Too much coffee can interfere with microdosing

Microdosing marijuana is becoming increasingly popular for treating mild anxiety…but too much coffee can be a problem.

While some people enjoy the classic wake and bake, more and more people are using microdosing to manage their anxiety. Microdosing cannabis, usually in the form of a gummy bear or a single puff on an e-cigarette, is one way to manage persistent anxiety. As a stress reliever, it can be effective as long as you take it in small amounts. Too much can actually increase stress.

One catch to this plan, however, is that more than three cups of coffee a day impairs the endocannabinoid system. And for most people, three cups over the course of the day doesn't seem excessive. According to one study, metabolites in the endocannabinoid system decrease with high levels of caffeine.

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Published in Journal of Internal Medicine. Marijuana consumption increases metabolites, which are the substances created or used when the body breaks down food, drugs or chemicals, or its own tissues (for example, fat or muscle tissue). This process, called metabolism, produces energy and the materials needed for growth, reproduction and maintaining health. Coffee lowers them again, which means that in a way, coffee reduces and negates some of the benefits of cannabis.

Photo by Matthew Henry via Burst

Unless you're a wake-and-baker, the rule of thumb is to wait at least an hour after consuming cannabis before drinking coffee. This gives you time to assess the effects of cannabis before the stimulating effects of caffeine kick in.

More research needs to be done, but it has been shown that the endocannabinoids that decreased with increased coffee consumption also decreased with stress. It's actually quite likely that the amount of coffee the study participants drank caused agitation, which led to a drop in endocannabinoid levels. The study also speculated that the decrease in metabolites at a certain level of caffeine consumption could be a protective measure for the body.

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Although coffee is a staple for many, too much of it can lead to sleep problems, bone loss and fractures, increased anxiety, and stomach acidity. Coffee and marijuana are old friends and will most likely remain in each other's orbit.