Why is alcohol bad for you?

Alcohol may be an ingrained part of our social rituals, but its negative impact on health is undeniable. 

The mounting scientific evidence suggests that if you drink alcohol regularly—even in moderation—it may have detrimental effects on your health. Let’s not forget the dreaded hangovers if you overdo it.

Switch to THC-infused beverages and avoid the negative effects of booze. 

Only a few milligrams of THC in your favorite non-alcoholic beverage can provide a multitude of health benefits without intoxication or cognitive impairment. 

That’s the beauty of microdosing cannabis: you consume the tiniest amounts of Delta 9 THC to experience its therapeutic effects sans the potential side effects.

But before we unveil all those benefits of microdosing THC, let’s see why heavy drinking is bad news for your health.

Alcohol attacks your health

Alcohol is great for providing that relaxing high and lubricating your fun social events, but your casual Friday night cocktail sipping comes with a cost. Regular moderate drinking may do significant damage over time, impacting your physical and mental health. 

When you consume ethanol (the main substance in alcohol), it travels through your gastrointestinal system where it is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream. Once in the blood, alcohol circulates to all our tissues and organs, wreaking havoc. 

The list of reasons why booze is bad for your body is long, but we’ll narrow it down to:

1. Short-term impact (hangover)
2. Neurotoxicity and brain damage
3. Liver disease
4. Gastrointestinal issues
5. Many types of cancer
6. Obesity
7. Damaged heart health
8. Potential for addiction and abuse

Short-term impacts of booze

The pounding headache, queasiness, fatigue, and foggy feeling after a night of drinking. Does this sound familiar? 

Hangovers are your body's near-immediate reaction to the irritating effects of alcohol. Alcohol irritates the stomach lining, which can cause nausea and pain. Even short term, alcohol dehydrates you, messes with your sleep, and leads to next-day deficits in focus, memory, and coordination. These cognitive impairments are comparable to being sleep-deprived. 

If you’re a frequent heavy drinker, you probably don't give your body enough recovery time between hangover cycles, which only makes things worse. 

Does alcohol damage your brain?

Alcohol is a neurotoxin. It actually kills brain cells and shrinks brain volume over time. Brain scans of heavy drinkers reveal real structural changes and cognitive decline, especially in regions involved in planning and self-control.

A 2022 study found that “alcohol intake is negatively associated with global brain volume measures, regional gray matter volumes, and white matter microstructure.” In other words, your brain can actually shrink in volume due to heavy drinking. 

Even just one drink per day for years can cause brain damage that often leads to memory problems and worsened mental health. Booze also interferes with neurotransmitters involved in mood, sleep, and motor control. 

The good news is that your brain may be able to recover after you completely cut booze out, although some permanent changes are still possible. But why risk any damage? Ditch alcohol and replace alcohol with healthier alternatives, such as craft mocktails that contain low amounts of cannabis.

Read all about Delta 9 THC and why small, controlled amounts may change your life for the better.

Alcohol and liver disease

The liver suffers some of the worst abuse from alcohol. Its job is to detoxify ethanol and remove it from our system. However, during this process, the liver generates harmful toxic byproducts that promote inflammation and liver cell death. Over many years of excessive drinking, it can progress to fatty liver, then permanent scarring and cirrhosis. 

The liver sustains the greatest degree of tissue injury by heavy drinking because it is the primary site of ethanol metabolism. Chronic and excessive alcohol consumption produces a wide spectrum of hepatic lesions, the most characteristic of which are steatosis, hepatitis, and fibrosis/cirrhosis. (Osna, et. al.)

As it works to break ethanol down, the liver neglects other crucial functions such as protein synthesis, hormone production, and filtering toxins. Over time, your entire body suffers from liver dysfunction.

Heavy drinkers who quit can potentially allow some healing and regrowth of healthy liver tissue. But liver disease remains a leading cause of alcohol-related death. The liver does have amazing regenerative abilities, but too much recurrent damage adds up. Cirrhosis causes liver failure, fluid retention, bleeding problems, and even liver cancer. 

Unlike booze, microdosing cannabis can actually help you fight and prevent liver cancer. 

Alcohol is bad for your GI tract

From acid reflux to ulcers, alcohol wreaks havoc on your gastrointestinal tract. Here’s how: 

• Alcohol directly irritates the delicate lining of the stomach and esophagus, weakening the protective mucus layer. This allows stomach acid to cause painful inflammation and ulcers. 
• Alcohol also relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, allowing the reflux of acidic fluid up into the esophagus. 
• Heavy alcohol use can also lead to gastritis or chronic stomach inflammation. 
• Gut bacteria imbalances and impaired nutrient absorption promote diarrhea and weight loss issues common in alcoholics. 

If you're prone to stomach problems, avoid drinking altogether to minimize irritation and allow healing. There are much healthier ways to unwind and socialize that don't involve pickling your digestive tract from the inside out. Low doses of cannabis are powerful anti-inflammatory agents. 

They may help soothe gastritis and ulcers exacerbated by alcohol use, calming irritation without suppressing the immune system (like other anti-inflammatories typically do). So ditch the drinks that inflame your gut, and microdose cannabinoids for gentle relief instead.

Try our Energy gummies with only 2.5 mg of THC per serving or the juiciest watermelon Relax Plus gummies (5 mg of THC per gummy). With these tasty treats, you’ll forget all about the toxic effects of booze.

Can alcohol cause cancer?

Many rigorous studies have confirmed the carcinogenic effects of alcohol consumption, especially in relation to cancers of the mouth, throat, liver, colon, and breast. Even low to moderate drinking is associated with increased cancer risk, with heavy drinkers facing an exponentially greater likelihood of developing cancer. 

A 2020 study found that about 4.1% of all new cancer cases worldwide were caused by alcohol consumption. The study showed that the more alcohol you consume, the higher your risk of alcohol-related cancers.

What’s even more alarming, “no level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health,” according to the World Health Organization. It has been classified as a Group 1 carcinogen due to its “toxic, psychoactive, and dependence-producing” properties. 

Here are some possible ways alcohol may lead to cancer: 

1. Metabolized alcohol is converted to acetaldehyde, a highly dangerous carcinogen.
2. Alcohol consumption increases the number of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which trigger oxidative stress and inflammation, cancer’s two best buddies.
3. Chronic alcohol use impairs the absorption of key nutrients in your gastrointestinal tract. 
4. Alcohol damages the liver, increasing the risk of liver cirrhosis and cancer. 
5. Alcohol can mess with your hormones, increasing the levels of estrogen which contributes to the development of breast cancer.
6. Alcohol can weaken the immune system, making the body less effective at eliminating cancer cells.
7. Excessive consumption often leads to weight gain and obesity, which is a known risk factor for many types of cancer.
8. Tobacco and alcohol often go hand in hand, but their synergistic effects increase the risk of developing cancers of the mouth, throat, and esophagus.

And don’t you worry about the equally cancerous tobacco. Our edibles are the easiest, most reliable, and healthiest ways of consuming cannabis—no smoke, no inhaling, no lung damage, and no toxic substances. 

Did you know small amounts of THC and CBD are anti-tumor? Unlike alcohol, cannabis may actually help you kick cancer’s butt by preventing cancer cells from spreading and growing and inducing cancer cell death. 

Alcohol promotes obesity

Drinking is fun and tasty—until you realize the amount of empty calories each drink contains. Beer belly isn’t a myth. Here’s why heavy drinkers may be packing belly fat:

• Alcohol dampens fat burning.
• It enhances appetite.
• It lowers inhibitions, impairing your willpower to avoid fatty or sugary foods. 
• Over time, fat deposits around your organs but mainly your liver. The liver loses the ability to properly process nutrients and regulate metabolism, leading to unhealthy weight and liver disease.

Also, alcohol-related obesity doesn’t really say “healthy heart.” The fat deposits stored in and around the abdomen can severely impact cardiovascular function. One study found that those who drank less than one drink per drinking day daily had smaller abdominal measurements than those who drank less frequently but had more drinks per drinking day. This affects the distribution of body fat in the abdomen, which is a known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. 

Alcohol hurts your heart

You may have already known this but we’ll say it anyway: alcohol is terrible for your heart. The cardiovascular system faces significant strain from habitual drinking. Alcohol can elevate blood pressure and triglycerides, induce arrhythmias, and lead to cardiomyopathy which weakens heart muscle function. 

Booze also encourages coagulation which raises the likelihood of strokes and thromboembolism. Over time, this accelerates the development of atherosclerosis (clogged arteries), enlarged heart, heart failure, stroke, and other forms of heart disease.

The jury’s out: booze is bad for your heart on all levels. If you want to keep that cardiovascular system running smoothly, replace that glass of wine over dinner with one of our THC-infused mocktails. Whip up a classic Bloody Mary (without the booze, of course) and add a splash of our low-THC Buzz drops to bring out the mellow vibes.

If you’re in the mood for something creamy and cozy, try our pumpkin cream drink recipe. Only 2.2 mg of THC per full dropper, zero booze, sweet pumpkin flavor, a subtle kick of fall—what more do you need?

Alcohol addiction and abuse

Let's be real: alcohol can be addictive stuff. The more you drink, the more your brain adapts to its feel-good effects. Eventually, you’ll end up needing more and more to get the same buzz. Before you know it, drinking isn't about fun anymore; it's about chasing that high and avoiding alcohol withdrawal. 

Our brains run on chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. They're the signals that nerve cells use to communicate with each other. Booze messes with some of these key neurotransmitters involved in feeling pleasure, motivation, and stress regulation. It hijacks the brain's reward and stress pathways by altering neurotransmitter activity, which drives addictive behaviors that can eventually take you down the path of alcohol addiction.

Alcohol interacts with several neurotransmitter systems in the brain's reward and stress circuits. These interactions result in alcohol's acute reinforcing effects. Following chronic exposure, these interactions in turn cause changes in neuronal function that underlie the development of alcoholism. (Banerjee)

Alcohol addiction is very challenging to overcome, but microdosing cannabis could help people addicted to alcohol cut down or stop drinking. It seems that cannabis meets several standards as a substitute therapy for alcohol addiction. 

…another observational record review of 92 patients who substituted cannabis for alcohol showed that 100% reported cannabis as a very effective (50%) or effective (50%) substitute for alcohol. Ten percent of patients reported a year or more of alcohol abstinence and attributed their success to cannabis, while 21% reported a return to unsafe drinking when stopping cannabis use. (Subbaraman)

You can see why microdosing is a much safer and healthier option than drowning your sorrows in liquid regret.

A better alternative to unwind you

Cannabis microdosing is growing in popularity and it’s no wonder people are starting to realize it offers a healthier, safer alternative to unwinding with alcohol. Here are some more reasons to give microdosing weed a try instead of reaching for that next cocktail or beer:

1. The effects of low-dose edibles are subtle but beneficial. They enhance your mood, creativity, and focus without sedation, haziness, or impaired coordination. You get the sociable and upbeat feeling but with clearer thinking and memory compared to alcohol intoxication. (See why microdosing edibles for focus is so popular.)
2. Small amounts of cannabis ease anxiety and relieve pain naturally without major side effects or organ damage seen with alcohol.
3. Microdosing is non-addictive and sustainable for occasional use. You don’t experience withdrawal symptoms or become addicted when you consume small amounts of THC.
4. Unlike the infamous “beer belly” calories, our low-dose gummies and drinks provide the benefits without any extra calories weighing you down. A piña colada can have upwards of 500 calories, but the cannabis-infused, alcohol-free alternative would have none aside from the mixer ingredients. 
5. No hangovers, regretted decisions, or embarrassing situations that you might put yourself in when drunk.

For an uplifting and healthy alternative to unwinding with alcohol, cannabis microdosing checks all the right boxes. 

With that in mind, we crafted our micro-measured THC Buzz drops to infuse your favorite mocktails with. Our hemp-derived, water-soluble formula allows you to calibrate your buzz down to the milligram. Once you learn how to make a THC-infused drink, you will never go back to those god-awful hangovers and potential health risks. 

How do you feel after drinking cannabis?

Delta 9 THC is the psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant. At sufficient amounts, THC can produce a “high” and, at times, even some unwanted effects. But that’s the greatest thing about drinking our THC-infused beverages: they provide all the therapeutic and medicinal benefits of cannabis without the adverse effects. 

Instead of making you feel sluggish, heavily sedated, or impaired, low-THC drinks allow you to remain clear-headed and energetic. Here’s why:

• Your muscles will relax without any of the lethargy or sleepiness that high doses of THC can induce. Microdosing cannabis is great at alleviating anxiety and stress, so there’s no doubt that a few drops of our liquid THC will give you sweet stress relief any time of the day. 
• THC drinks provide gentle euphoria that makes activities more engaging without making you feel sluggish and hazy—perfect for when you need a gentle nudge to get that work done. Our low-dose weed drinks enhance focus and creativity, allowing you to brainstorm with an upbeat buzz.
• Effective pain relief is perhaps the main reason why people are turning to microdosing edibles. Read more about the analgesic properties of cannabis. 
• There are so many ways cannabis aids your brain and improves your cognition. Did you know that small amounts of CBD and THC can promote neurogenesis, a process that generates new brain cells? These compounds boost blood flow and stimulate the hippocampus, triggering the growth of new neurons. 
• We bet you also didn’t know that microdosing weed can help dementia patients improve cognitive function, activate underperforming regions in the hippocampus, and reduce inflammation. This one-two punch keeps neurons healthy and functioning, slowing the progression of memory loss.

In other words, you’ll feel relaxed yet focused, sociable but clear-headed, and mildly buzzed yet highly functional. Mix yourself one of our THC drink recipes and sip your way to an uplifted state of well-being.

How long do THC drinks take to kick in?

Unlike traditional edibles (which need to be digested and metabolized), THC drinks are absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the soft tissues in the mouth and throat. This means a rapid onset. You can start feeling the effects of THC drinks within 10–20 minutes of consumption. 

The onset time for cannabis-infused drinks depends on:

• THC concentration in the drink
• Serving size
• Your metabolism
• Your tolerance to cannabis

Regardless of your tolerance to THC and CBD or other factors, it is always a good idea to start low and wait for the effects to kick in before taking more. 

How long does a THC drink last?

THC drinks are quick to produce effects, but their effects are more sustained and longer-lasting than some other quick-acting methods of consumption. On average, the effects of weed drinks can last anywhere from 2 to 6 hours. 

For comparison, the effects of smoking cannabis can last from 1 to 3 hours, while the effects of gummies last up to eight hours. 

Don’t believe us? Order our Bliss gummies and experience long-lasting euphoria and relaxation for yourself. They come from our carefully formulated THC microdoses, with only 5 mg of THC per gummy. Try a gummy after work and feel the stress melt away. 

Are there side effects of drinking weed?

Low-dose cannabis beverages come with minimal risks for most people. Unlike high recreational doses that may come with side effects, microdoses contain only the smallest effective amount of THC and CBD. This avoids exceeding your personal tolerance, so instead of feeling impaired, intoxicated, or sedated, you feel enhanced and mildly buzzed.

Here are some tips for a smooth and pleasant microdosing experience:

• Stick to recommended serving sizes. More is not always better with cannabis compounds but a tiny amount goes a long way.
• Balance THC with CBD to mellow overstimulation. CBD tends to smooth out THC's potential for psychoactivity and both compounds offer many health benefits. Combine them to induce the so-called “entourage effect” and watch as they enhance each other’s effects and double the benefits. 
• Stay hydrated and feed your body nutritious foods to feel your best.
• Avoid combining cannabis edibles or drinks with other substances. Don't mix what you don't know.

THC drinks affect everyone differently. If you’re extra sensitive to certain cannabis compounds, you may notice mild side effects from amounts that others enjoy with no issues. 

How to prepare a THC drink

There’s nothing easier than to craft your own THC mocktail. You get to customize the ingredients, adjust the flavors, and decide whether you want to sip alone with your own thoughts or share these amazing weed beverages with friends. 

You can use as little of our Buzz Drops as you’d like or a full dropper for a mellow mood boost. One full dropper contains exactly 2.2 milligrams of THC and 2.9 milligrams of cannabidiol, so you can adjust the potency of your drink. 

To give you an idea about how easy it is, here’s one of our favorite THC drinks: a pink lemonade infused with cannabis. This buzzing mocktail is our favorite summer refresher, and it wouldn’t be complete without our liquid THC drops. 

To make this mocktail, you’ll need:

• 1 ounce fresh lime juice
• 1 ounce cranberry juice
• 2 ounces lemonade
• 1 full dropper of Buzz drops
• Ice 

Mix all ingredients well and serve cold. 

Are THC drinks legal?

Great news: our cannabis-infused drinks are also legal at the federal level in the US. 

Delta 9 THC is legal on a federal level, provided the products containing it are compliant with the 2018 Farm Bill. For Farm Bill compliance, a product must meet the following criteria:

1. Delta 9 must be derived from the hemp plant, not marijuana. (Here’s the difference between hemp and marijuana.)

2. The THC product cannot contain more than 0.3% of Delta 9 THC by dry weight.

However, while most states have adopted these criteria, Kansas and Idaho have prohibited all forms of Delta 9. This means our THC products are fully legal for purchase in 48 US states. 

Resources

Daviet, R., Aydogan, G., Jagannathan, K., Spilka, N., Koellinger, P. D., Kranzler, H. R., Nave, G., & Wetherill, R. R. (2022). Associations between alcohol consumption and gray and white matter volumes in the UK Biobank. Nature Communications, 13(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-28735-5

Osna, N. A., & Kharbanda, K. K. (2017). Alcoholic Liver Disease: Pathogenesis and Current Management. Alcohol Research : Current Reviews, 38(2), 147-161. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5513682/

Rumgay H, Shield K, Charvat H, Ferrari P, Sornpaisarn B, Obot I, Islami F, Lemmens VEPP, Rehm J, Soerjomataram I. Global burden of cancer in 2020 attributable to alcohol consumption: a population-based study. Lancet Oncol. 2021 Aug;22(8):1071-1080. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00279-5. PMID: 34270924; PMCID: PMC8324483.

No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health. (2023, January 4). https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/04-01-2023-no-level-of-alcohol-consumption-is-safe-for-our-health

Dorn, J. M., Hovey, K., Muti, P., Freudenheim, J. L., Trevisan, M., Russell, M., & Nochajski, T. H. (2003). Alcohol Drinking Patterns Differentially Affect Central Adiposity as Measured by Abdominal Height in Women and Men. The Journal of Nutrition, 133(8), 2655-2662. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/133.8.2655

Banerjee, N. (2014). Neurotransmitters in alcoholism: A review of neurobiological and genetic studies. Indian Journal of Human Genetics, 20(1), 20-31. https://doi.org/10.4103/0971-6866.132750

Subbaraman, M. S. (2014). Can Cannabis Be Considered a Substitute Medication for Alcohol? Alcohol and Alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire), 49(3), 292-298. https://doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agt182

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