Author: James Anderson

MDMA and weed: similarities, differences and interactions

Ask cannabis consumers how the plant affects them, and you’ll likely hear an array of responses. Unlike drugs or medications that contain one active chemical, cannabis is composed of more than 550 different chemical compounds, including more than 100 cannabinoids. It’s little wonder then that this powerhouse plant can alter mood, ease pain, deliver a psychoactive high, soothe inflammation, and usher in sleep. As far as risks, experienced users say they’d be wary to offer the combo to those who are new to either substance, or to their friends for whom cannabis can increase their anxiety.

We took a deep dive into the world of mixing weed with mushrooms, LSD and MDMA to see what the range of effects looks like, why people do it, and the potential risks and benefits, to help you make the most informed decision possible. Exercise caution when using marijuana or MDMA, and start with low doses until you understand your tolerance levels. In addition, the psychedelic effects of recreational ecstasy in high doses become more intensified when marijuana use factors into the mix. People under the influence of MDMA and cannabis may not realize how much of the drugs they are ingesting, and this lack of awareness could lead to an overdose of ecstasy, which can sometimes be fatal.

1. According to one study on monkeys, the combination of THC and opioids doesn’t appear to lead to significant cognitive problems, such as impulsivity (which can be a sign of impaired decision-making) or loss of memory.
2. A 2021 study published in the journal Nature Medicine showed that MDMA could have therapeutic benefits for some people with PTSD.
3. As far as risks, experienced users say they’d be wary to offer the combo to those who are new to either substance, or to their friends for whom cannabis can increase their anxiety.

These other substances can include MDXX, amphetamine, piperazine, ketamine, methamphetamine, DXM, caffeine, bath salts, or even fentanyl or other opioid painkillers. So called “soft” drugs like marijuana and ecstasy are generally less habit-forming (addictive) than “hard” drugs like methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin. The last time i rolled, i smoked a joint before the come up, during the peak, and during the comedown.

Comparing the effects of MDMA and cannabis

Like cannabis, MDMA is a Schedule I controlled substance at the federal level in the United States. Notably, there has never been a fatal overdose of cannabis, and the plant continues to gain legal traction worldwide. MDMA, on the other hand, is illegal and not currently accepted as a medical treatment in the U.S. Of the four major drug categories, we probably know the least about the consequences of mixing hallucinogens and cannabis. Lately, researchers have been exploring whether cannabis and opioids can be safely used together. Opioids work by interacting with opioid receptors in the body, which change the perception of pain in the brain and increase the threshold of pain in the spinal cord.

Peterson points out that there’s some overlap in how psychedelics and cannabis work on the body. However, he also acknowledges that the interactions of cannabis and psychedelics may boil down to a question of dose and individual tolerance. In one 2019 article, researchers highlighted that CBD taken with benzodiazepines could lead to an increased risk of side effects, such as drowsiness, dizziness and confusion. While these aren’t life threatening, taking both substances at the same time, particularly in high doses, is not recommended. Depressants produce opposite effects to stimulants, helping to relax muscles, ease anxiety, and usher in feelings of calmness. High doses of depressants, however, can make individuals feel drowsy and disoriented, and can detrimentally affect coordination and concentration.

Effects Of Ecstasy

In many cases, MDMA users who are denied access to water or exposed to high temperatures have suffered heat stroke, seizures, and other adverse effects that can, unfortunately, be lethal without immediate medical intervention. Ecstasy is generally taken in capsule or tablet form and may begin to take effect within 45 minutes. The effects tend to wear off almost as quickly as they started, with many people feeling the high fade within a few hours. Taking MDMA and cannabis together can lead to severe psychological and physical effects. While there is evidence suggesting that both cannabis and MDMA have therapeutic effects, little is known about how they interact with each other outside of clinical settings and are taken with less of an eye on dosage.

It was dubbed “molly” because the acronym MDMA can be challenging to say, and “ecstasy” for its intense euphoric effects. Its popularity surged as it made its way deep into the party and rave scenes, prompting the US government to make it illegal in 1985. MDMA alters mood and perception by increasing levels of norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin in the brain. Norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin are neurotransmitters and hormones that affect our feelings. Balanced levels of these chemicals enhance our mood, while an imbalance can lead to mood disorders like depression.

MDMA and weed: a wicked combo or a dangerous mix?

Tishler points out that this is not the case with all depressants, however, and does not appear to be the case when CBD is consumed with alcohol. “When consumed together, alcohol can enhance the effects of THC by allowing THC to enter the brain more easily,” explained Peterson. “THC’s drug-drug interactions are typically pharmacodynamic, meaning they change how [another] drug affects us.

While these substances work in different ways, both MDMA and cannabis use have potent effects on perception and can cause serious and lasting changes to mental health, especially when used recklessly or chronically. Cognitive deficits may occur through the long-term use of either MDMA or cannabis, although more research is needed. For example, memory may be impaired when using MDMA or cannabis alone, but people may have even more difficulty remembering things if using the drugs together.

3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, also called Ecstasy, MDMA, or Molly, is a man-made amphetamine drug with properties of both hallucinogens and stimulants. Marijuana, also called cannabis, is made up of dried leaves, stems, and seeds from the hemp plant (cannabis Sativa, Indica, or Ruderalis). It contains the naturally occurring cannabinoids delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).

“Of the cannabinoids that we know about, thankfully THC doesn’t interact much,” said Tishler. Depressants commonly work by increasing the activity of the GABA system, another type of neurotransmitter. Dr. Jordan Tishler, President of the Association of Cannabinoid Specialists, and CEO/CMO at inhaleMD also emphasizes that the chemical diversity present in cannabis presents a unique issue. This means that MDMA tends to increase a person’s energy while also distorting the way they see or experience reality.