Is it safe to mix LSD and weed?

Both cannabis and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), also known as acid, are federally illegal substances that can cause intoxication. Although neither substance is likely to lead to a deadly overdose, combining them is generally not recommended. Taking them together can increase your risk of certain side effects, including impairment and paranoia. 

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What is LSD?

LSD is a hallucinogenic drug. It’s a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States. This means that according to the Drug Enforcement Association (DEA), it lacks medical use and comes with a high likelihood of abuse. 

However, some recent research suggests LSD is unlikely to be addictive. 

Despite its illegal status, some people report using LSD for:

• Recreational purposes
• Improving their emotional well-being
• Spiritual or self-exploration

LSD can produce a wide range of effects, such as: 

• Euphoria
• Bliss
• Introspection
• Hallucinations
• Distorted perception of time, sound, or color
• Impaired motor skills
• Impaired decision-making skills
• Confusion
• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Psychosis 
• Mood swings
• High blood pressure
• Fast heartbeat
• Increased risk of accidents

The effects of LSD can vary between people depending on factors such as:

• Dosage: Higher doses are more likely to cause strong hallucinations, impairment, and emotional changes.

• Environment: LSD can affect how you respond to your environment. Being in a stressful environment may trigger a “bad trip,” which can lead to paranoia, mood swings, and other side effects.

• Brain chemistry: Your unique brain chemistry can influence how you respond to LSD.

• Formulation: LSD formulations can vary, along with their effects.

How does LSD work?

LSD increases a chemical in your brain called serotonin. Serotonin regulates certain brain functions, including:

• Mood
• Emotions
• Sleep
• Learning
• Memory
• Sensory processing

When you consume LSD, this increase in serotonin can change how you process thoughts, feelings, and sensory stimuli.

Some research shows that LSD may help improve some psychiatric conditions, including:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Addiction

However, more research is needed to confirm these effects. Most of the studies on LSD’s potential benefits were done over 50 years ago before the drug became illegal in the U.S. Some older research also shows that LSD might make certain psychiatric conditions worse.  

Is it safe to mix LSD and weed?

Combining cannabis and LSD is extremely unlikely to cause a fatal overdose, especially when both are taken in low to moderate doses. But taking them together can still be dangerous.

Research on the interaction between cannabis and LSD is limited. However, both substances are intoxicating and share certain side effects in common, such as:

• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Confusion
• Mood changes
• Fast heartbeat
• Impairment
• Psychosis

Combining LSD and cannabis may increase your risk of experiencing these side effects. Because they can both cause impairment, combining them may also make you more likely to fall and get hurt or have an accident if you get behind the wheel.

Both cannabis and LSD may increase your risk of experiencing psychosis, a psychiatric condition that can cause hallucinations and a warped perception of reality. This especially applies to people who are predisposed to developing psychosis.

Some compounds in cannabis may inhibit liver enzymes and affect how they work. This could change how long LSD stays in your body, making its effects stronger and longer-lasting. More research is needed to know for sure. 

Can I take CBD with LSD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-intoxicating compound in cannabis. Because it doesn’t produce a high, taking it with LSD is less likely to increase your risk of certain side effects, including paranoia and impairment. 

However, CBD is one of several cannabis compounds that can affect liver enzymes that help LSD break down in your body. This can alter how you experience the effects of LSD.

The bottom line: Use caution when combining cannabis and LSD

Taking cannabis and LSD together isn’t likely to be deadly, but it can be risky. Both drugs can make you feel impaired, confused, or paranoid. You might also have trouble making safe choices.

To learn more about mixing cannabis and LSD, as well as other drug interactions, talk with your doctor or a Leafwell pharmacist who can answer your questions and provide personal guidance.  

Resources

• Cannabinoid interactions with cytochrome P450 drug metabolism: A full-spectrum characterization. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34181150/
• Cannabis use and the risk of developing a psychotic disorder. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2424288/
• Cytochrome P450 enzymes contribute to the metabolism of LSD to nor-LSD and 2-oxo-3-hydroxy-LSD: Implications for clinical LSD use. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006295219301480
• Hallucinogens. https://www.dea.gov/factsheets/hallucinogens
• Psychedelic and dissociative drugs. https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/psychedelic-dissociative-drugs
• Therapeutic use of LSD in psychiatry: A systematic review of randomized-controlled clinical trials. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00943/full

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