining cannabis with coffee causes the psychoactive ingredient THC and caffeine to increase dopamine levels, the happiness hormone. On their own, cannabis and coffee give off a euphoric high, but together they intensify.  Adding cannabis to your coffee gives you more energy and boosts your mood, and you can start the day with a more positive perspective.   

Terpenes are equally important cannabinoids that give each cannabis strain its flavor profile, such as taste and smell. The terpene known as limonene gives cannabis citrus notes and improves mood and stress. So, it is crucial when choosing a cannabis strain or product to mix to carefully review the components to ensure you are pairing your coffee with the perfect strain for maximum effect.  

5)   A Longer High 

When you smoke marijuana, you inhale cannabis directly into the lungs, and it immediately enters the bloodstream. After about 10 to 15 minutes, you feel the full effects, and they last for about 75 minutes. If you ingest cannabis, it takes about six hours to peak, causing a more prolonged high. When ingested, the liver metabolizes the THC, which makes the feeling more intense and the marijuana more potent. The liver also metabolizes caffeine. Therefore, the combination of caffeine and THC creates a more intense, prolonged high. Even Vaping could be better option then smoking. 

6)   Enhances Mental Alertness 

Both CBD and caffeine increase mental alertness and allow you to focus more on specific tasks. CBD will balance out the caffeine that can make you fidgety and anxious, and help you stay relaxed and at ease. To fight that afternoon sluggishness, discreetly slip some CBD oil into your office coffee and intake the benefits of being energized and relaxed. You can also sneak a CBD gummy or edible to curve your afternoon sweet tooth and increase your alertness. 

If you decide to consume cannabis instead of just CBD, you need to be mindful of the properties of different cannabis strains. Different strains of cannabis have varying effects. For example, Sativa strains typically give you more energy and act more as a stimulant, just like caffeine. When deciding to mix cannabis with coffee, it is better to choose a Sativa strain or a hybrid to get the most effective response. 

With all-new trends surrounding cannabis and coffee, it is crucial to find a combination for your needs and your body. It is essential to start small and gradually increase as needed. Whether you are a coffee lover or a cannabis lover, you might find combing the two will provide an experience that is not only productive but euphoric.