Should you mix marijuana and alcohol? Cannabis professional advises not to. Here's why.

Now more than ever, the opportunity for marijuana and alcohol to be available in the same public settings is growing. Although their presence together is not a new phenomenon, folks may find themselves around both more often after Missouri's legalization of recreational cannabis last year.

Research on the effects of consuming marijuana and alcohol together remains slim, but there are some common denominators that new, and even experienced, cannabis users should be aware of when considering co-use.

The effects of consuming marijuana and alcohol together vary for everyone, but most users experience common short-term results like sedation, alterations in judgement, perceptual effects that include time distortions and physical effects like slowed reflexes and decreased motor coordination, according to the American Addiction Centers.

A 2015 study conducted by the American Association for Clinical Chemistry found that the consumption of marijuana and alcohol together could also result in the enhanced effects of THC, as alcohol increases the body's absorption of THC.

This is because the body's liver prioritizes metabolizing alcohol over other substances, according to the American Addiction Centers. On average, the liver metabolizes one ounce of pure alcohol per hour, meaning that until all the alcohol has been metabolized, other substances, like THC, remain unchanged.

Should you consume marijuana and alcohol together?

Whether consuming marijuana and alcohol independently or together, the effects vary for each user. First and foremost, understanding your body and what goals you have with consumption, whether it be for celebration, relaxation, etc., is important.

For long-time cannabis users like Cody Shackleton, co-founder of the Cannabis Society of Springfield, the effects that come from co-use may be more familiar. He said typically, if he does co-use, he consumes marijuana first, followed by alcohol.

However, Shackleton advised that new marijuana users, or even long-term users who don't frequently drink alcohol, should be careful about doing so.

As a marijuana industry professional and advocate, Shackleton is not one to steer away from recommending the right form of marijuana to those interested in trying it. However, he does not think co-use is a good idea for new marijuana users. From his own experience, Shackleton has witnessed friends and family members be turned away from marijuana due to a negative first experience during co-use.

He recounted one of these instances: "It wasn't until a party situation, where alcohol was being consumed, that they (a family member) said, 'Okay, I'm going to try it,' and they had a very bad reaction. They immediately started vomiting and it was that experience that made them say, 'I'm never going to use cannabis again.' That situation, I feel like, happens all the time."

Shackleton said specifically, he's witnessed co-use heighten anxiety that may come from marijuana use and amplify the impairment of alcohol.

"I think that we need to give the respect to the plant itself and give it a chance on its own," Shackleton said. "See how your body reacts to it without alcohol in your system and see if it's right for you."

Shelving alcohol for marijuana

Shackleton said he has been consuming both alcohol and marijuana for about 18 years but rarely drinks alcohol these days. He said he's noticed this trend among other marijuana users in the area.

"I've seen just more new folks moving to try cannabis and then once they have tried it and found the right product and right dosing to where they've really incorporated it, I've seen many people just completely cut out alcohol from their lives," Shackleton said.

This appears to be a nationwide trend. The American Addiction Centers reported earlier this year that of 1,000 people surveyed about which they'd choose, if only alcohol or marijuana could be legal, 57% chose the latter.

The discreet nature of some marijuana-infused products, like edibles, also makes consumption easier. No longer do marijuana users need to step outside to puff a joint on the patio, Shackleton said.

Marijuana-infused sodas provide booze-free buzz

Perhaps one of the most discreet options is sipping on a marijuana-infused soda, tonic or lemonade, which are rising in popularity.

Similar to marijuana-infused gummies, cookies and chocolate bars, marijuana-infused drinks come in different flavors. Typically, marijuana-infused drinks come in 12-ounce cans and contain about 10 milligrams of THC.

For new marijuana users, 2.5 milligrams of THC is recommended to start when it comes to edibles. Users should wait an hour after consumption before trying more.

More: New to marijuana? Advice and words of caution for first-time users

One of the most popular marijuana-infused drinks brands is Colorado-based marijuana manufacturer Keef. Founded in 2012, Keef gained traction with its Keef Cola, a signature cola with 10 milligrams of THC per 12-ounce can. Other Keef soda flavors include Blue Razz, Bubba Kush Root Beer, Orange Kush, Purple Passion, Mr. Puffer and Pineapple X-Press.

Keef also offers cans and bottles of soda with 25 milligrams or 100 milligrams of THC, which are only available to medical marijuana patients in specific states, according to the Keef website.

Venerable beer brand Pabst Blue Ribbon also has its own line of marijuana-infused beverages: PBR High Seltzers. Flavors include Strawberry Kiwi, Lemon, Passion Fruit Pineapple, Mango Blood Orange, Midnight Berrries and Daytime Guava. Each 12-ounce can includes 10 milligrams of THC.

What are tinctures and how can they replace alcohol?

Shackleton said another marijuana-infused option for folks who may be in an alcohol-consuming environment but are not consuming it themselves is tincture. Marijuana tinctures are a type of cannabis extract made by soaking marijuana plants in alcohol, glycerin or oil, according to online marijuana resource Leafly.

Tinctures, Shackleton said, are often sold in one-ounce bottles, containing 100 milligrams of oil total.

Though tinctures, like edibles, are consumed orally, the way the body processes the two is different. Edibles require digestion and are processed by the liver, meaning the THC in an edible only begins to effect the user once fully processed. On the other hand, tinctures are absorbed through the mucus membranes in a user's mouth, directly entering the bloodstream. Shackleton said the effects of THC are experienced a "little quicker" for this reason.

Due to their liquid nature, tinctures can easily be added to drinks. Shackleton said tinctures are great for adding to non-alcoholic beverages.

"I see a lot of people ordering a non-alcoholic beer or a non-alcoholic cocktail of some sort and then bringing a tincture, or some sort of oil ... to where they can just add a couple of drops to a drink," Shackleton said. "They're fitting in with everybody else, having a beverage, but they are still able to consume and have that slight head change they're looking for."

For first-time tincture users, Shackleton recommended starting with 2.5 milligrams, which he said is usually about one dropper's worth of oil in a 100-milligram bottle.

Greta Cross is the trending topics reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretacrossphoto. Story idea? Email her at gcross@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Here's what to know about consuming marijuana, alcohol together