By writer Rebecca Olmos
I’ve been a long-time coffee and cannabis consumer, often mixing other activities into my routine to enhance the first few hours in the morning. There is something magical about the stimulating feelings from the caffeine amping me up to tackle my to-do list, combined with the aromas, flavor, and influences of the terpenes and cannabinoids in cannabis.
In my experience as a cannabis industry member, writer, and long-time enthusiast, coffee and cannabis are quite the pair, exhibiting several similarities and often complementing each other’s effects. And I’m sure I’m not the only one. For many people, a good morning routine includes coffee.
In 2021, approximately 98 million cups were consumed daily, a generous increase from previous years. Although no statistical data exists about the following claim, the morning practice of adding cannabis to complement that cup of joe is widely known and has been around for decades.
So, what’s the key to a good morning coffee and cannabis routine to ensure you have the best start to your day? In this article, I’ll share more insight into the cannabis and coffee pairing and tips to help you start your day with them right.
Common Ground: What makes Coffee and Cannabis a good pair
Several similarities between cannabis and coffee make them ideal complements to one another.
Each cultivar and coffee bean has terpenes that bring unique flavors and fragrances. Just as the terpenes that produce the flavors and aromas of cannabis can differ based on genetics and environmental conditions, the same is true for coffee beans, where they’re grown and how they’re roasted.
With the wide range of cannabis and coffee available in legal jurisdictions, consumers can pick a cultivar that smells and tastes the way they like and a coffee flavor to suit their palate.
Then there are the effects. The caffeine in coffee can stimulate the mind and body, and the cannabis can enrich these feelings, elevating the mood or balancing them out with more mellow, relaxed effects. The two substances can also cause adverse effects like anxiety, so it’s essential to be mindful about combining them.
Cannabis and coffee tend to be ritualistic consumer habits, with many having a favorite cultivar, coffee drink, time of day to consume, and activity they like to participate in afterward. The two can also be a social combo; cafes are widely popular around the world, and cannabis lounges or events happen in places where cannabis is legal quite often.
Both are considered to be drugs with medical, recreational, and adverse effects. A good morning cannabis and coffee session can be a favorable, fun occasion, but it’s crucial to understand how the two may affect your body to avoid any adverse effects.
Researchers found that mixing coffee and cannabis can increase GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) levels in the brain. This amino acid reduces neuronal excitability or the ability of the neurons to send messages to other parts of the body.
The study noted that caffeine reduced the GABA receptor interaction sites, which may be why the traditional effects of increased GABA levels (reduced anxiety, alertness, and memory-related functions) may be reduced when combined with cannabis.
Several internal and external factors can contribute to how you feel when you consume cannabis, coffee, or both. Understanding your current and desired effects while considering any medical issues can be a great start to a pleasant experience.
Photo by Gabriele Stravinskaite on Unsplash
Tips for combining cannabis and coffee
1. Set yourself up for success – Just like any good morning routine, it's important to set yourself up for success the night before. I like to have my joint rolled or my bong clean and ready for me as soon as I wake. Also, make sure you have all your coffee essentials. I ran out of coffee filters the other morning and had to detour to the store before starting my morning routine – not ideal.2. Choose a suitable cultivar for your desired mood – I’m a cannabis consumer who acknowledges that finding the right strain can make or break the adventure. Most of the time, you’ll be steered toward ‘sativas’ or cultivars high in ‘limonene,’ with more uplifting, stimulating effects suitable for morning or activities that require you to be awake.
For some, this is great, but I firmly believe it's better to choose a cultivar based on your current and desired mood rather than the time of day. There was a point in my life where I needed a heavy indica first thing in the morning to calm my mind and body down so I could also enjoy my coffee. Other times, I’ve needed a cultivar high in terpinolene that stimulates my mind because I’ve got writer’s block. Remember that what’s best for others may not be best for you. We all respond to cannabis differently.
3. Get in the right setting – I’ve been invited to local cannabis and coffee gatherings, and they’ve been quite the switch-up from my solo sessions. The environment definitely affects the mood. At home, I can smoke a whole joint and take down two cups of coffee while typing away at my computer. In these social settings, I’ve found myself more nervous and only taking a few puffs off the joint to get a nice head change. I also tend to drink more coffee when I’m out in public, so I have to be more mindful about eating before or during the events.
Each session will be different, so adjust your dosage of both coffee and cannabis accordingly.
4. Stay hydrated– This one is self-explanatory, but balance that coffee intake with water consumption.
5. Start Low, go slow, and adjust your dose accordingly – For the best experience, make sure you’re only consuming enough cannabis and coffee that you’re comfortable with. It’s best to wait until you feel the combo's full effects before adding more. For beginners, one cup of coffee and a few hits off a joint might be a reasonable starting point.
6. Add an activity – Whether it’s work, music, painting, meditation, yoga, running, or even just a good chat with an old friend, having an activity ready to participate safely can help ensure your mind and body stay in a pleasurable state.
It's not just about the coffee and cannabis. It’s about creating the ideal atmosphere to align with your goals for the day. When you choose the right cannabis cultivar and add the perfect cup of coffee, you can enhance productivity, creativity, and overall well-being. However you decide to add cannabis to your morning coffee ritual, I hope these tips elevate your experience
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