The Hidden Dangers of Combining Cannabis and Tobacco

The practice of adding tobacco to cannabis isn’t new, and it was popularized in European countries before the trend caught on here in the United States. But compared to other countries, the practice of smoking cannabis and tobacco is only common in less than 40% of the population.

European countries indicated over 70% and higher numbers. But when you consider that 40% of American smokers (mostly young adults) combine tobacco and smoking marijuana, that is still a large number of people. And they have their own reasons for consuming both substances together.

Are there any good reasons to mix tobacco and cannabis? Is it safer or potentially more harmful to your health when you smoke a blunt? Can it help you quit smoking or cause drug and alcohol dependence and increase the risk of other negative health effects?

Let’s dive into the cultural trend and also some important information to consider when choosing your medical cannabis intake methods.

Why Do Some People Mix Cannabis With Tobacco?

From rap lyrics to influencers, mixing cannabis and tobacco is seen as a cultural trend. But if smoking tobacco and cannabis together didn’t do anything special, they would just stick to cannabis, wouldn’t they?

So there must be something behind the combo and the Toby Keith song, “Wacky Tobaccy.” It’s one of the oldest names for marijuana and seems to have started in the 1950s. However, cannabis was definitely dubbed “weed” after Woodstock. Ask any Baby Boomer.

Are you wondering why people choose to smoke tobacco and cannabis together? There are five main reasons:

1. More Mellow High

For some, tobacco mixed with weed creates a more mellow, relaxed, and controllable high. That is not a result of the tobacco, however, but inhaling less cannabis when you are mixing marijuana with another substance. You are taking in less THC and other cannabinoids, and that can suppress the impairing effects of cannabis.

But there are other ways to achieve that same effect. For example, hemp flower is available at most dispensaries and often has moderate to high levels of cannabidiol (CBD). Cannabidiol works the same way.

By packing your pipe or cone with 50% hemp and 50% dry cannabis, you naturally reduce your THC intake because hemp flower contains 0.30% THC or less. Cannabidiol helps reduce the physical and psychoactive impact of average-potency cannabis.

2. More Intense Psychoactive Effect

Didn’t we just discuss that both tobacco and hemp flower (CBD) can reduce the psychoactive effects of THC? Yes, we did. However, some tobacco and cannabis users share that the high they experience is actually greater with the two substances combined.

Some people state that they experience a more energetic state when consuming tobacco and cannabis at the same time. They also share that they experience a pleasant “head rush” and feelings of intense euphoria. This tracks because both nicotine and THC are known to cause euphoria.

There is not a lot of research on combined tobacco and marijuana use. It is also difficult to measure whether tobacco amplifies THC impairment because there are many different variables. The age of the individual, weight, health condition, the potency of the cannabis and nicotine used, and whether the individual has a low tolerance to marijuana use.

Potency is not the only indicator. The presence of good CBD ratios in certain strains can make the marijuana product less impairing. However, other minor cannabinoids and terpenes may amplify the effects of both stimulants (tobacco and cannabis).

3. Saving Money on Cannabis by Reducing Amounts Used

A fully packed cone of cannabis is more expensive than a pre-roll that is 50% tobacco and 50% marijuana. But if you enjoy the effects, it is not only serving its purpose, but it can save you some money, too, simply by consuming less cannabis.

4. Tobacco May Improve Dry Cannabis Combustion

People who prefer making their own smokable cones may sometimes believe that combining tobacco and cannabis improves their smoking experience. Some feel that an equal mixture of marijuana and tobacco makes the joint last longer and burn more evenly.

5. Trying to Quit Cigarette Smoking

It is not uncommon for people to use cannabis for smoking cessation. When you quit smoking tobacco, the cravings can be challenging to manage. It may sound odd to suggest smoking cessation with cannabis products. But for those who cannot quit “cold turkey,” it may be an option to slowly reduce nicotine addiction.

Nicotine addiction is well-known. But unless you have been a smoker and successfully quit smoking, it is difficult to explain how powerful the withdrawal symptoms are. People experience everything from night sweats and insomnia to increased irritability and mood swings, fierce cravings, and fatigue.

While there are many treatments available to help tobacco smokers quit, most people prefer to step down their nicotine use slowly over time. While there is no research that supports cannabis can help people quit smoking, it appears to work for many people who want to beat their nicotine addiction.

Rolling a Blunt (Cigar Tobacco and Cannabis)

Mixing dried cannabis with loose tobacco, both can be rolled into a cone or packed into a bowl (pipe). Some people also use cigarillo (small cigar) tobacco wraps and insert cannabis, which is called rolling a “blunt.” These wraps can be flavored or unflavored, and you can find them at any local gas station or convenience store.

Some celebrities have been filmed with large cigar blunts. It is important to know that a single full-sized cigar has almost as much nicotine as a full pack of cigarettes. Larger amounts of nicotine are inhaled with blunts or full-size cannabis cigars.

Why Blunts Are Hazardous to Your Health

While traditional cigars are not inhaled (smoke is pooled in the mouth only before exhale), blunts must be inhaled to absorb the THC. This makes smoking tobacco combined with cannabis blunts more harmful to your health compared to cannabis inhaled by a dry herb vape or conventional water pipe.

As cigars are wrapped in tobacco leaves, they contain more tar than traditional cigarettes. The drying process can also result in other potentially harmful chemicals, including pesticides and other carcinogens.

Combining Nicotine and Cannabis Vape Oil

Vape cartridges purchased at a dispensary are sealed and difficult to open. Some people are able to open them nonetheless and choose to combine high-nicotine vape oil with cannabis oil. The reasons are pretty much the same; they either want to achieve a more mellow (or sometimes intense) high, or they wish to economize their use of cannabis oil.

Packing Chewing Tobacco and Cannabis Flower Together

Less popular for many smokers who prefer to roll dry cannabis and tobacco together, chewing tobacco is concentrated nicotine. By packing a bowl with chewing tobacco and cannabis, there would be a higher potential for psychoactive effects.

One pinch of chewing tobacco may have the same nicotine content as three cigarettes. It is also moist, which can result in vaporizing chemicals from the tobacco with an additive health risk. The deposits left behind a chewing tobacco and cannabis bowl are much heavier. That means cleaning your pipe(s) more often, sure, but it also indicates what is being deposited inside your lungs.

Do Cannabis Users Identify as Smokers or Non-Smokers?

People who smoke tobacco products identify themselves as ‘smokers.’ However, people who regularly take cannabis for medical use or recreational purposes do not call themselves smokers, even if they are using smokable marijuana products on a daily basis.

You may be wondering if smoking cannabis is healthier than smoking tobacco. There are over 5,000 carcinogens and other harmful chemicals inhaled through cigarette smoking. On their website, the Drug-Free organization states that “smoking a single marijuana joint is equivalent to smoking 2.5 to 5 cigarettes” in terms of potential damage you can do to your lungs.

If you regularly use smokable products, whether they are tobacco or cannabis, you are a smoker. It makes no difference if you smoke only cannabis. Both tobacco smokers and regular smokable cannabis users face many of the same risks of inflammation, as well as lung and respiratory damage.

Remember, there are many different routes to choose from if you are a patient with a medical card and are concerned about respiratory health. Smokable is not the only option. Explore alternatives like tinctures, edibles (hard candy, beverage mixes, or gummies), capsules, and tablets.

The Health Risks of Combining Tobacco With Cannabis Use

Two extremely stimulating substances combined and smoked can cause more than just a pleasant high. Or the best nap of your life. It can contribute to some life-threatening damage to your lungs and overall health.

Lung Damage and Respiratory Problems

Consuming tobacco and cannabis together can double your dose of carbon monoxide. And your body likes to eliminate carbon monoxide by exhaling (not inhaling) it. That’s because, in extreme circumstances, you can experience CO poisoning.

The symptoms of CO poisoning include:

• Shortness of breath or rapid breathing.
• Chest pain and rapid heart rate.
• Confusion and impaired judgment.
• Headache.
• Convulsions.
• Fatigue and general muscle weakness.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Low blood pressure.
• Irritability.

From lung damage and scarring, smoking marijuana and tobacco together can result in chest pain, vomiting, and problems breathing. In 2022, ABC News stated that Canadian researchers from the Ottawa Hospital General, found higher rates of emphysema and airway inflammation among among cannabis smokers. Specifically, patients who did not consume tobacco products at all.

The patient scans showed 75% of cannabis users had emphysema. Participants who smoked tobacco only (no cannabis) had a 70% rate of emphysema. That demonstrated that the lung health risks were virtually equal, no matter what smokable product was consumed.

Increased Independence and Nicotine Addiction

Cannabis is a controlled drug. While cannabis dependence symptoms are less frequent and severe compared to withdrawal from other Schedule I drugs (such as heroin, crack, or peyote), it is still possible to develop an addiction to cannabis.

The definition of cannabis dependence symptoms has three elements, or behaviors, that practitioners use to diagnose substance abuse disorders.

• Does the patient have a preoccupation with finding and purchasing marijuana?
• Does the patient have a pattern of compulsive use of marijuana?
• Has the patient tried to quit (once or several times) and could not stop using cannabis?

Cannabis dependence symptoms are similar to those of any controlled substance. The individual may experience chronic fatigue, mood changes and irritability, increased appetite and weight gain, insomnia, and more.

Even small amounts of nicotine exposure are enough to trigger addictive behaviors. Combining two sedative or highly stimulating drugs may amplify tobacco and cannabis dependence symptoms.

Smokable is Not the Only Intake Method Available at Dispensaries

When you complete your doctor’s appointment to get certified for your medical card, don’t forget to ask any questions you may have about different medical cannabis routes. There are a variety of different ways to consume medical cannabis to explore.

If you have a respiratory condition, marijuana smoke may exacerbate your symptoms. However, non-smokable cannabis products like edibles, tinctures, capsules, or tablets are more convenient to use and just as effective.

Try to steer clear of consuming cannabis and tobacco together. Your body will thank you.