Psilocybin and cannabis
IntensifiesCannabinoid · also: thc, marijuana, weed, edibles, hash
Cannabis taken with mushrooms tends to intensify the experience and, at higher amounts, is linked to more challenging trips.
Sharply amplified intensity, often arriving suddenly. A common route from a manageable experience to a frightening one, particularly during the come-up or peak.
Claims re-checked against the cited sources:
Why it happens
There is no known direct receptor interaction. Cannabis can on its own cause anxiety, paranoia and perceptual changes, and survey data suggest that taken alongside a psychedelic it increases intensity in a dose-related way. The effect is unpredictable during the come-up and peak.
What is known
Overwhelmingly consistent in self-report. It is the combination most often named in accounts of experiences that went wrong.
- 2022
- In a prospective online survey (n = 321), concurrent cannabis use was associated with more intense psychedelic experiences; mystical, visual and ego-dissolution scores rose with cannabis dose, while challenging-experience scores followed a U-shaped pattern, lower with low doses and higher with high doses. Kuc et al., Psychopharmacology 2022
- 2022
- Among 19 people who sought emergency treatment after magic mushrooms in the 2017 Global Drug Survey, 37% had used cannabis, the most common co-used substance, and mixing substances was among the most reported reasons for the incident. Kopra et al., Journal of Psychopharmacology 2022
- 2022
- Kuc et al. caution that design limitations prevent firm conclusions on causality. Kuc et al., Psychopharmacology 2022
Safety guidance
- If you use cannabis at all, wait until the come-down rather than adding it at the peak.
- Start with much less than you normally would.
- Edibles are harder to control because of their delayed onset.
- Have a sober person around if you combine them.
When to seek help
Seek help if panic, paranoia or confusion does not ease with reassurance, or if someone is at risk of hurting themselves or others. Emergency red flags.
Common questions
Does cannabis make mushrooms stronger?
Survey data say yes, with intensity rising with the amount of cannabis used.
Can a little cannabis help a hard trip?
In one survey low doses were linked to fewer challenging experiences while high doses were linked to more; this is not controlled evidence, and some people report it made things worse.
Is it physically dangerous?
Not directly. The main risk is a frightening experience and the behaviour that can follow.
Sources
How we research this: sources, evidence grading, review and updates.